Go Army, Beat Navy!

Since we finally live close enough to the location of the Army-Navy game, we decided to make the drive up for the weekend and go to the game. D has obviously been to the game when he was a cadet, but he hasn't been since he was in school.

AJ and I will not be attending the game itself, but we're planning to go tailgate and hang out before the game and then we'll probably head back to hang out with our friends we're staying with while D and his friend go to the game!


I'm excited to see our friends again (its been a long time since we've seen them) and I'm really excited that D will get to go to the game again!

I'll be back next week with updates!

Double Chocolate Chunk Mocha Cookies

This next cookie is a more "grown-up" cookie. As a kid, I wasn't really a big fan, but as an adult, they're one of my favorites. Its a little bit of work, but I really appreciate the effort my Mom puts into making these bad boys every year.

If you like chocolate (and who doesn't?) these are a must make.

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Double Chocolate Chunk Mocha Cookies
8 Squares semisweet chocolate, divided
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 T instant coffee
1 egg
1 t vanilla
1/2 t baking powder
1 cup all purpose flour
1/4 t salt

Melt one square of chocolate.

Cut 3 squares of chocolate into 1/2 inch chunks and set aside. (I sometimes just use chocolate chips for this part because it is very hard to cut up the chocolate squares).

Beat butter until light and fluffy, gradually beat in sugars and coffee. Mix in egg and vanilla; stir in melted chocolate. Add flour, baking powder and salt and mix well. Stir in chocolate chunks. Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Drop by Tablespoonful about 2" apart on parchment paper covered cookie sheets. Bake 8 minutes. Cool for 2 minutes before removing from cookie sheets and then cool on a wire rack.

Melt remaining chocolate. Dip 1/2 of the top of each cookie in chocolate and let chocolate set.

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These are so delicious, but they're not too sweet because you use the semi-sweet chocolate blocks.

This completes my all-time favorite Christmas cookie line up. In case you missed any of them, here they are:

Iced Shortbreads
Buckeyes
Holly Wreaths

Our Tree!

Since I didn't post the picture of our tree when we first put it up, I'll share it with you now!


As soon as I actually send out our Christmas cards, I'll post them here so you can all enjoy the cuteness that is Miss AJ!

Happy Holidays!

Holly Wreaths

In keeping with my Christmas cookie recipe updates, today I'm going to share a fun, festive cookie.

My mom makes these every year and everyone loves them, but I will admit, you can usually find red hots hidden around the house because I'm convinced that no one actually likes them, so we always pick them off. ;) I've suggested to my mom that she should just leave the red hots off, but she claims that they're an integral part of the aesthetic of the Holly Wreaths. Whatever.

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Holly Wreaths
1/4 cup butter
1 (10 oz) bag marshmallows
5 cups corn flakes
green food coloring
red hots

Melt butter in a large pan over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until melted, then add green food coloring to make the marshmallow mixture very green. Remove from heat and add cornflakes. Stir until well coated. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper or well greased cookie sheet. Add a few red hots immediately to each spoonful so they will stick-they should look like holly berries.



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These guys are yummy, but like I said, the red hots are really just for show, so don't be surprised if you find them on your kitchen counter or hidden in the couch cushions (not that I ever did that as a kid).

World Famous, Ultimate Christmas Cookie

I know I said yesterday that if you want lots of extra presents and love from your family and friends you should bring them Iced Shortbreads, but I'm serious when I say that today's cookie will literally win you arguments. They're that good.

I'm sure that some of my readers are familiar with this cookie, as its a regional thing, and you'll most likely be able to guess where my family originates from based on this recipe, but I'm okay with that. Even if you're not from Middle America, you should make these.

They're also a no-bake cookie, so if you're one of those people who are afraid of your oven, this is a cookie for you!

Without further adieu, I present to you, Buckeyes.

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Buckeyes
1 1/2 c peanut butter
1 c butter, softened
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
6 c powdered sugar
4 c semi-sweet chocolate chips

In a large bowl, mix together the peanut butter, butter, vanilla, and powdered sugar. The dough will look dry. Roll into 1-inch balls and place on a waxed paper-lined cookie sheet.

