Yep...there is more

( Oh and by the way, that is definitely not my photography! I wish. Too crazy tonight for good pictures. Maybe next time.)

I told you I was going to bake...almost eight months worth is all cooped up inside of me! I LOVE these cookies. I mean it, LOVE. In my opinion they are perfect. They are chewy, really chewy, and crisp on the edges and packed with spiciness. It's a nice change for a family that sometimes gets stuck in a chocolate rut. It makes my house feel like Christmas with snow and cheer when it's 115 degrees outside. Seriously, these will be on my Christmas cookie plate this year

Sugar-Topped Molasses Spice Cookies

(via Dorie Greenspan)





2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour (339 grams)

2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

Pinch of coarsely ground black pepper

1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 cup packed light brown sugar (217 grams)

1/2 cup molasses (not blackstrap) (161 grams)

1 large egg

About 1/2 cup sugar, for rolling

Whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, allspice and pepper.

Working with a stand mixer (or hand mixer in large bowl), beat the butter on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Add the brown sugar and molasses and beat for about 2 minutes to blend, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the egg and beat for 1 minute more.

Reduce mixer speed to low and add dry ingredients, mixing until the flour and spices disappear. If some flour remains in the bottom of the bowl, mix in the last of the dry ingredients by hand with a rubber spatula (to avoid overmixing the dough). You should have a smooth, very soft dough.

Divide the dough in half and wrap each piece in plastic wrap. Freeze for 30 minutes, or refrigerate at least 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment or silicone mats.

Place the sugar in a small bowl. Working with one packet of dough at a time, divide into 12 pieces and roll each piece into a smooth ball between your palms. One by one, roll the balls around in the bowl of sugar, then place them on the baking sheet. Dip the bottom of a glass into the sugar and use it to press down on the cookies until they are between 1/4 and 1/2 inch thick.

Bake the cookies one sheet at a time for 12 to 14 minutes, or until the tops feel set to the touch.

Remove from the oven and, the cookies have spread and are touching, use a metal spatula to separate the cookies while they are still hot. Transfer the cookies to a rack to cool to room temperature.

Repeat with the second batch of dough.

Layers of Love...and fat

So...this is a good one. Good but rich. Loved them, though. It's so nice to be back.

Layers of Love Brownies

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup Cocoa
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, cut in pieces
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 3 large eggs, divided
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 3/4 cup White Morsels
• 1/2 cup caramel ice cream topping
• 3/4 cup Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips
• Directions:
  
  PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Grease 8-inch-square baking pan.
  
  
  
  COMBINE flour, cocoa and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add 2 eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla extract; mix well. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Reserve 3/4 cup batter. Spread remaining batter into prepared baking pan. Sprinkle nuts and white morsels over batter. Drizzle caramel topping over top. Beat remaining egg and reserved batter in same large bowl until light in color. Stir in semi-sweet morsels. Spread evenly over caramel topping.
  
  
  
  BAKE for 30 to 35 minutes or until center is set. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into squares.

For One More Day

By Mitch Albom

I listened to this book all day today while I was running errands and cleaning house and I really liked it. I have never read Mitch Albom and to be honest I went into it with pretty low expectations.

Have you ever heard a drug addict explain their addiction. They spend their whole lives chasing that first high. I relate with that...in a legal, much more healthy way. I love reading - but I feel like I am always chasing that readers "high." You know the excitement you get from reading good literature. A really really good book. Lately, I find myself totally underwhelmed.

Okay, so basically what I am trying to say is that I went into this book expecting it to be another typical story and found myself really loving it.

First off, any mother will like this. It is a great tribute to motherhood and the roles mothers have in our lives. But even more importantly for me it was a great reminder of priorities and perspective.

I am excited to explore more of his books!

I'm Back....and with a Vengeance! These last 7.5 months of Excessive studying and tests and STRESS are finally over and I intend on enjoying the rest of my year in peace. I honestly don't know exactly what to do with myself. I keep thinking I should be writing a paper or studying or something. It's strange!

So...what is a girl to do...well, I left the library with 21 books yesterday and the grocery store with a cart FULL of baking supplies today. Seriously, the lady checking us out said - wow, you're going to be busy - and she was right. I am going to be blissfully busy. So stay tuned - I will be posting some delicious treats shortly and check out the Book Club Blog - there should be some good reviews on their way.

Not so true confessions...

The other night when we opened the freezer for our treat the ice cream was gone. It had been there the night before and now it was gone! So we went to the usual suspects and began investigating. Both swore that they had no idea what happened to the ice cream. Ethan even said, "Dad, you were the first one up...maybe you ate it and you don't remember." So smooth these boys - so so smooth...

Preston, in an act of genius, tells the boys that they don't need to worry any more - he will just go up and check the "cameras" and see who has been sneaking into our house and stealing our ice cream.

"Ummmm da what cameras?" Tyler asks - panic beginning to set in.

"Oh, I have cameras all over the house so I will just check who ate the ice cream."

I am starting to wonder if this is such a good idea... when Tyler belts out,

"Okay it was me...I ate da ice cream." And when we asked how much he ate, " Ummmm like maybe 11 scoops?"

WHAT?? My four year old - who by the way is SKINNY - ate an entire half gallon of ice cream and then threw away the evidence.

Preston, loving his new found power asks, "Is there anything else you want to tell me before I go check the cameras."

Well the flood gates opened. We got confessions of children getting into makeup, breaking and hiding the remote - you name it...

However, this is when the story starts to get interesting. Have any of you ever seen on the news of innocent people confessing to crimes they never committed? Apparently it quite common - anyway, that is what began happening last night. Tyler then confesses that he, "punched someone in the eyeball." Well, that sounded pretty terrible to me and so I asked with much concern, "Who? Who got punched in the eyeball."

"Ummm, I don't know him name. He was upstairs and he was a little boy with a black shirt on." Let me be clear - there were no little boys with black shirts on. Tyler then continued to confess pulling hair, kicking legs, and hurting the little boy in black. Who is this boy? Why did Tyler feel the need to keep confessing? I have no idea. Preston and I had to leave the room we were laughing so hard.

All day today I have seen them looking for the cameras. Part of me wants to tell them - but another part can't wait to hear more confessions over diner tonight!