Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Recipe From: Ariana at My Sweet Chaos

Ingredients:

1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1 cup butter, melted
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
2 t. vanilla2
1/4 cups flour
2 cups chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Beat butter with sugars

Beat in eggs and vanilla

Stir in dry ingredients (baking soda, salt, flour, chocolate chips)

Try not to over beat during any step. You're wanting to just combine all ingredients.* (This is Ariana's tip and probably the most important. I did not follow and my cookies ended up flat.)

Drop by spoonful onto ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake for 8 minutes for the perfect chewy chocolate chip cookie.

Although the cookies weren't as aesthetically appealing as they could have been, they were definitely soft and chewy. I HIGHLY recommend this recipe!

My tips: Do not worry about taking photos, text messaging or Facebooking while baking. Chances are your masterpiece will not turn out and your FB status update won't be worth burnt cookies!! Just my food for thought...

SPC - Day 12

Just me again... as not-so-Betty Crocker!!

No makeup, No fancy hair and No fun outfit... Just me! AHHHHH!!



I am baking chocolate chip cookies with the recipe Ariana shared.

BTW Ariana - Your cookies look like they TOTALLY rock... Mine just look like a rock!

I will post the results soon... maybe! ;-)

Cheesy Chicken & Rice Casserole

This is the PERFECT easy "go-to" meal when you can't decided what's for dinner!!
It's simple and can be changed up a number of ways!

Cheesy Chicken & Rice Casserole



From: This is in a number of recipes books

Prep: 15 minutes
Bake: 50 minutes
Stand: 10 minutes
Serves: 4

Ingredients:
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup
1 1/3 cups water
3/4 cup uncooked regular long-grain white rice
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast half (about 1 pound)
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Optional Ingredients:
2 cup frozen mixed vegetables - Add along with the soup and main ingredients
1/4 cayenne pepper - Add along with main ingredients and sprinkle on top

Directions:
Heat the oven to 375°F.
Stir the soup, water, rice, onion powder and black pepper in a 2-quart shallow baking dish.
Top with the chicken.
Cover the baking dish.
Bake for 50 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the rice is tender.
Top with the cheese.
Let the casserole stand for 10 minutes.
Stir the rice before serving.

SPC - Day 11

Dogsitting my sweet, sweet Shelby Monster today!!

Love, Love, Love this dog!!

SPC - Day 10

I really don't spend much time in the car, however, my SPC photos would make you think otherwise!

I am trying to get more creative with the SPC and find myself not being able to think "outside of the box". I WILL get better!! I can create rooms, parties, events, recipes, but haven't been able to get creative with this. MAYBE, just maybe, that is what this challenge is about!!

SPC - Day 9

Nothing like flip flops, feet and the dashboard... Sounds like a Country Song to me!!

Ignore the lack of pedicure!! However, I never leave home without polished (You paint a wall, you polish your nails) toe nails... this may be my only pet peeve! ;-)

SPC - Day 8

LOVE watching the kiddos in the rearview mirror!!

While trying to take a picture of them, I snapped a picture of myself.

PERFECT for the SPC!!

Seriously AWESOME Strawberry Bread

Seriously Awesome Strawberry Bread Recipe

I found this recipe at http://www.reluctantentertainer.com/ and absolutely fell in love with it!! If you have not tried strawberry bread before, be warned that you will go crazy over this recipe!!

Ingredients:
3 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups sugar
2 1/2 cups sliced strawberries
4 eggs, beaten
1 cup cooking oil

Mix it all up - by hand.

Add the berries at the last.

Bake at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes in small loaf pans, or around 60 minutes in 2 large loaf pans.

Remember each oven is different, so make sure and UNDER-SET your timer, so you don't over bake the bread!

SPC - Day 7

And another pic of me... an awfully boring pic of me.

I really am going to try to get more creative.

If I can't keep myself interested, then how will I keep readers (if there are any) interested?!

SuperCook!

Nope... SuperCook is not my new name, it's this way-too-cool website that I've been missing my entire life! HaHa!

I have been trying to find a website like this for years and finally heard about www.supercook.com this morning on the radio.

Nomally I'd look through cookbooks, find a recipe I like and then head to the store to buy everything I need. With www.supercook.com it allows you to type in ingredients you already have in the pantry and then creates a recipe based on those ingredients.

Genius!!

Check it out if you get a chance!

SPC - Day 6

Just me & my other Hunka Hunka Burnin' Love... *Sigh*

2nd Grade... Here I Come!

My baby boy started 2 grade today!!

He has been so worried about going back to school and getting the "mean" teacher. I am not sure what makes a teacher "mean", I just know it has been really bothering him. Last night, we had Supply Drop-Off and Meet the Teacher and he was so relieved to find out that his teacher was the "nice" one! HaHa! As we were leaving, he said "I feel MUCH better now!"

Below are a few photos of Ashton on the First Day of School.

8 is GREAT!

My baby boy turned 8 years old yesterday & I cannot believe it!! I feel like yesterday was his first birthday and then we turn around and he is 8 years old. *Tear*

He will be starting 2nd grade tomorrow and is excited about a new year.

Below are very few (because that is all the program will let me upload) photos from his birthday weekend... Yes, we celebrated all weekend & he LOVED it!!


Ashton's #8 drawing
This kiddo could draw 24 hours a day... we have SO many drawing and if one is missing, he knows! I love that he is excited about art and being creative!

