No #8, But Something Special.

Good Monday evening everyone! I hope you all had a great weekend. One of my favorite things to do on a weekend during winter is chill out on the sofa watching The Waltons. I love that show! How about you guys, any of my readers Walton fans?

As you can tell my #8 appetizer isn't in this post. When I thought about cooking or baking this weekend, I couldn't pull myself to do it. Although today I did get to bake some yummy cookies (scroll down). So, instead I am giving you recipes my readers have taken and made themselves. And seeing others make my recipes, I seriously love it.

"Sour Cream Sugar Cookies" made by Jody. I love her blog. Jody is a Momma to 6, ages 9 and under. I love finding families with 6 kids since there are 6 kids in my family too.

"Corn Dip" made by Allie. We make this dip fairly often during summer time here and Allie got to make it for an autumn party she had....doesn't it look scrumptious? "Giant Ginger Cookies" made by Jessica. These are my favorite fall cookies and Jessica got to make them for her sister as a going away snack to college. "Won Over Coffee Cake" made by Joan. I love love this coffee cake and Joan thought so too. Seriously, it is sooo good."Big Brownie Cookies" made by Lisa. Such easy cookies and yet amazingly delicious. Lisa baked these up for her PTA meeting and everyone there loved them and her family did too. Yummo."Ooey Gooey Cookies" made by Katherine. Katherine baked these up for her girls and neighborhood and they loved them. She's already made these 4 times!

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"Correcting Those Lighting Issues"
I'm sure most of you guys deal with lighting issues when taking your food pictures, I sure do! I found a solution. It is a free download called Picasa which is available thru Google. Google "Picasa 3" and click on the first link that comes up. See the below picture? That is before editing. The next picture is after editing. This software isn't hard to figure out either.

After editing.

"Oatmeal S'more Cookies"
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
1 - 1/2 cup miniature marshmallows

DIRECTIONS:
In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, shortening and sugars. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture. Stir in the oats, chocolate chips and marshmallows. Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls 2 in. apart onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 9-11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 1-2 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. Yield: about 6 dozen.

See you next with #8 in appetizers!

Warm Bacon Cheese Spread & Award Time!

Happy Friday everyone! I'm sure you all are looking forward to the weekend. This week has been crazy with 3 birthdays. Mine on the 2nd, my Mom's on the 4th, and my brother Joe's is today. By the end of the week everyone is completely caked out. It gets kinda crazy with all the presents & everything, but it is still fun!

This Bacon Spread at #9 is so delicious. My family loves this appetizer and I know it would be perfect for a Holiday Party. Mmm, you won't be dissapointed.

"Warm Bacon Cheese Spread"

Ingredients:
1 round loaf (1 pound) sourdough bread
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1-1/2 cups (12 ounces) sour cream
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
1-1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
3/4 pound sliced bacon, cooked and crumbled
1/2 cup chopped green onions
Assorted crackers

DIRECTIONS:
Cut the top fourth off the loaf of bread; carefully hollow out the bottom, leaving a 1-in. shell. Cut the removed bread and top of loaf into cubes; set aside. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until fluffy. Add the sour cream, cheddar cheese and Worcestershire sauce until blended; stir in bacon and onions. Spoon into bread shell. Wrap in a piece of heavy-duty foil (about 24 in. x 17 in.). Bake at 325° for 40 minutes or until heated through. Serve with cracker and reserved bread cubes. Yield: 4 cups.

Katherine at Smoky Mountain Cafe gave me the Uber amazing blog award. Thanks so much Katherine! I am so glad you and your girls enjoyed the Ooey Gooey Cookies. I am going to pass this onto:

• Jenny at Picky Palate. I think we all love Jenny's blog, her food, pictures, and the way she writes is the best!
• Cristine at Cristine Cooks. If you have been reading my blog for a while, you know how much I love Cristine's blog.
• Cara at Cara's Creature Comforts. Cara makes "comfort" food and she is getting an adorable puppy soon, photos on her blog!
• Jessica at Turkey Cookies. Jessica's daily posts are something I look forward to and she can sew and bake/cook wonderfully!
• Megan at Megan's Munchies. Megan gets some delicious looking recipes and her Smore's creations are the cutest!
• Allie at Finding Inspiration In Food. Allie has some an amazing Buffalo Chicken Wing Dip on her blog and I am going to make those soon!

Happy 14th Birthday Baby Brother!

Here We Go!

Good Wednesday night everyone! Hope your week is going well, it is already almost Thursday?! How did that happen?! I would like to say thank you very much to each of my readers for leaving me a birthday greeting. I really appreciate getting all those birthday comments. I had a fun day which ended with my Mom making me Lasagna for dinner (special request), birthday presents, & a Tres Leches Cake. I still don't feel like I am 17. =)

Okay, starting with my Top Ten Appetizers, here is #10. A simple and easy but yummy dip. These pretzels are something new our Sam's Club is carrying. I thought they were pretty neat!

"Party Dip"

16 oz. sour cream

16 oz. sm. curd cottage cheese

8 oz. Cool Whip

1 pkg. Ranch Dip

DIRECTIONS:

Mix all ingredients together. Chill before serving. Best if prepared 4-8 hours ahead.

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These little treats are quite tasty and don't take that much time to make. If you're a fan of Reese, you'll be sure to love these!

"Miniature Peanut Butter Cheesecakes"

Ingredients:
1/3 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 tablespoon sugar
5 teaspoons butter, melted
FILLING:
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons beaten egg
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 miniature peanut butter cups

DIRECTIONS:
In a small bowl, combine the cracker crumbs, sugar and butter. Press onto the bottom of six paper-lined muffin cups; set aside. In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar and flour until smooth. Add egg and vanilla; beat on low speed just until combined. Place a peanut butter cup in the center of each muffin cup; fill with cream cheese mixture. Bake at 350° for 15-18 minutes or until center is set. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Yield: 6 servings.

