Oatmeal Cookies

I love baking. Last week, I made chocolate chip cookies. I felt I had to try them because, the author of Orangette gushed and gushed. And I quote, "In fact, it is, without a doubt, the best chocolate chip cookie that I have ever made at home. It is also the best chocolate chip cookie that I have ever eaten. It scares me a little to make such a bold statement, but I have decided to do it anyway. " So, if you're in the mood for a new chocolate chip cookie recipe, I recommend following the link and giving them a try. I will make them again, though the next time I'll probably leave off the sea salt or only put a couple grains on each. It weirded Wayne out a bit.

Yesterday, I was in the mood for a tried and true recipe, one that didn't require a day or two of refrigeration before enjoying them. This is a Martha Stewart recipe that I wrote down years ago. I love using both Heath toffee chips and chocolate chips in this cookie. They're chewy and crunchy. Enjoy!

Oatmeal Cookies - Martha Stewart
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, room temperature (I used 1/2 margarine, 1/2 butter)
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups rolled oats (quick cooking)
1 cup + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup wheat germ (optional)
12 oz chocolate chips, 1 1/2 cups golden raisins, or 10 oz toffee chips
(I poured in 12 oz chocolate chips and about 1/2 bag of toffee chips)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat sugars and butter until creamy and fluffy. (About 5 minutes). Mix in eggs and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients and add at a low speed, just to combine (10-15 seconds). Stir in raisins, chocolate and/or toffee. Bake until golden brown and just set.
18 minutes for large (2.5 oz) yield 13 cookies
14 minutes for small (1.25 oz) yield 3 dozen
(12 minutes for my size - a size 60 scoop - about a tablespoon - yield about 6 dozen or so)
Let cool for 4-5 minutes on the pan before moving to a cooling rack.

Happy 8th

Wayne and I celebrated our 8th anniversary yesterday. Matt and Michelle watched Tyler so that we could have dinner together. We enjoyed a nice, quiet dinner at Adrian's. Afterward, we swung next door to Dick's Sporting Goods to pick up a fire pit that we had been eyeing during our tent-scouting. I'm excited for some cozy evenings in the backyard. (And also for the pile of scrap wood under our deck to disappear)!

I've been meme'd

I've been meme'd by Isaiah, (who incidentally was meme'd by Carrie) and now I have to do this:



1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.

2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.

3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.

4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.



So, here we go.



1. One of my favorite places to eat is the Greek restaurant...at the mall. They have the best gyro with Fattousch salad. Yummy!
2. I'm embarrassed to admit that one of my summer pleasures is watching Big Brother. This is probably due to my enjoyment of hearing about drama in other people's lives. Though, I really don't like drama in my own life.
3. I love to cook, but especially to bake. New recipes to try anyone? I love looking at food magazines, blogs, websites, etc. You've probably been able to tell from my blog that I'm a bit of a foodie.
4. I have carpal tunnel syndrome. It hurts ... a lot... and keeps me up at night. I hate it.
5. I love looking at new plants and flowers. I buy them, plant them, and watch the bunnies eat them.
6. I really dislike cleaning the tub and shower. Yucky soap scum.
7. I love researching family history/genealogy. In college, I tracked my ancestry to immigrating to the US. I have lost track of that document. So, my hope is to do that again, and this time research Wayne's family as well. Speaking of family, I miss mine.


Now, I tag Carol, Lynette, Tim, Matt P., Karen and anyone else who wants to respond!

Tent

Well, we did it. After 8 years of using the trusty tent my parents bought for us, we have purchased a new tent. The tent my parents bought for us worked great for the two of us, but with adding Tyler, it has been pretty cramped.

Today was our day of information gathering. We went to 5 different stores across town looking over their selection. I was looking for a tent that would have more floor space, a higher ceiling (so I wouldn't have to crouch so much) and better ventilation. (Kansas camping can get pretty warm).

After our day of searching, we found the Columbia Bugaboo Dome Tent. It easily meets all of my requirements and even has lots of storage spots and handy little zippered spaces to store shoes! We would have bought it right there...but all they had left was the floor model. Luckily, I have a husband who didn't want to pay full price for a floor model and who also thinks of such crazy things as looking online (yes, I'll admit I was too tired to think of it myself)...and ultimately got us a much better deal! So, here it is...coming to us from Cabela's. I'm excited.

Camping anyone? Seems like a good accompaniment to corn hole!

Help, please!

While I was in Indiana this summer, my wonderful, talented sister, Lynette, took a bunch of pictures of us. (Thanks, Lynette, for providing both profile pictures I have). I have a very difficult time getting good pictures of Tyler, so I was extra pleased with what she was able to get. Somehow she got so many, that I can't decide which to print. I need to pick a series of either 3 horizontal or 3 vertical shots for a frame I have. I would like your help deciding which grouping to use. Please vote in the poll on the right.

Thank you!!!

Group A:

Group B:

Ouchy eyes

Overheard while I was cutting onions,
"My eyes just don't wanna stay open, Daddy, my eyes just don't wanna stay open!"

White trash

Last evening we had a little white trash fun; a corn hole party. Our friends, Matt and Michelle, went all out. Here they are in all their white trash glory.

Some of us ate outside, but had to fend off the nasty flies. It seemed fitting.

There was a variety of things going on to try to keep everyone happy. You can see Ollie and Leo in the sand. You can barely see Tyler playing with the parachute. Pat and Steve are playing corn hole.

Here are Ollie, Pat, Lydia, and Sammy on Steve's shoulders.

Abe, Matt, and Wayne

Michelle and Lisa

Pinocchio

Yesterday we (with Lisa and Oliver and Michelle, Abe and Leo) went to the Wichita Children's Theater Picnic at the Park. We had a pizza picnic outside, followed by the show, which today was Pinocchio. It was cute and kept the boys' attention.

Afterward, Pinocchio was handing out cookies. I think Tyler was a little unsure about the way they all looked in their costumes because he inched up (literally) to get a cookie, but did stop for a high-five. One of the joys of having the summer off is being able to do things like this. I think we'll do it again next summer.

Strange conversation

First conversation with Tyler this morning...

"Light, light, light light, light bulb. Mommy, Weo doesn't know how to say wightbulb, he says 'light bulb.'" (Leo is Matt and Michelle's son who is 20 months old).

I laughed and explained that Leo is saying light bulb correctly.

I asked Tyler if he could say "Leo." He responded (accompanied by his sinister laugh), "Bean, bean, bean. Bean Cheeto. Leo has three names. Bean, Cheeto and Light bulb."

OK, that makes no sense, but it gave me a good morning laugh.

Eating out

How often do you eat out in a week?

Rarely 2 (28%)
1-2 4 (57%)
3-4 0 (0%)
Almost daily 1 (14%)


Very interesting. I love to cook, but we also enjoy eating out. We've eaten out once this week, but some weeks it seems that we eat out almost daily. It just varies around here. When I posted this, I was feeling guilty for eating out a lot that week and was just curious about the habits of my friends and family. Thanks for voting! :)