lighter (and not-so lighter) snickerdoodles

Snickerdoodles are the first cookies that I remember making when I was growing up, and these are a very yummy version!

This recipe cuts out some of the fat and thus calories that most other recipes for this cookie have.

The result is a more cake-like cookies, and they didn’t spread very much, but it is still had that good cinnamony chewiness I love.

Then because I had some leftover cream cheese frosting from some other cookies, I decided to try this:

Mini Snickerdoodle Cream Cheese Sandwich Cookies!

At this point you pretty much loose out on any healthified properties, but man were they tasty.

(I have this theory that I could eat a rock if it was slathered with cream cheese frosting.)

Try it out, with, or without the frosting.

Lighter Snickerdoodles

from bettycrocker.com

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup margarine, softened

1/2 package (8 ounce size) reduced fat cream cheese, softened

1 egg

2 egg whites

2 3/4 cup all purpose flour

2 tsp. cream of tartar

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 cup sugar

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1. Heat over to 400 degrees

2. Mix 1 1/2 cups sugar, margarine, cream cheese, and eggs in large bowl.

3. Sift together flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt and mix into the other mixture.

4. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.

5. Shape dough into 1 1/4 inch balls. Mix the 1/4 sugar with the cinnamon. Roll the balls in the cinnamon sugar.

6. Place on greased cookie sheets and flatten each ball with the bottom of a drinking glass.

7. Bake for 6-8 minutes. (Don’t overbake!)

8. Remove to wire racks to cool.

9. Eat and enjoy!

oh, he just loves technology

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is someone in our house who would sing that song of Kip’s if they knew it.

Why is the computer rebooting? I don’t know, I wasn't there.

I get fun surprises of finding pictures on my sd card that I didn’t take.

I also find $50 worth of items in my amazon shopping cart including things like popsicle molds. (thank heavens I am not signed up for one click purchases.)

I get to hunt for my ipod which mysteriously gets tucked under the couch or behind the curtains.

Many of the icons on the computer have been renamed more handy names like, “bbbheixixizozooziet”

See if this next clue gives you a hint at the perpetrator.

i’ll stick to the masterpiece

(If I could live out a fantasy that would be me walking through a misty English moor)

I’m pretty much a HUGE fan of British, period films. I could do a whole series of posts on the shows I love from across the pond.

So you would think I would be excited about the new Jane Eyre movie that has just come out, but this is why I’m not:

This version that came out just a few years ago was fabulous.

I love it. Nobody will ever do “Mr. Rochester” like Toby Stephens.

This is not the first Masterpiece Theatre/BBC version I would rather stick to.

Did you see this?

I thought it was good, and Emily Blunt was gorgeous, but I  already had a place in my heart for this:

It goes into so much more depth and detail. Another one of my favorite movies.

And lastly if you were like me and were excited to see this one until you found out what it was rated:

Try this other version. It is a couple years older, but still a great film about the same story:

I may just have to watch these all again soon, now that I think of it.

send in the clowns

My kids make me laugh all the time.

Scott was wondering why I haven’t updated the funny things they say in a while. It’s not because they don’t say funny things anymore.

It’s because their mother is so scatterbrained she can’t remember them for very long.

So I’ll try harder to do it since they say a lot I don’t want to forget. Maybe I’ll start carrying around a notepad like a reporter.

In the meantime, you’ll just have to believe me. They keep me laughing. 

well hello, dolly

I made a few of my favorite cookies for Cali’s baptism. As I tested each kind I thought to myself, “This is my favorite cookie.” I came to the realization that my favorite cookie is probably whatever cookie I am putting in my mouth.

This one is an easy bar cookie that goes by the name Hello Dolly Bars or 7 Layer Bars or Magic Layer bars or a few other names and with varying ingredients.  It’s gooey, chewy, and scrumptious.

And it’s pretty much 100%  bad for you indulgent. Just wanted to throw in that disclaimer.

Hello Dolly Bars

(recipe from The Essential Mormon Cookbook)

1/3 butter or margarine, melted

1 1/2 cups crushed graham crackers

1 cup chocolate chips

1 cup butterscotch chips

1 cup chopped pecans (okay to leave out)

1 cup flaked coconut

1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk (fat free)

Mix butter and graham crackers. 

