A Cookie a Day, Day 2

Day 2
My husband LOVES these!

Red Velvet Rich and Creamy Cookies Recipe from Betty Crocker:

Ingredients
1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® sugar cookie mix
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/4 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon red food color
1 egg
3/4 to 1 cup Betty Crocker® Rich & Creamy cream cheese frosting
1/4 cup chopped nuts

1. Heat oven to 375°F.

2. In large bowl, stir cookie mix, cocoa, butter, sour cream, food color and egg until soft dough forms.
3. Roll dough into 1-inch balls; place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
4. Bake 8 to 9 minutes or until set.

5. Cool 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.

6. Cool completely, about 15 minutes.
7. Frost cooled cookies with frosting.

8. Sprinkle with nuts.

Store tightly covered at room temperature.

A Cookie a Day, Day 1

So when I woke up this morning I was in the Christmas mood. I have not really been in the mood. It is a little hard for me this year to think about Christmas because my husband will not be with us. We are going to miss him so much. Most days I am ready to fly through these holidays and get to the end of January but today I am in the mood to bake. I got out all my supplies and started baking away until I realized I was out of eggs! Boo! I will resume the baking tomorrow with eggs in tow! With my new found inspiration I have decided to post a new cookie recipe everyday until Christmas. So here you go!

Day 1

Chocolate Gooey Butter Cookies Recipe : Paula Deen : Food Network:

Ingredients
1 (8-ounce) brick cream cheese, room temperature
1 stick butter, at room temperature
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (18-ounce) box moist chocolate cake mix
Confectioners' sugar, for dusting


Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large bowl with an electric mixer, cream the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Beat in the egg. Then beat in the vanilla extract. Beat in the cake mix. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours to firm up so that you can roll the batter into balls. Roll the chilled batter into tablespoon sized balls and then roll them in confectioner's sugar. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet, 2 inches apart. Bake 12 minutes. The cookies will remain soft and 'gooey.' Cool completely and sprinkle with more confectioners' sugar, if desired."

Black Friday

Remember Nguyen is starting there Black Friday sale on Monday!!! They have the most precious little smocked clothes!!!

Tyler's Santa Wishlist

Tyler's Christmas is almost done and I am so excited! I just need to get him some stocking things! He is getting a present from Mommy and Daddy on Christmas at my parents house and then one at Jon's parents house. Santa is coming to visit our house in January when Tylers daddy comes home! We got special permission from Santa to do it later!

Tyler gifts to come from his Mom and Dad:

For Jon's parents house

For my Parents house

Santa gifts

All His First Craftsmen Gear! So he can help Daddy build things!

Fisher Price Little People Airport ( I found this brand new in box never opened at Goodwill for 3.99, BIG SCORE FOR ME)

Family Ideas

Fabulous Wagon that we can use for many different things

Lolli and Pop Pop have already picked the Pottery Barn Anywhere Chair

Aunt Carrie, Uncle Anthony, and Ansleigh want to get him this

Idea's

Tyler already loves kicking balls! He may be a soccer player like his Daddy!

Find it here

Tyler would also love this

He is a big fan of mega blocks and ships

And loves Trains

Turkey Day

Do you have your Turkey day Menu yet? Thanksgiving is at my Mom's and I helped her get the menu together and made a grocery list. Next Wednesday I will mix up all the casseroles and have them ready to go into the oven on Thursday. Also Wednesday night my dad will cook the ham and turkey. We are planners and like to be prepared. We also do not like any of the stress or rush of doing it all that day. We like to be able to enjoy talking and spending time with the family. My Mom's mother comes over early and we enjoy getting to spend extra time with her.

I am getting so excited about Turkey day this year but I also miss my husband very much! The Holidays always make the distance just a little harder. I am so excited for Ansleigh and Tyler to get to play together. I heart the thought of the two of them running through the house.

Our Menu:

The Main Deal

Ham & Turkey

Side Dishes

Green Bean Casserole

Corn Casserole

Sweet Potato Casserole

Macaroni and Cheese

Cranberry Sauce

Deviled Eggs

Chicken And Dressing

Dessert

Cake Pops

This Photo and Recipe came from Bakerella

Sugar Free Cheesecake

This Photo and Recipe came from Splenda

Ooey Gooey Pumpkin Bars

This Photo and Recipe came from Paula Deen

Change of Menu

Man I was so excited to make zucchini fries last night and really excited to make zucchini parmesan tonight until last night when I started cutting the zucchini I realized that I had bought cucumber. I was sad but not sad enough to go to the store. I had already started most of dinner last night so I substituted with broccoli last night and tonight I am making potato soup!

I have a super easy recipe and it is super yummy!

I serve it with cornbread

And spinkled with Shredded Cheddar Cheese

And Crumbled Bacon

Menu Monday

Monday- Chicken Cordon Bleu, Zucchini Fries, and Mashed Potato's

Tuesday- Zucchini Parmesan and Spaghetti Noodles

I got this from Pioneer Woman

Wednesday TGI- Fridays Chicken and Broccoli

Thursday- Baked Pork Chops and rice

FRIDAY

I love being at home and especially on Fridays because it is very consistant and I LOVE IT!!!! I get so excitited about Friday nights.

Fridays we always go out to eat with my parents usally (Or use too) always go to Red Lobster

Tonight we went to Longhorn

and after dinner our weekly trip to TARGET (My favorite store)

Recipe Friday

For Veterans Day I decided to change the menu and make one of my Navy Veteran Grandfathers recipes. He was a cook in the navy and gave our family some fun recipes. We renamed this one as little children and call it squishy meat and gravy. So I hope you enjoy a child hood favorite!

Squishy Meat and Gravy

1lb of lean ground beef
2 tbsp of all purpose flour
1 cup of milk (I do not measure I just mix it in till it is the right consistancy)
Pepper to taste

Scramble hamburger meat then drain.

Add flour and stir into hamburger meat. Then add milk and stir till mixed well and there are no clumps.

Let simmer up till the milk and flour thickens.

Serve on toasted bread.

And it is fantastic with French Fries and Ketchup!

Veterans Day

Today we pay respect to all our Veterans past and present! Please take time to Thank a Veteran today for all that they have sacrificied. These men and women suffer through more than we will ever know for us. Men and Women sacarifice a year at a time away from there familie, homes, and the life they know to go and fight for our freedom and for peace for our nation. Most American forget the sacrifices that have been made for this country. My family has got to experience some of these sacrifices and I would do it again and again. My Veteran, My soldier, and My husband loves what he does and does it for our county. He has always wanted to be a soldier and does his job well. Thank you honey for all the sacrifices you make and the danger you face so that we can live in a free county. You will always be our brave soldier! Some Veterans have paid the ultimate cost for the price of our freedom. 6 months ago we lost a very close friend, Kyle Comfort while fighting in the war in Afghanistan. Everyday I think about his family and what Brooke and Kinleigh must be still going through. Please keep this family and all the families of our Fallen Heros in your prayers.

REST IN PEACE KYLE COMFORT