Thursday, October 29, 2009

Sumptin Pumpkin....

I mentioned this before that The Hubbs loves pumpkin items. I have ventured this season to make two kinds of pumpkin bread, pumpkin pancakes, and now I have made the super yummy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies as seen www.designmom.com (by the way if you have never popped over to see her fabulous blog... go check it out). When I asked The Hubbs what he wanted me to bake- it was no surprise when he said "sumptin pumpkin".
Try these out---

Old-Fashioned Soft Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup butter (1 stick) softened

1 cup 100% pumpkin (you can find cans of this in the pie-filling section of the grocery store)

1 egg

1 tsp vanillaGlaze (see below)

Optional: 1/2 cup chocolate chips or nuts.

Preheat oven to 350. Grease baking sheets.Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt and set aside. Beat sugar and butter in large bowl until well blended. Beat in pumpkin, egg and vanilla extract until smooth. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto prepared baking sheets.Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until edges are firm. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. Drizzle glaze over cookies.

For Glaze:Combine 2 cups powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons milk, 1 tablespoon melted butter and 1 tsp vanilla in small bowl until smooth.

***HINT FROM THE BAKER BROOKE*** These cookies taste soooo much better after being completely cooled off. They "get happy" when they sit overnight and are completely cooled down.

Sidenote: I am pretty excited about moving onto other food sources then pumpkin- you'd think I would have learned how to make a pumpkin pie yet but I haven't.... maybe next week

Sunday, October 25, 2009

One Year....

I can hardly believe that its been a year since The Hubbs and I got married. This has been such an awesome anniversary. Friday I took off work to go buy a cute little dress... its hard to buy cute dresses when everything in the store is not very modest. I did find a cute black dress that I was able to wear a little sweater with. I bought some SEXY black high heels that made my legs look super hot... (well I thought so) and then I spoiled myself with some new jewelry and a manicure and pedicure. Can't have super sexy high heals with a poor manicure. Bri took me to a fancy restaurant and we ate the MOST EXPENSIVE MEAL I have ever eaten but it was SOOOOOO yummy. Bri said it was a special occasion so we can splurge on a fancy meal. Today is our actual anniversary and we have skipped out on church (forgive me) and spent the whole day hangin out in our backyard playing boche ball, chess, enjoying yummy beverages and food, and just enjoying each other as we speak we have food on the grill and have hooked up the TV outside so we can enjoy this wonderful weather and watch the Cardinals play Sunday Night Football. I LOVE MY HUSBAND SO MUCH... I am so grateful for him and and feel SO BLESSED TO HAVE HIM. This year was amazing and I look so forward to so many more.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Talking in Church

So why is it that speaking in church is like a love/hate feeling.... I mean there are some amazing women who stand up at the pulpit and give this heartfelt, super spiritual, inspired, divine message from the heavens.
And then there is me.
I have to give a talk in church this Sunday and well needless to say.... I am not really thrilled with the idea.
I am sorta "pouting" about it.
The funny thing is that I love to teach- but its a new ward so I am not sure if they will have love for the Brookism's
I guess this is a good reason to buy a new dress.... hmmmm

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Gardening... sorta

SO I have not been my "semi-domestic" self because I have been so busy farming on my stupid Farmville on Facebook. Who created such a thing??? AGHHHH! Now if gardening and farming was just as easy as it is in the stupid game.
BUT... if you want a fun thrill go to Farmville on Facebook and become a farmer- You will get A.D.D.I.C.T.E.D I promise.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

My Hubbys Birthday

It was my wonderful husbands birthday yesterday (I won't tell you how old he is but will let you know he will be the big 40 pretty soon)... Love him. We have this problem in our family... I can't keep a secret for anything and my money is his money and his money is mine. SOOOO with that said, I can't really buy him anything because I would tell him before and after I bought it AND everything he likes or wants is well over a couple HUNDRED dollars. SO I let him pick out what he wants. Last year, I got him some nice seats to Metallica... this year he bought some BOSE Speakers for his recording studio. He says they sounds great. Anyways- this post isn't all about his birthday... its more about the AMAZING CAKE I made for him. He requested a TURTLE CAKE (and not like Teenage Mutant).


I consulted with my good friend Betty.... Crocker.... and got a great recipe for TURTLE CAKE.


YUMMY YUMMY


1 box of Betty Crocker SuperMoist Devils Food Cake Mix

1 1/3 cups of water

1/2 cup of Veg Oil

3 eggs

1 bag (14 oz) caramels

1/2 cup evaporated milk

1 cup of chopped pecans

1 bg. (6 oz) semisweet chocolate chips (1 cup)

-- heat oven at 350 degrees F. Grease or spray bottom of 13x9 inch pan. In large bowl, beat cake mix, water, oil, and eggs with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, then on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour half of the batter into pan. Bake 22 minutes. Refridgerate remaining batter.

--meanwhile, in 1-qt saucepan, heat caramels and evaporated milk over medium heat, stirring frequently, until caramels are melted. Stir in pecans. Pour caramel mixture over warm cake in pan. Sprinkle with chocolate chips. Spread with remaining batter. Bake 25 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched. Run knife around sides of pan to loosen cake. Cool at least 30 minutes. Serve with ice cream, drizzle with caramel topping and sprinkle with pecans.

YUMMY YUMMY... Enjoy

Thursday, October 8, 2009

COOKIES...


I am one of those people that love the quick and easy pre-made cookie dough from the grocery store. Its simple, its quick and honestly... it tastes yummy. I decided to make some cookies FROM SCRATCH... you heard me right ladies-- from scratch AND they turned out super
fab.u.licious


so I would like to share this wonderful recipe with the world (well really for the 2 people that read my blog)...

Oatmeal White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

1 1/2 Cups of all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 cups (2 sticks) butter or margarine softened

3/4 cup of granulated sugar

3/4 cup of packed brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 tsp. vanilla extract

3 cups of quick oats

1 cup of white chocolate chips

1 1/2 cups of dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in a small bowl. Beat butter, sugar, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla in large bowl. Gradually add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture. Stir in oats, cranberries, and white chocolate chips. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto the ungreased baking sheets.

Bake for 10-12 minutes. Cool on baking sheets for 1/2 minutes and then cool on wire racks.


Thursday, October 1, 2009

The Dirty Laundry

Really where did that phrase come from... getting the "dirty laundry" on someone. I hate dirty laundry (but I love gossip so I am not sure there). So my point of this blog is HOW IN THE HECK DO I CONTROL THE DIRTY LAUNDRY IN THE HOUSE. The Husband and I are TWO people. We should not create this much dirty laundry. My Wednesday night activity this week... a real DOMESTIC THING... sort through this mess.
.
So whats the secret?? My boss told me that I should do laundry every night (doesn't that sound like fun?). Exactly what I want to do-come home from work and fold clothes. When I was dating The Husband, I was impressed by his ability to do laundry every night. Somewhere in the vows I think he said, "with this marriage, I will not do laundry anymore". He will totally help me if I ask, but he doesn't jump for joy with the thought of sorting, cleaning and folding clothes. Also, Whats the key to fresh smelling clothes all day long. I love Downey and dryer sheets BUT still the smell only lasts like the first hour. So help me out here. If you have any tips on doing laundry, organizing laundry, and making clothes smell super fresh all day-- PLEASE LET ME KNOW.