Operation Slimdown the Dessert Binder Week 2

This week I'm going with a cookie.  It's from Nestle Toll House and although it is a little interesting it really caught my eye. Grant gave it an 8.5 and I gave it a 9. Easy to make, and love the salty addition to the plain ol chocolate chip cookie.  I left out the peanuts but otherwise followed the recipe to a tee. So far operation slim down the dessert binder is a bust...I'm suppose to be getting rid of recipes:) Only 2 in and they're both keepers.

Sweet & Salty NESTLÉ® Toll House® Cookies

Prep:15 mins
Cooking:9 mins
Level:Easy
Yields:60 cookies
Who doesn’t love something that’s both salty and sweet? This simple recipe puts a new spin on an old favorite by adding pretzel and potato chip pieces to the classic Nestlé® Toll House® Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe.

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt (optional)

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

3/4 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 large eggs

2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels

2 cups coarsely broken rippled potato chips

1 cup small pretzel twists, broken into 1/2-inch pieces

1/2 cup unsalted peanuts (optional)

Operation Slimdown the Dessert Recipe Binder

I spent two days organizing my recipe binders. I get recipes online from Betty Crocker, real simple, all recipes and probably a couple extra.  I also take recipes out of magazines and I've had a pile of them that needed to be organized. Beings I have nothing but time I did just that.  I put all the recipes in plastic sleeves and wow is my dessert binder thick! To slim down the recipes I can only do one thing and that is try them and toss out the one's that get 5 or less on a 1-10 rating scale.  So I'm going to attempt one dessert recipe a week.  Realistically there may be some weeks I don't and some I may make a couple.  I started with a recipe from Betty Crocker today.  Its Deep Dark Mocha Torte.  It has many steps and takes some time but OMG, it was well worth it! It states to use 9in round pans and with my round pans not telling me the dimensions I think I may have used 12in ones.  You are suppose to be able to cut each of the 2 cakes horizontally in half but mine were not thick enough so I just have one layer.  Grant gives it an 8 saying it was very good and I give it an 8 1/2.  I rated it high cause I'm not a huge cake fan but this was super moist and tasted so delectable! It was easy to make even though it did have a few steps, it wasn't difficult..that's a huge plus in my book. It did not get a solid 10 from me though only because it was so super sweet that you really can't devour a whole lot...which in the end isn't probably such a bad thing eh'

Prep: 50 Min
Total: 3 Hr 25 Min   

1 box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® chocolate fudge cake mix
Water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on cake mix box

"Cake soak"
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup rum or water
1 1/4 teaspoons instant espresso coffee granules


"Filling"
2 packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 to 3 teaspoons milk

"Ganache"
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
6 tablespoons butter (do not use margarine)
1/3 cup whipping cream

Directions
Heat oven to 350°F (325ºF for dark or nonstick pans). Grease and lightly flour two 8- or 9-inch round cake pans, or spray with baking spray with flour. Make and cool cakes as directed on box for 8- or 9-inch rounds. Refrigerate layers about 45 minutes for easier handling.

Meanwhile, in 1-quart saucepan, stir granulated sugar, rum and coffee granules until coffee is dissolved. Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally; remove from heat. Cool completely.

In medium bowl, beat filling ingredients with electric mixer on low speed just until blended, adding enough milk for spreading consistency; set aside.

In 1-quart saucepan, heat ganache ingredients over low heat, stirring frequently, until chips are melted and mixture is smooth. Refrigerate about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened.

Cut each cake layer horizontally to make 2 layers. (To cut, mark side of cake with toothpicks and cut with long, thin knife.) Brush about 1 tablespoon of the rum mixture over cut side of each layer; let stand 1 minute to soak into cake. Fill each layer with about 2/3 cup filling. Spread ganache over side and top of torte. Store loosely covered in refrigerator.

Happy New Year!

Happy 2012! I'm so looking forward to this year and really think it's going to have good things in store for our lil family.  Looking back at 2011 it was just a so-so year.  Not great not horrible either.  I want to look back on 2012 as the year I made GREAT! 
I make resolutions, but try to make practical ones, not ones to lose 100 lbs etc. 
My 2012 resolutions/goals are:
*Read the bible daily
*Use my prayer journal daily
*Do the love dare devotional with my husband daily
*Continue to make progress in living our lives more naturally/organically in all aspects  of my families lives
*Find a job that makes me feel fulfilled
*Continue to work on financial peace
*Volunteer weekly
*Remember peoples birthdays on time

I've never been out for New Years.  Every year growing up we as a family would fondue and I've carried on this tradition. Last night we had cheese fondue with veggies and bread and chocolate fondue with strawberries and pound cake.  We watched Coldplay perform an awesome show on Austin City Limits and enjoyed being in together as a family.  Lola has her birthday on New Years as well.  She turned 4 this year!  I of course being the crazy dog lady made her a hat that she really didn't love wearing but did and bought her a birthday cookie from the 2 paws up dog bakery.

