Sweet Saturdays: Soft and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

This week has been a pretty good week for me. I met with the conductor of a local youth symphony (who also happens to be a professor at my college, that was a nice surprise!) Wednesday and then again today to discuss the symphony and if I could be a part of it. Turns out the symphony still has two concerts left for this season, both in June. The concerts are their Pop concerts where they are playing John Williams music! So today the conductor gave me the music for the theme from Schindler’s List and Jaws so I can look it over before rehearsal on Monday. I’m so thrilled for Monday, but also nervous, because I have don’t have any orchestra experience, and Monday is basically my audition for the symphony! But, on the plus side I get to sight read the piano part for Star Wars! The conductor was going to have it played on the keyboard because the score wants it to “synthesize” the harp, but I don’t care what I have to do, I am going to make it work on the harp because I’ll be damned if they do Star Wars and I can’t play in it!!!!!

Phew, alright. After all of that text I need a cookie. Would you like one? I sure hope so because these are delicious! I personally think there is nothing better than a fresh-from-the-oven, gooey chocolate chip cookie. When I was looking for a chocolate chip cookie recipe to try, I really wanted one that would be soft, and super chewy, because that makes the best gooey cookie if you ask me! So when I stumbled upon this recipe in Martha Stewart’s “Cookies” cookbook, I knew this was one I wanted to try and share with you all.

My dad was more than happy to be my taste tester, and noted that although these are really good, they didn’t live up to the chocolate chip cookies that my mom used to make. Unfortunately, my mom changed recipes a lot and I’m not sure which one is the one my dad really liked, let alone where to even start looking!

But for now, this is definitely a keeper recipe! And funnily enough, these cookies actually reminded me a lot of the big chocolate chip cookies that Mrs. Fields sells. I haven’t decided whether that’s a good thing or not, because when I think of Mrs. Fields I think of a commercial cookie, not something that was homemade… but that being said, these cookies certainly fulfill their title!

I sure hope you all enjoy this recipe for seriously soft and chewy chocolate chip cookies!

<3 and harp strings,
Kate

P.S. I seriously need to NOT procrastinate on making the recipe for this post, because I should be posting this much earlier on Saturday so you all can enjoy it, not at almost midnight… *sigh* At least I have a goal for next week, right? >_>

Sweet Saturdays: Double Chocolate Brownies

Hey everyone! I know it’s really late on Saturday, and that it’s not even Saturday technically for some of you! But, as long as I get this post out sometime on Saturday, everything will be fine

My baking assistant, the lovely dog-dog!

I was really unsure as to what I wanted to bake for this post, which is why I didn’t actually get it baked until today… but that aside let’s talk about these delicious brownies I made! These were the very first homemade brownies I have made (as in, not from a box mix), and I am really proud of how they turned out! I may have overbaked them just a tad because when I put my cake tester in no crumbs were stuck to it, and the recipe said it should have a few, but I sampled a couple of them and they still tasted great!

These brownies I made to share with you all are from Martha Stewart’s “Cookies” cookbook. The only baked good I can recall trying by Martha Stewart are the Chocolate Crackles I used to make with my mom for Christmas, but I am really enjoying these brownies! They are dense but packed full of chocolate because of the semi-sweet chocolate and cocoa powder the recipe calls for. They are seriously the ultimate fudgy brownie, so if that’s your thing, then please give these a shot. You won’t be sorry!

<3 and harp strings,
Kate

Happy Birthday Momma :(

It’s been a while since I last blogged, and I was hoping when I got back to it this month, that it would be a happier blog post since my last one was sad because I found out my poor doggy is sick Unfortunately, this one isn’t going to be the happiest in the world, but I’m hoping these cookies will make up for it.

My family and I are still working through out “firsts” since the passing of my mom last February, and today happens to be another one of those firsts.

Mom at the Sioux Falls in South Dakota, 2008

Today, my momma should have been 66 years old.

I say should have, because it wasn’t fair how she left us, left me.

Mom and her children, Christmas 2010

She had been sick for probably around 8 or 9 years before she passed, and my family and I didn’t know until she was finally diagnosed a year before she passed with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease).

My mom didn’t want us to know, because allowing us to know would be allowing herself to recognize that something was wrong, so she hid it from us. And now, because of this choice, my mother will never see me graduate from junior college with my Associates Degree in Music… or see me transfer to a 4 year university with a wonderful harp ensemble {just like she and I talked about while I was in high school}… or see me getting married and watch Daddy walk me down the aisle someday… or see me have my babies.

