12.27.2013

Logan's 10th Birthday

DOUBLE DIGITS!!  AGG!  I'm not sure how I feel about this.  Logan's party is always last minute and thrown together.  It's so busy in December!  I would love to do his birthday party on his half birthday, but Landon's not on board with that idea.  

Logan loves basketball and wanted to have an IU basketball party. 

Amber Weatherly was awesome and was accommodating to my last minute order!  She made red velvet cupcakes, the cake, and chocolates.  She made me cookie dough so I could make the cookies. 
Landon liked the theme for this party!

We had a double elimination three on three basketball tournament.  We had one team of four that subbed out one player.  I'd like to say a big thanks to Michael Dickerson and Don Butcher for reffing, Sara Farris and Suzanne Dickerson for running the clock and scoreboard.
The Hoosiers.
The Blue Devils
The Tarheels
The Volunteers


Julie brought a craft for the ones who didn't want to play basketball.  It was a basketball ornament they could paint.  I'm so thankful for her!  What a great friend!!
Lane wasn't very happy at the party.  He was sleepy.Thankfully grandparents were there to pass him around:)


He had a screaming rendition of "Happy Birthday".











12.19.2013

Christmas Cookies

This year in our homeschool group, whoever wanted to participate, did a unit study on cookies by Amanda Bennett.   We got together and had a cookie making/decorating/swap.  LOTS of cookies!!!!  We each brought five dozen for the cookie swap.  Logan wanted to make cookies with Mamaw because her chocolate chip cookies are the BEST!

The next day we met at the church.


Cookie Swap:
I want to take her home with me:)


Cookie Recipes


Mamaw's Chocolate Chip Cookies
2 eggs
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 stick butter
1/2 stick crisco (in package)
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 1/4 cup flour
8 oz chocolate chips

Mix everything together, flour last.  Mix by hand the last half of flour and chocolate chips.  Bake at 350 for 12 minutes.

Sugar Cookies
1 cup butter
2 1/4 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 cup sour cream
5-6 cups flour (until desired consistency for rolling)

Cream together butter and sugar.  Beat in eggs and sour cream.  Mix in dry ingredients.  Cover and refrigerate overnight.  Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Roll out dough to a 1/4-3/8 inch thickness using a generous amount of flour.  Cut out shapes and bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for 8 min.  Cool on wire rack.  Frost and decorate as desired.

Frosting
4 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup shortening
5 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
food coloring (optional)

In a large bowl, cream together the confectioners' sugar and shortening until smooth.  Gradually mix in the milk and vanilla with an electric mixer until smooth and stiff, about five min.  Color with food coloring if desired.


Chocolate Minute Cookies
1/2 cup butter
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup cocoa
pinch of salt
1/2 peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla
3 cup quick oats

Combine first five ingredients.  Bring to boil for one minute.  DO NOT STIR.  After minute put on lid for thirty seconds then stir after.  Remove from heat and add peanut butter and stir well.  Add vanilla and oats.  Mix well.  Drop on wax paper.


Spritz
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 cup butter
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

Heat oven to 400F.  In large mixer bowl combine sugar, butter, egg, salt, and vanilla.  Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until mixture is light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes.  Add flour.  Beat at low speed, scraping bowl often, until mixed well, 2-3 minutes.  Place dough in cookie press.  Form desired shapes 1 inch apart on cookie sheets.  Bake for 6-8 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.  



Chocolate Crinkles
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
4 oz unsweetened chocolate, mixed
1/2 cup cooking oil
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups all purpose flour
sifted powdered sugar

In a mixing bowl beat eggs, granulated sugar, chocolate, oil, baking powder, and vanilla with an electric mixer till combined.   Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer.  Stir in remaining flour.  Cover and chill 1-2 hours or till easy to handle.  Shape dough into 1 inch balls.  Roll balls into powdered sugar to coat generously.  Place balls 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake in 375 degree oven for 8-10 minutes or till edges are set and tops are crackled.  Transfer cookies to a wire rack and let cool.  If desired, sprinkle with additional powdered sugar.  Makes about 48 cookies.


Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
2 sticks butter, softenend
2 3/4 cup bread flour
1 T kosher salt
1 T baking soda
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 egg yolk
2 T milk
1 1/2 T vanilla
2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Heat oven to 350.  Sift together flour, salt, and baking soda.  Set aside.  Place butter, sugar, and brown sugar in mixing bowl.  Cream together on medium speed.  Add the egg, yolk, milk, and vanilla.  Mix until well combined.  Slowly add flour mixture until thoroughly combined.  Stir in chocolate chips.  Spoon dough onto parchment lined baking sheets.  Bake 14 min or until golden brown.


Blossoms (Jake and Hannah Sloan)
1 pkg (18 oz) refrigerated cookie dough
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
42 milk chocolate kisses, unwrapped

Preheat oven to 350F.  Crumble cookie dough into large bowl.  Stir in peanut butter,  until completely blended.  Fill cookie press with dough.  Press dough onto flat cookie sheet, one inch apart.  Bake 10-12 min or until light golden brown.  Remove from oven and immediately place in candy kiss in the center of each cookie, pressing down firmly.  Cool 1-2 min on baking sheet then remove cookies to a cooling rack.  Makes 3 1/2 dozen



Monster Cookies
12 eggs
2 pounds brown sugar
4 cups sugar
3 tsp vanilla
3 tsp white corn syrup
16-oz package chocolate chips
8 tsp baking soda
1 lb margarine
3 lbs peanut butter
18 cups minute oatmeal
16-oz package M&Ms

Mix all the ingredients in the order given (mixing margarine with eggs and sugar first).  Drop spoonfuls of dough onto a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes (or more, depending on the size of the cookies.)