My Latest Addiction

Many of you may already know that my number one favorite dessert of all time is raw chocolate chip cookie dough, followed by a very close second of freshly-baked cookies.  So much so, that I make them every few days or so.

In fact, I would make them every day, but I feel like it is probably best to eat said cookies before making another batch. I do not like stale cookies - any cookie over 2 - 3 days old just doesn't cut it for me.

However, I have discovered something that might be my new favorite dessert that will allow me to have a freshly baked cookie EVERY DAY, and also adhere to my not-so-friendly metabolism that has become devastatingly slow as I have aged.  You see, when I make a batch of cookies, I can't stop at just one cookie, or two, or even three for that matter.  I have found the perfect solution to my dilemma. 

Let me introduce you to the Chocolate-Chip Cookie in a Cup!!

One absolutely divine serving of cookie, perfectly diet-sized, and warm and deliciously gooey with chocolate chips just oozing in yumminess.  My new favorite dessert after lunch.  And I can make it freshly-baked, every day!  Can it not get any better than that?  Well, my family may start wondering why the cookie jar is empty, but other than that, I think not.  

Want to make one too?  I can vouch for it's easiness and taste-worthiness.  I tried the cake in a cup one, and that was not so good, but this cookie one is fantabulous!!

Melt 1 T butter in the microwave.  Then add 1 T white sugar and 1 T of brown sugar.
I will have you all know that I am typing this recipe by memory, as it is so simple (and I've made it 3 times in the last 2 days). 

 

Then add 3 drops of vanilla and one egg yoke - you guys all know the trick of cracking the egg and letting all the egg white stuff out while leaving the yolk part, right?

Then add a pinch of salt, and a scant 1/4 cup of flour. I am assuming scant means just under 1/4 cup, so don't be overgenerous - but don't quote me on that.  All I know is, my scant cup makes a perfect cookie.  

Lastly, add 2 T of chocolate chips, but I confess, I don't measure this...I just start dumping in the chocolate morsels until it looks sufficiently chocolately.

Mix, and then cook in the microwave for 40-50 seconds. 

Mine came out looking like this...

and this...

Trust me, it tastes better than it looks.

Now, get your bums off the computer chair and go make one of these...you won't regret it.

Need a litte Testosterone?

Since we're talking about John and his all-girl situation, I think someone above feels like John could use a little break from all the hormonal drama.  Yes, after 3 years of serving in the primary - which John loved and is very sad to be leaving - John now has a new calling. Care to take a guess?  I'll even give you a hangman-like hint:

___  ___  ___  ___  ___     ___  ___  ___  ___  ___  ___




Scout master it is.  All of his boys he had as cubs when he was cub master are now in his scout troop.  The boys and their families are thrilled.  John, well, not-so-thrilled about all the camping, but he is excited to be working with the boys again.

John's First 'Official' Pinewood Derby

As you know, John has participated in nearly a gazillion cub scout pinewood derbies during his 10-year tenure as cubmaster, and spent every one of those with his garage open to any dads or boys that needed help.  He has spent countless hours helping others with their pinewood derby cars, but had not had the chance to work on a pinewood derby with any of his kids due to the all-daughter factor.

All of that changed this month when our ward hosted an achievement day Father/Daughter pinewood derby activity.  To say John and Alicia were thrilled was a serious understatement.  They spent weeks working on their car together.  John let Alicia design the car, sand the car, and nearly every aspect of the car work, aside from some cutting that John did to avoid any finger mutilations. 

 Her car did well, but didn't place.  They really built it for looks, not necessarily for speed.  She did get the Best of Show award, and she was thrilled. 

Now it is in prime location in Alicia's room, and both she and John are hoping the primary decides to make it an annual event. 

My Thoughts on the Election - Don't Worry, It's Short

As I have reflected on everyone's comments regarding the election, some good, but many of them not so good, full of worry and trepidation for the future of our country, these are the two thoughts I have chosen to stand by regarding my thoughts on the election.  

President and Prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Harold B Lee during the early 70s said this:   

"Men may fail in this country, earthquakes may come, seas may heave beyond their bounds, there may be great drought, disaster, and hardship, but this nation, founded on principles laid down by men whom God raised up, will never fail. This is the cradle of humanity, where life on this earth began in the Garden of Eden. This is the place of the New Jerusalem. This is the place that the Lord said is favored above all other nations in all the world. This is the place where the Savior will come to His temple. This is the favored land in all the world.

Yes, I repeat, men may fail, but this nation won't fail. I have faith in America; you and I must have faith in America, if we understand the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are living in a day when we must pay heed to these challenges.

I plead with you not to preach pessimism. Preach that this is the greatest country in all the world. This is the favored land. This is the land of our forefathers. It is the nation that will stand despite whatever trials or crises it may yet have to pass through."

Then - this is the statement issued by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Tuesday:

SALT LAKE CITY - We congratulate President Obama on winning a second term as President of the United States.

After a long campaign, this is now a time for Americans to come together. It is a long tradition among Latter-day Saints to pray for our national leaders in our personal prayers and in our congregations. We invite Americans everywhere, whatever their political persuasion, to pray for the President, for his administration and the new Congress as they lead us through difficult and turbulent times. May our national leaders reflect the best in wisdom and judgment as they fulfill the great trust afforded to them by the American people.

We also commend Governor Romney for engaging at the highest level of our democratic process, which, by its nature, demands so much of those who offer themselves for public service. We wish him and his family every success in their future endeavors.

Politically Correct Halloween

We always make fingers for Halloween - if you've never had one of our fingers and you live close-by, please feel free to drop on by as we have a few tasty digits left.  

John made them for work last year and won the prize for most creative Halloween treat.  

This year, he made them again because he has a bunch of new people in his group, though one of the guys is allergic to peanuts (a problem with the heavily - laden peanut butter fingers), so John made a batch with Nutella, and they were rather black, so he called them his Obama plate of fingers, and his Romney plate, and they were to eat the finger of the person they supported for the upcoming election.

Note to family members who've made fingers - Nutella actually tastes really good!

This year for Halloween, we deemed Kimberly too old to go trick-or-treating, so she had a party instead with several of her friends.  They made fingers too and played a bunch of games, including a candy-hunt outside in the dark, so they got a bunch of candy despite the lack of trick-or-treating.  Oh, and I did let them walk down to the neighbor who always makes scones on Halloween night.

 For the lucky three who did get to go trick-or-treating, here they are after they came home from their fun-filled evening.