Peanut Butter Cookies

I'm posting this quickly because a friend of mine mentioned the other day how awesome it is to be at the point in her life that she can whip up complete meals by just what she has on hand.  That is indeed a wonderful accomplishment.  It took me years to get there. On a moment's notice, I can pull out a meal or a snack or a dessert by what's in the pantry or fridge or freezer. With kids it's a huge plus.  When one reaches this point, it's a feeling of confidence and accomplishment to not have that stressful feeling of , "What am I going to COOK?!?!"

Last night my youngest said, "I wish we had cookies."  My girls love to bake. They love to cook. I feel I've taught them how to McGeyver their ways through the kitchen with confidence.  And it's always nice to have extra hands while cooking! With my youngest, she loves to mix. And the secret to really creamy cookies, cakes and cupcakes is the mixing.  She had the job of beating the peanut butter and butter together and then slowly adding sugar with more beating then eggs until it's all creamy and smooth then hand mix it with the dry ingredients.

Here's my recipe I keep on hand for Creamy Peanut Butter Cookies. Since this was a last minute thing that was whipped up, I only got one photo....on my Blackberry. But they are delicious!

A few notes, when I make cookies, I turn the oven down below what the recipes call for to ensure #1 they don't burn and #2 they are chewy.  I also use two eggs when the recipe generally calls for one.

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda large pinch of salt
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp. vanilla

Whisk together flour, baking soda and salt.
Cream together butter and peanut butter until well blended and smooth, adding the sugar gradually to mixture.
Beat until mixture is light and fluffy.
 Add 1 egg, well beaten; stir in vanilla. When well mixed, add flour mixture, stirring until mixed.
To avoid tough cookies, do not beat - stir only until mixed.
Drop by the teaspoonful onto a greased or parchment-lined baking sheet and press a criss-cross pattern onto the top using the tines of a fork that has been dipped into flour. Bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 8 minutes. Do not overbake. Makes about 3 dozen.

**As I said, I bake below the recommended oven temp.  I baked my cookies at about 275°F for 10 to 12 minutes or until they're browned.

They Call Me Mellow Yellow....nails

Mellow Yellow nails doesn't really describe them.  They more like S-C-R-E-A-M yellow. :)

Sally Hansen's Insta-Dri nail color is one of my favorites nail polishes.  They range in price from $4 to $8, depending on where you go. They're available almost anywhere nail polish is sold, and they come in a ton of colors.

These are just a few. Literally.

The colors range in every hue from brights to browns to pastels.  They do dry fast and dry with a great shine. I always put a clear top coat as a habit, though.

Oh, and I LOVE the new brushes that a lot

of polishes have now.  They're flat and 

wide giving you a wider stroke

and better coverage.

They're plain now, but I think I may go taxi crazy

with some black.  Who knows. 

Egg in a Basket

It was a Friday morning, my oldest and I were up early and she was going out of town with the school choir for Mad Fest in San Antonio.  I wanted to whip something up warm and filling and quick.  So I grabbed some frozen hashbrowns, eggs, cheese and a muffin pan.

I sprayed the pan with cooking spray and put some hashbrowns in, making sure there was a little bit of a 'well' in the middle for the egg to go.  Cracked in some eggs and put in the oven at 375 degrees for about a half hour or so. Just kept an eye on it off and on until the eggs were cooked over easy. Then I topped it with cheese, let it melt and tada! Eggs in a Nest.

Now, before you freak out and start yelling that a half hour is NOT  a quick breakfast, this is how I look at it.  By 'quick' I really mean it's quick to put together...then I had a half hour to make coffee, help my daughter run down the list of packing items, and just do morning routine things.  That's quick for me. :)