Press into a 9x13 inch pan.

Sprinkle with chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, pecans, and coconut.

Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over the top. 

Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes. Cut into bars when cool. 

Makes 20 bars.

Natalie likes to help me stage cookies for photos.  She’s a smart cookie herself:

baptism day

 

Last Saturday was the day that we have been anticipating for so long.

Cali is now an official member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

We had some sick kids, a lot of family that couldn’t come, and other obstacles, but I just like to believe that Cali is such a special daughter of Heavenly Father that Satan will always be trying to throw a monkey wrench in things for her. Sometimes I wonder at the fact that Heavenly Father trusts me to be her mother.

 

We were glad for all the family that was able to be there. I even forgot my camera, but Angela saved the day with hers and got the photos at the baptism for us.

It was a whirlwind day, but a very special one. I love this girl and I know Heavenly Father does too.

going green

This is a recipe that I posted a while ago on Something New Something Yummy.

I wish I would have got this post up yesterday because it was pi day (3.14).

But, it’s not too late for St. Patrick’s day.

This is quick, easy, and not too bad for you. That’s my favorite kind of dessert.

5 minute Key Lime Pie

recipe from Keebler Ready Crusts

1/4 cup water

1 package (4 serving size) sugar-free lime gelatin

2 containers (6 oz) fat-free key lime pie yogurt

1 tub (8 oz) frozen reduced-fat Cool Whip, thawed

1 graham cracker crust, reduced fat

1. In a microwave-safe measuring cup heat water on high for 45 seconds to 1 1/2 minutes or until boiling. Whisk in gelatin until dissolved.

2. In a large bowl whisk together gelatin mixture and yogurt. Fold in whipped topping. Carefully spread in crust. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or until set.

3 Garnish as desired. Store in refrigerator.

Yeild: 8 servings

breakfast birthday bash

We had a party with Cali’s friends on Saturday.  We had them over for a breakfast party and it turned out really well.

They made their own fruit-kabobs and had pancakes with all the toppings.

 

Here are some breakfast/morning inspired games that were a lot of fun (in case anyone wants to use this party theme or I use it again sometime and need to remember):

getting dressed relay (putting on an adult outfit over their clothes)

balloon pop relay with instructions inside on something they had to act out like brush your teeth or comb your hair

fill up a bowl with cereal using a spoon relay

Here are a few I thought of and didn’t use but should have. (little excited girls burn through party games like nobody’s business.)

bingo played with cheerios

pass a doughnut/bagel using a chopstick in your mouth

I also thought about having them come in pajamas which would have been fun.

We also made some butterflies using coffee filters, clothespins, googly eyes and pipe cleaner. Crafts are usually the hit of the party, and this one was super-inexpensive.

Their goody bags had mini boxes of cereal and packets of hot chocolate along with candy.

I’m glad that Cali thought that this fun and easy party was the “best-ever!”

delicious dirt

The dessert party was last Friday, and we found a winner.

After sifting through tons of recipes in my list of “to-try” recipes I came upon this. 

I wanted to get the kids involved and this sounded like something right up their alley. It also brought back memories of a certain “toxic waste dump” that someone once entered in a cook-off (Elizabeth). When in doubt, make something weird and throw in gummy worms. 

This is a layered pudding dessert with crushed Oreos and cream cheese mixed into the pudding. What’s not to love?

I bought a little pail and shovel for a dollar and thought it would be cute served in the pail, but didn’t do that this time. The little shovel did make a cute serving spoon.  The kids especially loved piling on the dirt and placing the worms.

We won the “most creative award,” and I got to try so many things that I dreamed about dessert all night.

Heaven.