None of these things will ever happen, and I am so jealous of my older sisters because they were lucky enough to have mom there for their weddings and babies.
It’s just not fair.

Mom and I at The Peninsula Beverly Hills, 2007

Everyday I try to push forward, moving towards my current goals of finishing my credits at my junior college so I can transfer in Fall of 2013, all the while pretending everything is fine…

…and sometimes I actually believe it is.

But the truth is, it’s not. And it won’t be for a while.

Mom, Dad, and I in Borrego Springs, 2008

I miss my mom, and I miss the times that I have lost with her.

Sure, we never got out of our Mother-Daughter Fightallthefreakingtime Relationship, but that was going to change eventually.

But now I’ll never have that chance.

Mom and I at Mt. Rushmore, 2009

The only good thing about all of this is that although I’ve lost my mother, I have changed a lot from the person I was back in high school/right out of high school.

That person was an extremely lazy, un-motivated person who wanted nothing more than to wake up and play video games until it’s time to go to sleep.

Now, although I still struggle with that person {especially when I don’t have any hard commitments for the day}, I am now accomplishing things and moving forward for my life. And I have no idea when that would have happened if my mom getting sick wouldn’t have happened.

Because with my mom’s illness came time for me to finally become mature and grow up because my mom needed me to help take care of her because she couldn’t anymore. And now that she no longer needs me, I have to take care of myself and do what I need to do to move forward with my life.

Mom, Me, Grandma, and My Oldest Sister, 2008

*sighs*

So, the other day, I was absolutely starved for something sweet {I’ve been trying not to keep cookies in the house because they are my usual go-to snack, and when I eat them, I sit there and work on the whole dang pack, instead of a few}. That’s when I read Sweet Sugarbelle’s blog post about Easy Cake Mix Cookies.

She calls them the “easiest cookies you’ll ever make”, and boy was she right! They are so quick and simple, anyone can make them. And since they are quick, I was able to satisfy my sweet tooth craving in about 30 minutes

When I went to make these cookies though, I didn’t have any chocolate cake mix on hand. However, I did have some Funfetti Cake Mix! The recipe said “1 boxed cake mix”, so I figured it would work! And it did.

I planned on just sharing her recipe with you all so you could enjoy these fabulous cookies too, but since it’s my mom’s birthday, and since these cookies reminded me of birthday cookies {sprinkles and birthdays just seem to go hand in hand if you ask me}, I changed the recipe to be used specifically with a sprinkled cake mix!

I hope you all enjoy my {only slightly changed, and by slightly, I do mean slightly lol} adaptation of Sweet Sugarbelle’s recipe!

Oh yeah, and Happy Birthday Momma.

I miss you…

…and hope you’re having a good birthday in Heaven.

XOXO from your daughter who misses you with her whole heart and soul.

Mom at her favorite desert escape, La Casa del Zorro

<3 and harp strings,
Kate

Happy Birthday Sprinkle Cookies      [click to print]

Makes about 2 dozen cookies (adapted from the super easy, and delicious recipe by Sweet Sugarbelle)

Ingredients

1 box Pillsbury Funfetti Cake Mix {any cake mix with sprinkles should work, or you can use a vanilla cake mix and add your own sprinkles too!}
1/2 cup {1 stick} unsalted butter, softened
2 eggs
2 tablespoons flour
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

 

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Add all ingredients to a mixer bowl and combine well {or a regular bowl and use a hand mixer}.
3. Use a cookie scoop to scoop out the dough and drop it onto a Silpat lined cookie sheet {an ungreased cookie sheet works too} to make evenly sized dough portions.
4. Bake for 10-12 minutes {if cookies aren’t done after this, continue to bake, checking every 2 minutes or so}.
5. Let cool on the cookie sheet for at least 10 minutes.

Photo Walkthrough:

Everything you'll need for thie recipe.

Add all ingredients to a mixer bowl and combine well {or a regular bowl and use a hand mixer}.

Use a cookie scoop to scoop out the dough and drop it onto a Silpat lined cookie sheet {an ungreased cookie sheet works too} to make evenly sized dough portions.

Bake for 10-12 minutes {if cookies aren't done after this, continue to bake, checking every 2 minutes or so}. Let cool on the cookie sheet for at least 10 minutes.

2011 Comes to a Close

I can hardly believe that today is the last day of 2011. This year has been a rollercoaster ride, full of lots of highs and lows. The lows have seemed to be worse this year than in the past, but because of those lows, this year has disappeared in the blink of an eye.

