No Business Like Show Business

Lila Rachel... 

I have a feeling that one day we'll see her name in lights.

(The following is just a few snippets of what felt like the entire production of  Disney's "Tangled")

This Girl is Hilarious!

Sharing, Sharing, Everybody's Caring...

Some of you have asked FOR my cookie recipes.

Some of you have asked IF I share my recipes.

Some of you have asked if my cookie recipes are SECRET...

The answer is YES, YES, and SHAME on YOU for thinking such things.

I have no secrets, at least when it comes to cooking. :)

Unless you truly believe you are SUCCESSOR to this man... (I'm waiting for your answer)

Okay, that's what I thought. He's MEAN anyway... but then again, even Ramsays shares his recipes.

If you are one of these people, STOP  now and START SHARING.

Alright, Lecture DONE.

The Lorraine

1/2 Cup of Margarine
1 1/2 Cups of Brown Sugar
2 Eggs
1Tsp. Vanilla
2 1/2 Cups of Flour
1 Tsp. Baking Soda
1/2 Tsp. Baking Powder
1 Tsp.Salt
1 Cup Canned Milk
1 TBSP Vinegar
2/3 Cup Walnuts

Put Vinegar in Canned Milk and set aside. Cream Butter and Sugar. Add Eggs and beat. Add Vanilla. Add dry ingredients and Soured Milk alternately. Drop by spoonfuls on Greased baking sheet. Bake @ 350 degrees for about 10 minutes, or until lightly brown. (hopefully you know your oven)

Icing:
1/4 Cup of Butter
2 Cups Powdered Sugar
3 TBSP Boiling Water
1/2 Tsp. Vanilla

Brown butter until it stops bubbling and is lightly browned (very slightly burned).
Pour over powdered sugar and add hot water (a very little bit at a time) and stir well as to make it smooth, until it is the right consistency to spread. Add Vanilla.

It may be necessary to add a little water to frosting, in between baking batches of cookies, as frosting has a tendency to set up.

The Snicker Doodle

1/2 Cup Butter

1/2 Cup Shortening

1 1/2 Cups of Sugar

2 Eggs

2 3/4 Cups Flour

2 Tsp. Cream of Tarter

1 Tsp. Baking Soda

1/4 Tsp. Salt

Mix Butter and Shortening well

Add Sugar- mix well

Agg Eggs- mix

Add Dry ingredients- mix (if too sticky-add more flour)

Roll into balls and roll in Cinnamon/Sugar mixture

Bake @ 400 Degrees 8-10 Min

Cinnamon/Sugar mixture: 2 TBSP Sugar and 2 Tsp. Cinnamon

Peanut Butter Blossoms

Cream:

1/2 Cup Shortening

1/2 Cup of Peanut Butter

add:

1/2 Cup of Sugar

1/2 Cup Brown Sugar

1 Egg

2 TBSP Milk

1 Tsp. Vanilla

Mix: Dry Ingredients

1 3/4 cup of Flour

1Tsp. Soda

1/2 Tsp. Salt

Bake @ 375 Degrees for about 8 Min.

Roll dough into balls. Roll balls in sugar.  Depending on how big your balls are (hee hee), will depend on the time you cook them. I make mine a little smaller, so I bake them for about 5 min. I then place kisses in the center of each cookie and place them back in the oven for about 3 min. Do what works best for you!

 Bake @ 375 Degrees for about 8 Min.

** If you have left over dough and just want to make Peanut Butter cookies, there is no need to roll your balls into the sugar. Just place them in the oven for the full eight minutes. (I like to gently push on the top of them with a fork when they come out of the oven)

More Recipes to Continue...

Small and Simple Things

I'm having an ornery day.

Just ask my husband or any of my kids, they'll tell you it's true.

It's days like today, that I wish my frame of mind could easily be persuaded by any little thing that might soon make me forget that I was ever even feeling like this. 

Take for example...

We had to do a little surgery on "Violet" the dog the other day and it seemed to

be a little bit stressful for one certain 2-year old. 

She was ornery.

It took a few minutes (yes, only a few) and "Violet" was back to her singing self.

