My New Addiction

Cookie Dough Brownies.

I am addicted to these tasty beauties.
(along with just a few other addictions that shall remain nameless).

Two of my favorite things in the world - cookie dough and homemade brownies. Why didn't I think of combining these two heavenly creations sooner?!? Pure bliss to my utterly delighted taste buds.

I have been trying to lose the last of the lingering baby pounds (thank you very much Megan). This creation is not helping. No, not one bit.

I will share my recipe with you, but only after you have read the following:

WARNING: Do not come begging to me for help when you find yourself with an addiction on your hands, dreaming of eating them, and finding yourself counting down the minutes before inserting said addiction into your mouth just frothing with desire. Because if you do, I will merely hand over a plateful of these goodies and tell you to continue enjoying such delicious yumminess.

Consider yourself warned.

First off, I start out with this oh-so-delic fudgy-like brownies:

1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup (2 cubes) butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 large eggs
1 1/2 cups flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt butter and chocolate chips. Stir constantly and remove from heat when chips are fully melted. In the same pot, blend in the sugar. Then add eggs, blending fully one at a time. Add flour and salt and beat until air bubbles form in the batter. Pour into greased 9x13-inch pan. Bake for 20 minutes. Turn heat down to 325 degrees and bake for 10 more minutes.

I have absolutely no idea why it calls for the changing of the guard on the oven, but I do as I'm told, and they turn out splendidly. This is the exact reason why I very nearly failed Nutrition 101. I mean, really, how hard is it to study food? I am here to testify that learning about food is several notches above Chemistry 101. Apparently, there is a lot of chemical reactions in food. I can still remember my feeling of dread on the first day as I realized it was definitely not going to be the easy general ed class I thought it was going to be.

'Nuff said on that matter.

As if the brownie layer wasn't good enough on its own, we add the heavenly layer of cookie dough on top. Mind you, because this is cookie dough, the brownies need to be stored in the fridge, that is if they are not completely gobbled up by the natives in one sitting. At first, I was discouraged because the fridge made the brownies hard and not as appealing.



Enter the reason why I am addicted -

Warm up your piece of brownie ever so slightly in the microwave, just enough to melt the chocolate chips in the cookie dough layer and gradually let the cookie dough spill over the sides of the brownie layer. Utter divineness right there my friends.


Cookie Dough Layer:
1/2 cup (1 cube) butter, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla (or in my case, the imitation kind - why would I ever pay a fortune for real vanilla? I've tasted the stuff, and its not as great as they claim)
3/4 cup flour
pinch of salt
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

In a small bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in milk and vanilla. Gradually add flour and salt. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by tablespoons over cooled brownies. Carefully spread over top (slightly tricky - just get a wooden spoon or spatula slightly wet and smooth out).

I have to confess, for the cookie dough layer, I found it didn't make quite enough, so I did another 1/2 of the recipe - not double, just half, (totally 1 1/2) and that was more than enough.

Now for the moment of truth. Take a bite. I am slightly afraid you may never forgive me for bringing these into your life. Once you taste it, you will never be able to go back. So just keep that in mind if you dare delve into these. I did warn you.

Snow and Boys.

It's snowing today.
Finally.

Good thing too, because the rain last week wreaked havoc on the existing snow and pretty soon my yard was naked, er, rather, the deadly winterized grass was revealed. Here's to hoping I get to use the snow blower today. I may have to duke it out later with John. Better go beef up my muscles now.

Snow - lots of it - means we get to do things like this...


Which, as most of you all know, can lead to a broken back or two. You'd think John would be adverse to sledding as a result, but no, you can still find him doing this a time or two, or three or four...

Actually, it kind of worked out for my benefit. It is what is allowing me to take the girls up skiing when they get old enough. Originally John thought skiing might be a little too "dangerous." Who knew the sled had other plans for him a few years back.

And of course, I couldn't resist taking pictures of these cuties. I couldn't seem to get the older two to stop sledding long enough for a picture. So don't go thinking I love them any less. Because I don't.

Moving on.

In case you're wondering what in the world boys have to do with snow, well, it doesn't.

However, Kimberly is getting a little too close to boys for my comfort level doing things like this...

and a little of this too...