Josh (my brother), Koda (my nephew) & Ashton getting ready to watch "boy movies"!!

Lil Man smiling for pictures and getting ready to blow out his candles. Little did he know, they were trick candles and re-lit about 7 times! Thank goodness he doesn't have asthma!! HaHa!

My sweet Lil Man on his 8th birthday
He was getting ready to head out with Aunt Steph, Bry & Koda to his next surprise. The race track! He absolutely loved everything about his birthday weekend!

I love this sweet boy!! Happy Birthday Ashton Grant!

SPC - Day 5

What's the best way to spend the last day of Summer?!

Soaking up the sun & Slippin' Slidin' with the kiddos!!
(Tan Lines to prove it!! Haha!)

Hopefully I can start getting a little more creative with the SPC... headshots are awfully boring, BUT I am NOT giving up!



I canNOT believe my little man starts 2nd grade tomorrow... What a BIG guy!!
Time really does fly by & they do grow up so fast. *Tear*

COLORBURST Cupcakes

Colorburst Cupcakes

You'll want gel food colors for this. Gel color adds a ton of color with a small amount of dye. You can find gel colors at craft stores like Michaels and in the cake decorating isle of Walmart. Also, if using red, make sure to get the one that says "No Taste".

1 white cake mix
2 eggs
1 C sour cream
1/2 C milk
1/3 C vegetable oil

Prepare cake batter as directed. Combine all ingredients until incorporated (about 30 seconds).

Scrape sides of bowl and then beat on med-high speed for 3 minutes.

Divide batter according to how many colors you are using.

I used 5 colors and it worked out to a little over 1 cup for each color.

Use food coloring to color batter to desired intensity. I used approximately 1/4 t and they were very bright!

To get a layered stripe, you'll want to put a spoonful of each color in the cupcake one at a time. The batter is thick, so it won't spread on it's own.

A great tip is to set out a little bowl of water where you're working. Dip your finger in the water and then gently spread the batter out. The water will make it so the batter doesn't stick to your fingers.

For my 5 colors, it worked out perfectly with 2 t of each color in each cupcake. So I put in 2 t of red in the bottom of each cupcake and spread it out with my finger. Then I put in 2 t of orange on top of that, then yellow, etc.

Bake them according to the package directions, until a toothpick comes out dry.

Check these out! True crazy BRIGHT colors.

SPC - Day 3 & 4

SPC: Day 3 - Rocking Out to Bon Jovi with the kiddos & Rock Band!!

How could you not grab the microphone for "Livin' On A Prayer"?!

SPC: Day 4 - Ready to head to dinner with my hubby... I love that man!!

SPC - Day 2

Self-Portrait Challenge Day #2 - WARNING!!

**When I started this challenge, I didn't consider the fact that the daily self-portraits might be less than flattering. However, I am testing myself to see if I can keep up with a challenge, so a less than flattering photo is what you get.**

Hanging out by the pool with the girls... I warned ya!!

SPC - Day 1

The Challenge of ALL Challenges... Maybe...

I have been following Ariana's blog for about a year and absolutely love the fun moments she captures on a daily basis. She is definitely the do-it-all mom/wife. Believe it or not... she always leaves me speechless and wondering how in the heck she does it all.

Ariana... if you happen to see this (in all your free time... HeeHee), I wish I knew how to "hyperlink" your name to lead to your blog?

SO... the challenge begins. Ariana is challenging blogland to a daily Self-Portrait shot for 30 days.

Sounds easy?! I think not! However, I'll try anything once... within reason!!




Try it out!!

It could be fun to see the day-to-day changes (minus the added wrinkles & stress, of course)!!

And The Journey Begins...

Well... It's official...

After being laid off 3 times over the last 18 months, I have decided to become a SAHM and begin the journey of finishing my degree. I've spent the last 5 years dedicated to my work and I am extremely nervous about this decision. I pray that I am following the path God has laid out for me.

I have been blessed enough to stay home with Lil Man the entire Summer and it has been awesome!!

Slowly, I am working to be a great Stay-at-home-Mom and a great wife.

Today I plan to do the following:

WHEW! That is a lot of "somethings"... Wish me luck!!

Snack Time - Apple Smiles

Apple Smiles

Red apple (unpeeled)
Peanut Butter
Miniature Marshmallows

Cut a crisp apple into wedges to resemble lips.
Spread one side of an apple wedge with peanut butter.
Add 4 or 5 miniature marshmallow "teeth" along the edge.
Spread another apple wedge with peanut butter and place on top of the marshmallows.

There you have it! Apple Smiles!

Potato Crusted Chicken... YuMMY!!

Potato-Crusted Chicken

Bake: 25 minutes

Ingredients:
3/4 cup Betty Crocker Cheese Garlic Mashed Potatoes, dry

1/4 cup grated Cheddar cheese

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts (approx. 4 pieces)

1/4 cup barbecue sauce *

*You can substitute mayonnaise or dijon mustard

Directions:
PREHEAT oven to 400°F.

COMBINE Mashed Potatoes, grated cheddar cheese and cayenne pepper in shallow bowl.

BRUSH chicken breasts on both sides with barbecue then dip into potato mixture to coat well on both sides.

PLACE chicken on greased cookie sheet.

Bake about 25 minutes, or until chicken is golden brown.

Enjoy!!