DIRT

(this recipe is all over the internet)

1 (12 oz) pack of Oreos (can use reduced fat or even chocolate grahams)

1/4 cup butter or margarine (I left this out)

1 (8 oz) package of cream cheese (reduced fat)

1 cup powdered sugar

3 1/2 cups milk (skim)

2 small packages of instant vanilla pudding (I had sugar free chocolate and used them)

1 (16 oz) tub Cool Whip (light)

In a blender, grind Oreos four or so at a time.  In a separate container, cream together margarine, cream cheese, and powdered sugar.  In another container mix together milk, pudding and Cool whip. Mix together the cream cheese mixture and the pudding mixture. Layer the Oreos first then the pudding, then the remaining Oreos in a 9x13 pan. Refrigerate a least a few hours before serving, better if overnight. (Place gummy worms on before serving)

a gr8 birthday

 

Cali is now 8!

We were glad that her birthday was on Sunday so we could be with her for so much of it.

 

We went over to Grandma and Grandpa’s house to celebrate in the evening.

Natalie was still in her blow-out-the candles mode. She had no patience for people trying to take some pictures.

Cali’s Great-Grandma was there and she was celebrating her birthday on Monday.

She turned 91!

I’m so glad that we have Cali!

just desserts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love dessert. I love making it, eating eat, and sharing it.

Ian loves dessert too. He loves making it, eating it, and wearing it.

We have a ward party on Friday and they are doing a dessert cook-off.

I’m always wanting excuses to try something that I won’t have to eat all by myself.

I have narrowed down the possibilities to about 100 recipes, give –or-take.

This is my kind of dilemma.

2 cute

Happy Birthday to Natalie!

Natalie didn’t need any coaching on opening her presents (though Ian tried).

She didn’t need any coaching with blowing out the candles either.

We had to relight the candles twice to get through the entire birthday song.

That’s my sweet little 2-year old.

sweet valentines

Happy Valentine's Day!

I just wanted to share two things. First is a simple thing I like to do for the kid's Valentine's breakfast. Take some Pop Tarts and cut them with cookie cutters to make some heart-tarts. They love it and are glad to be rid of those frosting-less edges!

Second, I just wanted to share this Mormon Message because I love it so much. Its good advice on any day, but especially good for today.

i wish i could live on bread alone

I have decided to start posting recipes on this blog as well as a copy on our recipe blog (something new, something yummy.)

I feel like this is only fair because I wrote in my description of this blog that this is where I write about what I think about. Food is on my mind a hefty portion of the time.

I’ve been reading so many recipes lately that sound so scrumptious. One of my fears in life is that I will die before trying all the recipes that are really worthwhile out there. My recipe stack grows everyday.

I wanted to point this recipe out as one of those that I think everyone should try. I first tried it last year around St. Patrick’s day but it has become a regular at our house. I like to have soup and bread nights and since the kids aren’t fans of soup the bread part is pretty vital to the meal.

This is not only low-fat and high fiber, it also comes together super fast and you can have a warm loaf of bread in about an hour. That is helpful for people like me who lose track of time, and realize dinner is coming up fast.

I like it best when it is still warm from the oven and the crust is crusty, but it also makes yummy toast the next day.

This originally came from Cooking Light

Brown Soda Bread

2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup steel-cut oats

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 tablespoon wheat germ

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups buttermilk (I use sour milk made from lemon juice and skim milk)

1 large egg-beaten

 

1. Preheat oven to 325.

2 Coat a 9x5 loaf pan with cooking spray

3. Combine flours through salt.

4. Combine buttermilk with egg and add to the flour mixture.

5. Stir until just combined.

6. Spoon mixture into pan.

7. Bake at 325 for 1 hour and 5 minutes or until pick comes out clean.

8. Invert on wire rack.

saturday night life

I was talking to someone yesterday about not blogging as much lately. My main reason is because I feel like nothing much has been going on.

So here is a post about nothing much going on, which happened last night.

(That is a swimming suit Natalie was wearing on her head.)

 

We had gotten the Valentine’s ready for class parties this week so the kids had sugar on the brain.

Ian got the extra fun-dip valentine, and Cali had some giant pixie sticks from awards at school and we pulled them out.

And then because we like to throw caution to the wind, we let the girls dip suckers in the pixie stick sugar and make their own fun-dips.

This is a good example of our wild and crazy Saturday nights.