Hope everyone has a prosperous 2012!

Christmas 2011

So I quit my job to be able to spend the holidays with family and instead most of the time I spent the holidays wishing I had a job.  With some things going on in our lives besides me not having a job, money was tight and the Christmas spirit just wasn't there for Grant and I this year.  Grant had been dealing with a cold also which seems to put a damper on things as well.  Santa did not come this year which was the second year in my life...first being the year my mom decided to just have him not show up (I was probably in my early 20's but he's a pretty big deal to me). Grant and I decided together that he wasn't coming this year but it was really hard even though he doesn't usually go over 30 dollars it's the spirit of Santa that makes it exciting=) I really do believe Jesus is the reason for the season and if not for his birth we wouldn't even be where we are today as humans but I'm human and I guess a part of me wants a little bit of the commercial humdrum of it all....it pains me to have to admit that! So we packed up our car early Friday morning and headed to Eagle Bend, MN (Grant's hometown) and had family dinner and gift opening.  Saturday we headed to Fargo/Moorhead where we got to visit with my friend Sharon and spend the evening with Grant's family at his grandparents house.  Grant's family is insanely normal and right out of a Norman Rockwell picture.  Everyone gathers around and Grandma read the Christmas story out of the bible, we sang Christmas carols as Grant's aunt played the piano, Rick (Grant's father) read a story, which he reads every year written by an author from ND I believe and Grant's grandfather told stories and sang a song. We all gathered for church at a little church in the middle of nowhere and sat through a nice traditional service.  Grant said church helped him get the spirit a little more but for me it was still lost.  Sunday we went to my mom's house and what usually ends in my mom and I fighting ended with a civil day together....granted there was enough to be done and enough people to buffer any possible blow-up.
I don't know if the old saying is true that Christmas is better when through a child's eyes but if so it makes me sad we've lost that child in us and not having and probably never having children we may not get that back.  I also don't want my Christmas to be good or bad based on what I received or didn't receive how much money is available etc...it honestly pains me to say that although I feel I'm above all that I may not be.  Santa, who has always been something I choose to believe in the magic of and still "believe" in has always been the way Grant and I exchange something (we personally don't believe in using Christmas as an excuse for giving something big). This year agreeing to not do it seemed to take so much away and that in itself makes me wonder about myself...ugh. I really hope next year I have a good job and the spirit of Christmas is something we both can recapture

My New Addiction

I discovered JJ Heller through her song "Your hands" being on the radio station I listen to.  Her voice is like crack to me..I just can't stop listening to her.  I wanted to share a few of my favorite songs and hope you enjoy her as well.

And another job bites the dust

I'm no longer a red and khaki girl and as good as it's suppose to feel it is uncomfortable.  I left my comfort zone to be challenged and set myself up for another stage of my life.  I have been feeling a pull for quite sometime from God that my time was up and I need to step out of my comfort zone and be challenged.  Of course he really challenged me when it came to choosing my job over family.  I obviously don't want to make him angry that I didn't  listen to him nor do I want to  have my own regrets later so I did what I thought was right.  I'm quickly learning what is right is not always easy and although his timing on challenges in life are always perfect man it doesn't feel perfect right now.  I wake up every morning at 6ish am and just want to take on the world and I have nothing to take on.  My body falls back into bed and I lie there asking "what in the world am I suppose to be doing God?" I also think how my father is washing guilt over me from his grave.  I was raised to have good work ethic and to always work.  One doesn't take a penny from the govt. no matter how poor you are.  Not that I'm taking anything from the govt. but the strong conservative in me is drowning with guilt right now for not working and paying my dues per say.  I feel so liberal (I know I lost a little chunk of my soul as well when I said that) taking time to "find myself" I remember many years ago Oprah had a segment on woman who would take sabbaticals from there family.  Not saying I could ever do this but I can see where one just needs time to reflect on their purpose and do a lot of praying on what God wants to do with their life.  So although I'm at a super rough stage in my life and I cry a gallon bucket of tears everyday I know I'm on the path to where I'm suppose to be and when that right thing comes along I'll be free with open arms to welcome it!

Craft Day Part II

I want to make these as chimes...who's ready for craft day part II?