wordless wednesday: the luckiest...

 

 

 

recipe: soft and thick sugar cookies

Yes, two recipes in a week (and another tucked away for next) because this was too good not to share. 

For Valentine's Day we were staying home and not making a big fuss but, I made a new recipe for dinner and wanted dessert to be special. Earlier in the week, I had pinned a recipe for sugar cookies claiming they were better than the Lofthouse cookies found in the grocery store. And easy. Sold.

The boys and I hit the grocery store on Thursday afternoon, picked up the few ingredients we didn't have on hand and George helped me whip up a batch. That quickly turned to two. Ahem. Just go ahead and make them. Really.

Soft and Thick Sugar Cookies
Recipe adapted from Noshings
Source: Homemade By Holman

Cookies:
1 18 oz box white cake mix with pudding in the mix
2/3 cup flour
2 large eggs
1/3 cup canola oil
2 T sour cream (I used reduced fat)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large mixing bowl, stir together cake mix and flour.  Add eggs, oil and sour cream and mix on medium speed until incorporated.  Batter will be fairly stiff.  Use a cookie scoop or roll into approximately one inch balls and bake on a baking sheet lined with a Silpat or parchment paper.  This will help keep the bottoms of the cookies from browning.  Use the heel of your hand or a glass dusted with sugar to gently flatten cookies to about a half inch thick.  You don't want the bottoms to be browned or you've overbaked these.  Bake approximately 10 minutes until just set.  Let cool about 1 minute on the pan and then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Frost as desired. There is a frosting recipe in the pin/link but, I used canned and added red sugar to top. Let frosting set and store in airtight container.

Source: homeiswheretheholmansare.blogspot.com via Jen on Pinterest

recipe: cranberry chicken

This recipe has become a fast favorite here. I discovered it when a friend posted it on my mom's Facebook page back in the fall and was intrigued. That it can be thrown together in about 30 seconds and fully cooked in less than 3 hours in the crock pot? Huge bonus. I serve the chicken over rice and with a side of veggies.

Cranberry Chicken for Slow Cooker

2.5 - 3 pounds chicken thighs and/or drumsticks, skinned (I use boneless, skinless)
1 16-ounce can whole cranberry sauce (if using jellied, just toss in some dried cranberries)
2 tablespoons dry onion soup mix (I use the whole packet for a more savory flavor)
2 tablespoons quick-cooking tapioca

Place chicken pieces in a 3-1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker. In a small bowl, stir together cranberry sauce, dry soup mix, and tapioca. Pour over chicken pieces.

Cover; cook on low-heat setting for 5 to 6 hours or on high-heat setting for 2-1/2 to 3 hours. Serve chicken and sauce over hot cooked rice.

Makes 6 servings.

project life week six and nemo...

Week 6 was supposed to be a simple two pages. Left side for daily stuff of a slow week, right side reserved for Jack's first birthday. Ahem. Nemo the blizzard (who comes up with these names anyway?) changed that plan fast! So, here I present to you the revised left and right. A full insert on Jack's birthday is yet to come...

{February 4 - 10}

Left side: Jack is ONE, my three guys, cuddles with YiaYia. baking again, my dental adventures and a sweet conversation with G...

Right side: Nemo (graphic found circulating the net), discovering the snow in the morning, photos from our front door first thing in the morning and Mr. Boom's early drive around town and playing in the fresh fallen snow Saturday...

Have you documented a weather event in your area recently using Project Life? I'd love to see!

jack at one year...

My sweet Jack,

You came into our lives, exactly as planned, on a cold, clear morning exactly one year ago today. Baba and I both t eared up the second we saw you in all of your screaming perfection. As they cleaned you up in the warmer across the OR, I saw your little toes and exclaimed to Baba, "He has your feet!" And, somehow, here we are today a full year later.

Your first year has been a beautiful blur of nursing, giggles, walks around town, days at the zoo, car rides, snuggles and, thankfully, good health. Being able to stay home with you and your brother and experiencing every tiny little moment and milestone has been such a blessing.

It is difficult to put into words how much joy you have brought to our family. You are such an easy-going child, full of smiles and content. You just fit in so easily. We have LOVED watching your personality develop over the past several months. You are strong-willed, funny and incredible sweet. You dole out smiles and flirts everywhere we go...a complete ham.

At one year you...

• weigh 19lbs12oz (25%) and are 29.25" long (25%)
• wear 12 month clothing and size 4 diapers
• love to feed yourself and will try most any food we serve, but not eggs
• have two teeth and two more on the way (that are giving you a hard time)
• are super ticklish under your arms and on your belly
• cannot stand getting your diaper changed because it means staying still
• love car rides and being out and about
• walk, run and climb...everything
• are already getting good at puzzles
• love pureed food pouches, especially applesauce
• are a good napper
• love to clap, dance and play pat-a-cake
• enjoy books and your favorite is Hands, Hands, Fingers, Thumb
• say Mama, Baba, Pappou (Greek for Grandpa), YiaYia (Greek for Grandma), this, palamakia (Greek for clap)
• copy everything your brother does
• love to watch Elmo, Small Potatoes and Little Einsteins and otherwise don't pay too much attention to tv unless music comes on

We love you SO much little guy!
To the moon and back, and again,
Mama

project life tuesday: week five...

Is it spring yet?? That's about all I have to say for this past week. Fully understanding that we are typically spoiled by mild winters, January has been rough. We all have cabin fever. Fresh air, sunshine and decent light for photographs...please come back! The Groundhog said winter is nearly over so, thread of hope? Okay. Enough with the whining. Here is week five in my album.

{January 28 - February 3}

Lots of fun with digital stamps, lamenting over the weather (I know, I know), registering G for preschool in September (eek!), the Superbowl and the boys at play...

 Ode to Trader Joe's, more playtime, donuts with Mr. Boom and thoughts on being stuck inside (the positive parts!)...

I also have some exciting news coming up, related to Project Life that I will be able to share later this month. Super, super, super fun stuff ahead (ahhhhhhhh!!!)!

it's a project life blog hop!

I'm thrilled to be a part of Michelle of Busy Being Happy's blog hop today!

Michelle is hosting a Saturday blog hop each week as a way to encourage and motivate other Project Lifer's through the year. Take a peek at her beautiful work and the other blog linked up today. I know you'll leave feeling inspired...