My head is cut out beacuase you wouldn't want to see the face I am making. =)

17.

I am 17 today. Such an odd number for me. I feel like I am getting old....most of you guys probably think I am crazy. But, I still think it.

I am grateful for 17 years of a healthy life. I am grateful for parents who love me, 3 brothers & 2 sisters, my friends, music, my dogs Lewis & Clark, laughter, smiles, sunshine, snow, that I can bake, blogging, my blog readers, a roof to live under, clothes, & most important - that Jesus is my Lord & Savior.

Come with me down memory lane.....

I was born in Whittier, CA on December 2, 1991. I think my older sister Lisa and older brother Andrew were pretty excited about getting a baby sister. =)

A couple days after I was born with my sister Lisa. The not long lived family of three, soon three more would come. And yes, I was a very chubby baby, all around. In 1992, now I've got a baby brother. And there are now "4" of us. Joe & I with our baby goat kids we used to raise in 2001. Man, how I loved those baby goats. With my friend, Jocelyn in 2008. We've been friends for 17 years.
With my bunch in 2008, anniversary pictures for our parents.

Hope you've enjoyed this and be back soon with my Top Ten Appetizers!!

Chocolate Chunk Cookies & Snowboarding....

Hello everyone & happy Saturday! Hope you and your family had a great Thanksgiving and ate lots of yummy food. I'm sure most of you guys had Pumpkin Pie during this week/weekend, but believe it or not, I don't like Pumpkin Pie. I know, it sounds really weird - but, for as long as I can remember I've never been really able to eat it.

Here are some delicious cookies that I got from my 10 year old reader, Miss Alex. What really was interesting to me about this recipe was that you use butter flavored shortening. My Dad described these accurately...."just a good ol' Chocolate Chip Cookie".

"Chocolate Chip Cookies"

½ cup unrefined sugar (you could use regular sugar, this just gives it a great texture)
½ cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup butter
1/3 cup butter flavored shortening
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 ½ cups unbleached flour
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
½ cup chopped nuts (optional)
1 package milk chocolate chunks or chips
DIRECTIONS:
Cream eggs, butter, shortening and sugars. Add vanilla and dry ingredients. Stir in chocolate chips. Bake at 375 for 8 – 10 minutes or until golden brown.

My Mom took my brothers, my sister, and I snowboarding yesterday, which was also the first day they were open for the season. It was so good to be out snowboarding after not having done it for almost 8 months. I love going fast down a hill with the wind blowing your hair and in your face. Here are some pictures!

Fabulous Cookies & Awards!

Good Wednesday morning everyone! Thanks everyone for participating in another contest. These are too much fun for me, so look for another giveaway next week. Okay, here is the winner of the last basket:

Alex and Pam. Who said: We ate at Siam Cuisine last weekend in Wichita, KS and it was the best Thai food we've had. YUMMY. Our new favorite. And, hi Alex! I am glad to have a 10 year old reader! E-mail me at priscilla91@iowatelecom.net so I can get your prize out to you.

In case you were wondering, Olive Garden is my favorite restaurant. And, here is a recipe for some amazingly delicious sugar cookies we love. They are light, fluffy, & not hard at all. Hope you enjoy them!

"Sour Cream Sugar Cookies"

1 cup butter softened

1 cup sour cream

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla (I use almond instead)

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. soda

4 tsp. baking powder

5 cups flour

DIRECTIONS:

Cream butter and sugar. Add sour cream and mix, Add eggs and vanilla. Sift dry ingredients together and add gradually. Mix well. Refrigerate for about 1 hour. Roll dough out 1/2 inch thick on well floured surface (may be a bit sticky so flour well). Cut out round cookies (I used the top of a glass). Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Frost when cool. Makes 4 dozen.

Cream Cheese Frosting:

3 tsp. vanilla (or almond)

6 cups powdered sugar

12 oz cup cream cheese, softened

A few tbsp. of milk (may need more depending on consistency)

DIRECTIONS:

Mix all together.

Onto the awards. Jodi over at Live Today, Cherish Yesterday, Dream Tomorrow gave me this "your blog is fabulous" award. Thanks so much Jodi! I am going to pass this onto:

• Cristine at Cristine Cooks. I love Cristine's blog, and I love how she posts delicious recipes every day.
• Mel at Made By Melissa. Melissa has a great blog and her pictures of her food are super!
• Pam at For The Love Of Cooking. Pam has one of the best food blogs around. Her recipes are so yummy!
• Lisa at Jersey Girl Cooks. I enjoy reading each of Lisa's posts and her food looks delicious!

Joan over at 3 Girls, Me, And A Recipe gave me this "butterfly award". Thank you so much Joan, getting awards are the best! I am going to pass this onto:

• Sarah at Mrs. JY Cooking. I recently found Sarah's blog and I am enjoying it. She recently had a bridal shower and her menu looks super delicious!
• Jessica at Turkey Cookies. I love reading each of Jessica's posts - her writing is fabulous!
• Cristine at Cristine Cooks. Can you tell I love her blog??
• Nicole at Test Kitchen Recipes. Nicole has delicious looking recipes and I look forward to each of her posts.
• Teresa at A Blog About Food. Not long ago I discovered Teresa's blog and I am enjoying reading each post.

See you next with a easy but utterly delicious recipe & snowboarding pics! Happy Thanksgiving!