Chocolate Peppermint Shortbread Cookies

It's that baking time of year and this recipe arrived in my email yesterday afternoon.  It sounded so good I promptly tried it yesterday evening.  This comes from Land O'Lakes.

Cookie:

3/4 c. butter, softened

1/2 c. powdered sugar

1/4 tsp. peppermint extract

2 (1 oz) squares unsweetened baking chocolate, melted and slightly cooled

1 1/2 c. flour

1 c. mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Frosting:

1 c. powdered sugar

2 tbsp. butter, softened

1 tbsp. milk

1/4 tsp. peppermint extract

green food coloring

Drizzle:

1/2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 tsp. shortening

Heat oven to 375F.  Combine all cookie ingredients except flour and chocolate chips in a large bowl.  Beat at medium speed until creamy.  Reduce speed to low.  Add flour; beat until mixture forms a dough.  Stir in chocolate chips by hand.  Shape dough into 1 inch balls.  Place 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.  Flatten each ball to 1 1/2 inch circles.  Bake for 5-7 minutes or until set - DO NOT OVERBAKE!  Let stand 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheets.  Cool completely on wire rack.  Combine all frosting ingredients in a small bowl.  Beat at low speed until smooth.  Frost cooled cookies.  Place cookies on waxed paper.  Place drizzle ingredients in a small microwave safe bowl.  Microwave on high stirring every 30 seconds, until smooth.  Drizzle thin lines of chocolate over frosting with teaspoon.  Let stand until chocolate is set, at least 30 minutes (if you can, we didn't make it that long).

Leaps and Bounds

....that's how David vocabulary is growing.  Often times I can't believe the words and sentences that come out of his mouth!  No wonder they say that childhood is the best time to learn a new language, the kids pick it up so quickly!  Anyway...this is conversation that transpired this afternoon:

David:  What are you doing Mom?

Me:  I'm making brownies.

David:  Yeah, I'm hungry

Me:  I'm going to make dinner in just a minute.

We're going to have Mac & Cheese dog Casserole

David:  That sounds excellent Mom!

Me:  That sounds excellent?

David:  Yeah, I'm hungry.  I didn't eat my lunch.

Cut, Cut, Cut

Dad:  David, did you cut your hair?

David:  Yeah.....with my orange scissors.

Snow Day

David's Bed

There is no place to purchase a sheet set for a toddler bed, especially a flannel sheet set.  I took a trip to walmart; david and i picked out the perfect flannel, i measured and purchased 5 yards of it and be brought the package home.  when we got home i got to work on my project of making a set of sheets for the bed.  I pulled the sheets off David's bed, brought the bed into the kitchen to put on the table and then proceeded to pin the fabric to begin my fitted sheet.  The fitted sheet is what worried me most and it turned out perfect!  I am so proud of myself.  Now because I got a late start on my project I only finished the fitted sheet and pillow case before putting David to bed rather late.  I finished the flat sheet this morning, you know ironing it flat and then sewing off the rough edges.  I am so proud of my project, have I said that yet?

Anyway, as I was working this morning I had a thought, partly struck by my friends request for sheet sets for toddler beds and my wanting warmer sheets for David.....would anyone be interested in purchasing toddler sheet sets from me?  I want to know your thoughts on the subject.  Also if you are interested in answering more questions I also posted this on my blog with tons of questions.  Please let me know what you think.

Snow is Falling!

The snow fell this morning totaling about 4-5 inches.  Due the the fresh snow came a new pair of snow boots.  David was really excited about them and loves being able to put them on by himself.  Can't you tell how excited he is?

What can I say?

P.S.  it's a skittle

Halloween Fun

We had quite a bit of halloween fun this year.  This is a good sampling of the events we participated in.

Ward Halloween Party - Saturday, October 25, 2008.  David enjoyed doing a cake walk like activity.  

Faculty Drive Halloween Party - Thursday, October 30, 2008.  David enjoyed fishing.  Dustin and I both bobbed for apples, it was fun.

Faculty Drive Halloween decoration contest.  I got some spider web stuff and I made a bunch of spiders out of egg cartons (there are more detailed pictures at the end).

Halloween Carnival at the Rec Center.  David had a hard time with the concept of playing games for prizes with so many activities and people in one room.

Trick or Treating - Friday October 31, 2008.  We went trick or treating with some friends of ours the Wubbens.  David and Abby had a great time going from house to house.