Spring Turkey

Immediately after this picture Annika screamed.  She mistook Maggie's kiss for the turkey.  

The perfect end to the photo shoot.  

S'mores Cupcakes

 Can I just share something that I completely fell in love with??

Honestly what's not to love.  It's a s'more in cupcake form.  Uhhhh...yes please!  It made tax day completely do-able.  

A graham cracker crumb base with chocolate pieces melted on top.  Rich and moist chocolate cake topped with graham cracker crumbs.  And marshmallow frosting.  Toasted marshmallow frosting.  

This is the kind of cupcake you make for someone who needs a pick me up.  Like those people who do your taxes.  They need these.

Original recipe here.

Softball Bars

Tracy's softball bars.  Tracy always made these for weekend softball tournaments.  They may have been the only reason I agreed to go with my best friend to all those things.  They are one of my all-time favorite bars.  Perfect combination of sweet with just a touch of salt from the pretzels.  

They are fairly quick to put together, make a large batch (jellyroll pan anyone?) and they hold up well when taking places.  Did I mention how much I love them??  Ryan actually pulled out the, "If you love them so much, why don't you marry them?"  I guess I had been going on about them for awhile.  And he's a cheese ball, so he says stuff like that.  :)  

Softball Bars

{yields 48 bars}

1 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 tsp salt

2 cups quick cook oatmeal

1 bag caramel bits

2 Tbsp water

12 oz's M&M's

1 cup crushed pretzels

white almond bark

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream butter, brown sugar, flour, salt and soda.  Mix in oatmeal. {The mixture should hold together pretty well...not be crumbly.  If it is, keep mixing!}

Spread and press into a jelly roll pan.  Bake for 8-12 minutes.  The crust should just barely begin to change color.  

Over medium heat, combine caramels and water in a saucepan and heat until caramels are completely melted.  Spread over crust.  Sprinkle with M&M's and pretzels.  Melt almond bark and drizzle on top.  

Cool completely, cut and enjoy!

Double Chocolate Pudding Cookies

There has been a lot of baking going on at our house.  Thankfully most of it has been able to go to Ryan or I's office...or to my physical therapist.  :)

This is one of those go to recipes that never fails and can quickly be changed up to make new flavors.  With my semi-picky eaters, I keep it pretty basic, but changing the pudding and/or chip flavors could result in a slew of new flavors.

Double Chocolate & Peanut Butter Pudding Cookies

{yields 3 dozen cookies}

1 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup brown sugar, packed

1/4 cup white sugar

1 pkg {3.4 oz} instant chocolate pudding

1 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

1 tsp baking soda

2 1/4 cups flour

1 pkg {12 oz} peanut butter and milk chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Cream butter, sugars, dry pudding mix and vanilla until well blended.  Add eggs and mix well.  Gradually add in soda and flour and mix until combined.  Stir in chocolate chips.  

Drop by teaspoonful onto un-greased cookie sheet, about 2 inches apart.

Bake at 375 for 10 to 12 minutes, or until edges are set.  Cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes and then move to wire rack and cool completely.  

Supper Round Up

After the craziness of a wake and funeral, last minute surgery for the dog and the general craziness that goes along with tax season at a law firm, I think we are settling back into normal.  I even managed to get some meals thought out for the week.

Monday:  meatloaf with potatoes and/or roasted butternut squash
Tuesday:  chalupas {based on this recipe with subs for what's not already in my pantry}
Wednesday:  out for supper...someone has a birthday and she's hoping her family will agree to sushi
Thursday:  spaghetti
Friday:  pizza
Saturday:  we re going to try to get out of town, so we'll see where we are when mealtime rolls around
Sunday:  roast chicken

Have a great week!

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

As is typical for our weekends, the kids were bored and wanted to do some baking.  Plus we promised Grandma Elaine we would drop some cookies off for her.

Knowing I had two extra tubs of oatmeal, that was the focus for the day's baking.  And this one called for whole wheat flour, so we thought we'd try it out.  Whole wheat flour + oatmeal makes it healthy, right??

This are crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside.  Exactly how I like my cookies to be.  I don't like "milk dunkers"...as Ryan calls crispy cookies.  I LOVE the addition of the molasses.  It adds a little depth without a super strong taste.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

{yields 24-36 cookies}

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 cups brown sugar, packed

1 cup butter, softened

2 eggs

2 Tbsp molasses

1 Tbsp milk

2 cups rolled oats

12 oz semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Set aside.

In a large bowl, beat together the brown sugar and butter until well combined.  Add eggs, molasses and milk and beat well.  Add oats and remaining dry ingredients and mix until blended.  Stir in chocolate chips.  Scoop dough using a medium cookie scoop (about 2 Tbsp) and drop about 3 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake at 350 degrees for 12-14 minutes, until edges are beginning to brown.  Cool cookies for 2 minutes on cookie sheets and then remove to cooling rack to cool completely.

original recipe posted by What Megans Making

Turning 5

I finally found my camera cord, so I can share some pictures of Henry from his birthday.

He's not a ham at all.

And making faces at the camera is always a good way to pass time while waiting for everyone to show up.

{He's practicing to be a break dancer}

Henry's favorites...

1. What is your favorite color? Blue

2. What is your favorite toy? Dream lite
3. What is your favorite fruit?  Oranges and apples and bananas
4. What is your favorite tv show? Johnny Test
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Brats
6. What is your favorite outfit? I can't choose one
7. What is your favorite game? Water skiing on the Wii
8. What is your favorite snack? Apples with peanut butter
9. What is your favorite animal? My dog, Maggie Brynsaas
10. What is your favorite song?  Creepin and Springsteen and Lee Brice
11. What is your favorite book?  I don’t have a favorite
12. Who is your best friend?  Olivia
13. What is your favorite cereal? Cereal with milk
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play tag
15. What is your favorite drink?  Milk
16. What is your favorite holiday? 
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play tag
15. What is your favorite drink?  Milk
16. What is your favorite holiday? Every holiday
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? My dream lite
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Meat
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Brats and mac n cheese 
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? I want to work for Daddy

So Happy 5th Birthday to the sweetest, kindest, funniest little 5 year old I know.  You are truly a blessing to our lives, Henry!

Love,
Mom & Dad