Remember when I told you at the beginning of the school year Kimberly signed up for every activity possible at school? This is one of them. Ballroom Dancing, which she loves, loves, loves. I'm glad she enjoys it, but one thing we get to do as part of the activity is venture out to a few ballroom dancing competitions (didn't realize I signed up for that part of it). At the recent competition, her team won a silver ribbon and the school won the spirit award.

Fun Times Indeed.

A Little of This, a Little of That

Megan's Shot of the Week.
I'm really trying very hard to make sure the youngest Rimington doesn't get the raw end of the deal when it comes to family album portion space.

And in other news on the Megan front, she has finally decided to up and start walking on us this past week at 15 - 1/2 months.
She is sure growing up fast.

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I have learned a couple things from a recent ski outing with Kimberly I wanted to share with you.

#1) Always Listen To Your Mother. She's Usually Right.

When she tells you to grab your coat on the way out to the car,
it's usually a good idea.
Good thing I had an extra sweatshirt to share with Kimberly when we discovered her blunder up at the ski place.

#2) Never say, 'I Can't'. I watched yesterday as a blind woman skied down the hill and several others who couldn't walk ski happily down the hill. I will never say 'I Can't' again.

The blind woman was skiing behind her partner as he skied with his poles behind him, tapping them steadily the entire way down the mountain so she knew where to ski.

As for the ones who couldn't walk, they sat in toboggan like things with little skis in each hand with someone pushing their sled thing down the hill. The person pushing would tell the rider which hand to use for their mini-ski so they could help in the skiing process.

I was sincerely humbled at how much I am able to do and yet I still complain at times or think I can't do something.
(No John, you do not get to make a comment here.)

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And last, but not least,

Drum Roll Please,

I am no longer the primary chorister.
Shocker, I know, but after nearly 3 years (and 3 primary programs), I have been released and have a perfectly lovely, non-demanding calling now as the ward music chairman.
Can you even ask for a better calling?
I think not.

...Till We Meet Again

We said goodbye to our cute sister and Aunt Tamara on Sunday before she heads off on her mission to the MTC this week, then on to California. Words can't express how much we will miss her bright, sunny personality. It's already hard having her twin brother gone on his mission (yup, you guessed it - in California too - twins just cannot be separated very far!)

On a total side note, do you guys see my chick boots? I got them a couple months ago on a total whim to boost my chickness. (and to keep my feet warm while walking to church in snow-covered sidewalks). I was tired of wet nylons and freezing feet each week. Glad I was able to finally remedy that situation.

I've Been Busy

So, I took the Christmas break seriously and took time off from my newspaper writing. I didn't feel guilty in the least because trying to conduct interviews on the phone with my herd in the background is next to impossible. Therefore, I had a little time on my hands to work on some crafting projects, starting with this baby -


My friend showed me this darling crayon roll pattern and we knew we had to make some for our 3-year-olds. So two days before Christmas, we spent the evening sewing. We were a sight to behold because it was like the blind trying to lead the blind. We are both just beginner sewers, so it was absolutely hilarious trying to first get our sewing machines to work, then trying to figure out the pattern, then sewing them babies up. Once we got them done though, we were glowing with pride with our finished products (a mere two hours later!) Isn't it cute...

I put it in our church bag for Natalie to use and she was so excited to have a little "home" for each of her crayons - making sure to put each crayon back into its spot after she was done using it.

Next up on my project list was this -

I have been just itching to get a hold of my crotchet needles again, especially when I found the pattern for this cute toddlers hat. I spent one whole morning while John was hooking up the new dishwasher just trying out different crotchet flower patterns to find ones I liked. (Guess who had more fun. however, now our dishes actually get clean...thank you my man.)

Natalie is thrilled with her new hat and now the older girls want one too. I bought some fun yarn for them - now I just need to figure out how to make the hat pattern a little bigger for their heads.

And lastly, I finished up an I Spy Bag just as the break ended.

Of course, my perfectionist nature is getting the best of me and I want to redo this bag using a thicker flannel and sew up the bag, then turn it inside-out for a cleaner edge. No worries though - any excuse to get the sewing machine back out again. You should see the next sewing project on my list - a card table house. Don't expect to see any pictures soon. I may be working on it for the next few months.

Now its back to reality this week with John back at work, story deadlines looming, helping girls with homework, and piano lessons.

And can I just say, this posting is completely ironic to me because as most of you probably know, sewing was not up my alley a few years ago. Funny how things can change.