What it means to Lila... Pure Happiness

She is my daily example of sincerity, happiness and love. I can't quite pin point the age that they lose this innocence and start trying to act to much like adults, but I hope she can hold on to it for as long as possible. I know it's selfish of me to say, but I need it.

*****

 Alma 37:6  

Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.

April the Second and Third, Twenty Eleven

These two brothers share birthdays one day a part... 

They both happen to big a very big part of my life and I love them dearly. 

Happy Birthday Dad and Uncle Scott

Love-Bubbins and Nellie

Last the "Best" of All the Game

Boy, it sure feels good to have completed this self inflicted project, and yes, I've saved the "Best" for Last.

Saturday 4/2/2011

"Best Chocolate Chip Cookie" 

Yes, that really is the name of the recipe.

It is my FAVORITE!! NUMERO UNO!!

I've always loved Chocolate Chip cookies, but have never been satisfied with how any of the recipes that I've tried turned out. 

One day I was introduced to this particular recipe and I've been in love since. I always add walnuts to mine, but then again I've always been one of those "sometimes you feel like a nut" type of gals. 

  Did I mention, I LOVE this COOKIE!

Oh, and this little Cookie below as well...

I just had to share- Without fail, as soon as she'd hear the Kitchen Aid roaring each day, 

Lila would be right there with her little spoon saying "Mama, some". 

"I'd like to Thank the Academy"

Honestly, I don't really have anything profound to say. So I'll just get right to it...

Friday 4/1/2011

The "OREO" Cookie

This is a recipe I'm familiar with, but haven't baked in quite some time. We are talking years here people. 

It is a recipe I got from my Grandma Jefferies... I was looking through my books and I have quite a few of Grandma J.'s recipes. She was a great cook and because she doesn't bake much anymore, I've decided I must learn through trial and error how to re-create her yummy goodness. 

So far I feel like I've mastered this particular cookie as well as her Carmel Nut Brownies. I will learn how to make her potato salad, even if it kills me. 

Anyway, back to the topic at hand. It's a cake mix recipe and takes

less than 5 minutes to whip up, one of the things I love about it.

It means I can quickly get them to the oven and start on the frosting. 

These are pretty darn yummy!

I would like to take this moment and Thank the Academy... Oops! There I go again, pretending to be someone famous. What I meant to say is- I'd like to take this moment and Thank the Kitchen Aid, without her (Yes, HER) I don't know how I would possibly be sitting here one day away from achieving this weeks cookie project. Oh, and I guess I should mention my fabulous husband for his patience and errand running, and last but not least my oven, he's been great too. (Yes, HE)

**I've had this kitchen aid for over 10 years. Talk about Stamina. :)

Helping to make it a little "MO-FAB"

     I've decided that I love General Conference weekend... Not that I didn't before, I just feel like I anticipate and need it more now than I can ever remember. Obviously I have much to improve on, and it always seems like everything is geared and addressed specifically to benefit me.

     One thing I also enjoy is knowing my Mother is sitting right behind our wonderful and inspiring leaders who guide and direct this church and I can't help but think to myself how amazing it must feel to be in their presence. I also love it when the choir sings and the camera pans across and I can see her beautiful face and point her out to the kids. Thank Heavens for the pause button so everyone gets the chance to see her on the big screen. Trust me, we've had tears before... When we have kids yelling out, "there's Grandma!" and someone else can't quite find her.

     I am also grateful for the personal experiences that I've had because of her choir calling... 

Just last week she asked if I wouldn't mind helping her in the choir office to makeover their awards display.

I guess the choir presidency though it needed a little something more and naturally those tasks always end up in the talented hands of my mom. 

     I don't get to help out as much as I'd like due to the distance and work schedule that is sometimes hindering, but it just so happened that we found a day that worked out perfectly 

and I was able to help her after all.    

 This was the previous set up...

This is the current...

I have to show you the Spring arrangement she did for their office... 

 I thought it turned out darling!

 

It was very neat be able to actually hold, clean and arrange all of the awards that the choir has been presented with over the years and I certainly hope we helped in giving them the justice that they deserve.