Press a toothpick into the top of each ball (to be used later as the handle for dipping) and chill in the freezer until firm, about30 minutes.

Melt chocolate chips in a double boiler or in a bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water. Stir frequently until smooth.

Dip frozen peanut butter balls in chocolate holding onto the toothpick. Leave a small portion of peanut butter showing at the top to make them look like Buckeyes. Put back on the cookie sheet and refrigerate (or freeze) until serving.



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You're welcome.

Christmas Cookie Time!

I'm a traditionalist when it comes to the foods served for holiday meals, and this includes the types of Christmas cookies that my mom makes. I like the same things, year in and year out, and its a rare occasion that I'll allow a new recipe into the rotation. With that being said, my family has incorporated Pioneer Woman's Soul Sweet 'Taters into our Thanksgiving feast the past few years. It is good enough to make the (very selective) cut and become a traditional dish on our table.

I could tell you about the year that my mom thought she'd spruce up the holiday table and make cranberry sauce from actual cranberries (vs. opening the can and slicing it up). I could relish you all with the story about the year my mom added fresh green beans to the green bean casserole. Don't get me wrong, I like homemade cranberry sauce a lot now that I'm an adult, but its just the idea that while we're all growing up and our lives are changing, there are some things that will always stay the same.

With that being said, the Christmas cookies my mom makes are the same ones she has been making since the dawn of time. I thought that over the next few days I'd share some of them with all of you (to make up for my repeated and unexcused absences over the last month).

I'm heading to a cookie exchange this afternoon, so I spent my Friday night making cookies to share with my friends and since y'all are my friends too, I have to share the recipe here!

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Iced Shortbreads
1 c butter, softened
1/2 c sugar
1/2 tsp almond extract
2 1/2 c flour

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Add almond extract. Stir in flour in 3 parts, beating well after each addition, dough will be stiff. Knead in bowl for 5 minutes until smooth.

Wrap dough in waxed paper and chill in refrigerator for 30 minutes. Roll teaspoon sized pieces of dough into balls and place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten calls to 1/4 inch thickness. Bake for 22 minutes or until slightly colored.

Icing
1/2 c butter
1 1/2 c powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp milk

Melt butter and add powdered sugar until you achieve spreading consistency. Add vanilla and milk. Ice cooled cookies.

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These are absolutely delicious and are obviously terrible for you. I advise you to make them right away, then pack up most of them and give them to friends and family. A few days later, you'll receive lots of unexpected gifts and lots of love from them, I promise! ;)

Come on back tomorrow for an all-time semi-famous favorite!

Thanksgiving Weekend in Paradise

We went to Florida for Thanksgiving to spend the long weekend with my family. This wasn't the first time AJ has been there, but considering that the last time she was there, she was 9 months old, she had WAY more fun this time!

AJ giving the camera one of her "looks."

AJ and her Obo taking on some waves.

The whole fam, posing for a pic by the beach (in matching shirts).

The Thanksgiving feast! Yum, yum!

AJ's paparazzi photo!

Gorgeous sunset the last day of the trip.

Me and my siblings!

Mimi, AJ and me, walking along the beach.

My dad and brother hanging around with the gator.

Paddle-boarding in the ocean!

Ma and Pa, toes in the water, a$$ in the sand!

Hanging on the beach!

Z and the hammer-head shark we found on the beach.

Our "good" family photo.

The pet gator.

Hubby and me at dinner.

C'mon! Let's get in the water!

The "bad" family photo. ;)

Building sandcastles.

Walking around by herself.

Surfing with Uncle B (one of my fave pics, and in case you're wondering, I was flipping out while this was going on).

B and M. So cute!

AJ hanging out in the cabana.

Studying her findings.

Swimming with Uncle B.

Posing with Uncle B.

Aunt A was not as lucky!

Beach volleyball.

And there you have it folks, our Thanksgiving weekend in a nutshell! As you can tell, we had a great time and all came back very relaxed and rested after our fun in the sun. I have another trip planned for AJ and I in March to spend some time with my sis while she's on Spring Break, so I'm excited to go back!