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July8th

Happy Birthday Kade!

Posted in: Hostessing, Slice of Life

I’m sorry for the hiatus from blogging lately. There was a lot of party prep going on, then visitors and a birthday party and then immediately after the party we left for vacation. But we’re back and settling into a routine again, so I wanted to update you on Kade’s Birthday Party.

As you know, it was a crayon themed birthday party. I covered all the tables with butcher paper and scattered crayons around so guests could get their creative juices flowing.

We had colorful plates and napkins and plain white cups that you could decorate with, what else, but more crayons. And then I served bite sized mac-n-cheese with mini-burgers and pigs-in-a-blanket. (Maybe subliminally the theme was hyphenated food?) And lets not forget about the monster batch of Monster Cookies.

And then, of course, we had chocolate cake and ice cream.

I made a “Coloring Book” cake and a crayon box out of graham crackers. The sugar colors are from Party Works and I thought they were the perfect final touch. On a side note, I really love how easy it is to decorate with Royal Icing, but I am NOT a fan of how difficult it is to eat it since it sets so hard!

Kade was more interested in identifying the colors on the cake than blowing out the candles. And my little neat-freak did have one meltdown when he looked down and realized how big of a mess the chocolate cake and ice cream had made on his hands and chair.

We were SO thankful for all the friends that came to help us celebrate! We are incredibly blessed to be surrounded by such great people who love our son!

Our volunteer photographer for most of the party – THANK YOU JASON!

I think the costume box was a success. He opened it and started trying on hats and then turning around so people could ooh and aah at how dashing he looked. I’m pretty sure being the center of attention is a trait he inherited from his father.

In my opinion, I didn’t think a little boy’s dress-up box would be complete without a set of fake mustaches. Like a little girl’s box without jewelry, right? Kade did not agree. He wasn’t even a fan when Dad wore one.

My parents sent out a sheriff costume and I don’t know which he was more excited about…dressing up like Woody from Toy Story or finally being able to hold a knife!

Kyle and I found a Radio Flyer tricycle on Craigslist and Kade wasn’t too sure there was really any reason to share.

Making up.

This was the chalkboard growth chart I made for Kade (more on how that came together coming soon).

We love you, Kade! Thanks for giving us so many wonderful, adorable, unique, glorious and funny reasons to celebrate 2 amazing years with you.
June2nd

The Cookie Monster

Posted in: HouseWifery, My Kitchen
So there are a few things coming up in June that I need cookies for, one of which is Kade’s birthday party. We are doing a “color” theme (more on that soon) and so I thought an M&M cookie would be appropriate. Growing up, I remembered my mom making a delicious oatmeal cookie with M&M’s and so I scrounged around in my recipe cupboard until I dug up the recipe for Monster Cookies. My first missed clue that I was getting in over my head was the fact that the first ingredient is not 2 or 4 or 6 eggs, but 1 dozen eggs! Somehow, I managed to ignore the audacity of that and dove in anyway.

My second (not as missed) clue that I was getting in over my head was the fact that before I had even begun to add any dry ingredient, my mixing bowl was full to the brim and dough had completely swallowed the entire beater. At this point I had to find 2 identical bowls and divide the wet ingredients in half by weight. Then those bowls were emptied into my two largest bowls in the entire house (the only things larger are basically my mop bucket and our cooler we take camping). Then I finished mixing in the chocolate chips, M&M’s and 18 cups of oatmeal.

Then I started baking…and baking…and baking. I actually only finished one bowl the first night and stuck the second in the fridge to finish the next day. Now in the cookie’s defense, they really do taste amazing. And now that it’s over, I’m really glad that my cookie baking is finished for the month year.

Kyle had asked me before I started why they were called Monster Cookies and as a kid I had always assumed that they were the actual poster cookie for the Cookie Monster on Sesame Street, but after baking a recipe that produces 12 dozen cookies, I’ve decided it’s because it’s a monster of a cookie project. Kyle disagreed and said it’s because after eating seven in one night, there’s a monster in your stomach!

For all you brave cooks, the recipe is below:

Monster Cookies
- 12 eggs
- 2 pounds of brown sugar (4 1/2 cups)
- 4 cups sugar
- 1 T syrup
- 8 t soda
- 1 pound butter
- 3 pounds peanut butter (6 cups)
- 18 cups oatmeal
- 1 pound M&M’s
- 1 pound chocolate chips
Mix in a large bowl (No, put that one back and get a bigger one) in the order given. Drop by tablespoon on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake for 12 minutes at 350.
November20th

Holiday Baking

Posted in: HouseWifery, My Kitchen
I started the baking for Thanksgiving today. It is a true test of self-will to keep my hands out of the cookie jar and off the muffins. So far, so good. I didn’t even lick the spoon.

But I feel myself wavering…

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup peanut butter chips
15 mini chocolate covered peanut butter cups, cut into fourths

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, shortening, peanut butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla.
3. Combine the flour, cocoa, and baking soda; stir into the peanut butter mixture. Mix in the chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, and peanut butter cups. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.
4. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes in the preheated oven. They will look slightly undercooked when you pull them out. Let cool for 1 or 2 minutes on sheet before removing, or they will fall apart. Store in airtight container to keep soft.
5. Makes approximately 40 cookies.
Pumpkin Spice Muffins

Ingredients:

4 cups all-purpose flour
1 3/4 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 3/4 cups sugar
1 1/4 cups raisins
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon ground nutmeg
1 tablespoon ground cloves
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 1/2 cups canned pumpkin
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup water

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Combine first 10 ingredients in a large bowl, make a well in center of mixture.
3. Combine eggs, and remaining 3 ingredients; add to dry ingredients, stirring just until moistened.
4. Spoon batter into paper-lined muffin pans, filling two-thirds full. Bake for 20 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from pans immediately.
5. Makes approximately 3 1/2 dozen muffins These can be frozen for up to three months.

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