And ending.....

I have decided that while I had fun doing the cookie of the week, I am done with it. Instead, I will be doing a cupcake of the month. I have been inspired lately by the Martha Stewart Cupcake book and my friend Heather. Both of them having amazing cupcakes, and I really want to try some of them. So please stay with me. I will occasionally post cookies, or other things that I bake, but I wanted to get back to my family since that was the reason I started this blog. Thanks so much! And if you have any amazing cup cakes recipes that you would like me to make, please feel free to send them my way!

Potty Training

I know that awhile back (last Feb.) I talked about potty training with L. Well, it looks like we are finally getting there. He is great about peeing in the potty, and wearing big boy underpants now. But the problem is that he still poops in his pants. Doesn't matter what we do, he still does it. But the plus is that now D is potty training also. I have a feeling that in a matter of months, both of my children will be potty trained. L even went shopping with my mom and I all day on Friday in his big boy underpants with no accidents. We are all very proud of him, but if you have any suggestions on how to correct the problem we are having, please let me know. Thanks!

Sledding

On New Year's Eve, we took the family to a park and went sledding. It was tons of fun! The kids had a blast, and they had fun going down a slide there that was packed with snow. A few days later, we headed to a different park that had a big hill. It was the perfect spot. No roads, trees, or anything else that might cause an accident. L had tons of fun going down it all by himself. He really is getting to be a big boy now. D only wanted to go down if mommy or daddy went with her, but L is showing no fear when it comes to all those typical little boy things.

Adam was jumping over the little hill the kids were flying over.

L going down the slide

One happy little boy

and one happy little girl.

Christmas morning

Okay, so I know that I am a little late in posting this, but the internet has been funny all month because of the massive snow storms we were having. But this is what our Christmas morning looked like. After the crazy long and busy Christmas Eve (we got home at 1 am.), the kids actually slept in late. WHAT??? Of all the mornings to sleep in, it has to be Christmas! Oh well. The kids had a small tree that they decorated in their room, and Santa had left 2 little presents under that tree. L ran right past that, out the living room, past the tree, presents, stockings and easel, and headed into our room. I reminded him that he should check their tree. They ended up opening those and still running to come get us. Once we showed them the tree and presents they were super excited! We went through the stockings, opened all the gifts, and had a fun breakfast of pancakes and fruit. Then it was time to open all the toys. They just couldn't wait! We also had to get ready to head out to my dad's house for Christmas with him and my brother. It was a great Christmas break, but boy was it busy. Adam was home with us from Dec. 24- Jan. 4, and the kids did not want him to go back to work. Oh well, life goes on right?

Checking out the loot! It was filled with play-doh and accessories.

L was super excited that he got a new Thomas movie, and it came with a new train.

Santa brought the kids an easel, and both of them have been enjoying it. We have also started to teach a letter a day using the easel.

Happy 2010!

Happy New year from my family to yours!!!! Hope the next year is full of happy, healthy, fun-filled days!

Cookie of the Week!- Lemon Ricotta Cookies

Okay, so can you tell that I am trying to play catch up. The Internet has been really bad at my house with all the cold and snow, and the holidays! Yikes!!! And yes I know this is not a really good picture, but hey, it was the last one!

This was another one from the cookie exchange. It is actually a Giada De Laurentiis recipe, and I have to say, I was impressed!

So without further ado...



Cookie:
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 (15 ounce) container of whole milk ricotta cheese
3 tbsp. lemon juice
1 lemon, zested

Glaze:
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
3 tbsp. lemon juice
1 lemon, zested

Preheat the oven to 375. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. In the large mixing bowl, combine the sugar, and butter until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating until incorporated. Add the ricotta cheese, lemon juice, and zest. Beat to combine. Stir in the dry ingredients.

Spoon about 2 tbsp. of the dough onto a parchment lined baking sheet about 2" apart. Bake for 15 min, until slightly golden brown around the edges. Allow cookie to rest 20 min.

Combine the powdered sugar, lemon juice, and zest in a small bowl and stir until smooth. Spoon about 1/2 tsp. onto each cookie. Let the glaze harden about 2 hours before packaging.

Cookie of the Week!- Peanut Butter Temptations

A few weeks back, my mom's group had a cookie exchange. While all the cookies were super yummy, I did pick 2 to make for my Christmas cookies this year. This was one of them! It was a super easy, and fairly inexpensive one to make. So here it is...


About 40 Reese's Peanut butter cups, miniatures
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 egg
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt

Heat oven to 375. Remove wrappers from candies. Line small muffin cups with paper bake cups. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, peanut butter, egg, and vanilla until fluffy in a large bowl. Stir together flour, baking soda, and salt; gradually add to butter mixture, beating until well blended. Shape dough into 1" balls; place one in each paper-lined or ungreased muffin cup. Do not flatten. Bake 10-12 min, until puffed and lightly browned; remove from oven. Immediately press peanut butter cup in center of each cookie. Cool completely in muffin pan.


See how easy was that???