The major lows for me from this year have been the loss of my mother earlier this year, and my boyfriend moving to Northern Cali {7 hours away}.

My mom, Carol at our favorite desert getaway, La Casa del Zorro in Borrego Springs, CA.

The major highs for me from this year have been meeting some amazing new friends at school, finishing up my first ever semester of college with straight A’s, and of course, starting my blog!

My BFF, Jess, and I on my 22nd bday!

I am not usually one for “New Year’s Resolutions”, but this year I am actually making some. Unfortunately, I am going to be one of those people that has “join a gym/start working out” on my list, but I am in desperate need of it. This past year I’ve put on a lot of weight, which I think is partly due to me being depressed about my mom’s passing. Food has always been one of my loves, but my appetite has really grown this year and I find myself eating a lot more than I have in the past, a lot more than I know I should be. I’m by no means “fat” or “obese” but I’m getting a muffin top… and it needs to go away! I love me some muffins, but not when they stick above my pants!!!

Some of my other resolutions are to really keep up with my blog, especially with my Sweet Saturday/Savory Sunday/Musical Monday posts that I planned to do a few months ago.

I also wanted to spend today reflecting on this past year, and decided to share my Top 10 most visited posts from this year, so I hope you all enjoy them!

#10 on my list. This Creamy Peanut Butter Pie was baked back in August when Jennie, a fellow food blogger, lost her husband and father of her children. A bunch of people from the online food community came together and all baked pies in memory of her husband.

#9 on the list is my World of Warcraft backstory. I posted this back in August because I wanted to share with everyone how I got into WoW, where I meant the love of my life and boyfriend of 4 years, and what had taken up nearly 6 years of my life.

#8 on the list is my grandma's Angel Food Cake Frosting. I baked these cakes back in May for Easter. I absolutely LOVE Angel Food Cake, but only with this frosting. Every year on my birthday my mom would bake me two of these cakes, one for the family, and one for me because I'm a piggy *snortsnort*

#7 on the list are the delicious Individual Gorgonzola Beef Wellingtons. I made these in August for my Dad for Father's Day. These are so simple and are a real crowd pleaser. Plus, these are sure to make you look like you're the best cook in the world if you serve these!

#6 on the list is this sweet Mixed Berry Tart. I made this in late July for a family get together and everyone loved it to death. It is definitely a keeper recipe, and if you like berries, you should check it out!

#5 on the list is this quick and easy Southern Chicken and Dumplings. It has minimal ingredients, and feeds quite a few people. All you need is a crockpot and a few hours.

#4 on the list are my Mom's Sugar Cookies that I baked this month for The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap. My mom and I made these cookies for a lot of holidays, and are a family tradition. I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

#3 on the list are the Ultimate Vanilla Cupcakes I helped crown by Cupcake Project. The other 49 Cupcake Explorers and I went through three rounds before we found this recipe, but it was well worth it. These really are the ULTIMATE Vanilla cupcakes.

#2 on the list are these moist Copycat Sprinkles Red Velvet Cupcakes by Carrot Top Mom. I found her recipe back in January when I was looking for a Red Velvet Cupcake to bake for my mom's 65th birthday. She was in the hospital, so I wanted something small and portable, and these were just the thing! I love them, and I know you will too!

And finally, #1 on the list is this amazing Bacon-Swiss BBQ Chicken crockpot recipe. Like the Chicken and Dumplings {from the same cookbook}, it has minimal ingredients, and is a wonderfully simple summer meal.

Well, that’s it everyone! Those are the Top 10 posts most visited on my blog since I started it back in April! If you want to visit the post and check it out, you can click on the picture.

I hope that you all have a wonderful and safe New Years Eve tonight. And don’t forget, please please please don’t drink and drive tonight! Stay safe, and call AAA if you need a ride, they will tow your car and give you a lift FOR FREE if you need it!!

Stay safe, and I will see you all in the new year!!

 

♥ and harp strings,
Kate

Christmas Wrap-Up

So, the big day finally came and went in the blink of an eye. All of the weeks of planning and preparation… all of the baking, gift buying and wrapping… all over and done with for another year.

This year was an extremely different Christmas for me though. Usually my house is decorated to the point that it looks like Christmas threw up in it., the outside of the house is done up with lots of lights, and everything feels right. Normal.

But not this Christmas.

I finally finished my first semester of college which took me until December 15th. Before that I was far too busy with school to get decorations from storage myself, or to pester my dad about it. And to be honest, he was far too busy himself. He was working really long days during the week, and on the weekends he was either too tired, or just not home. So this year, the only Christmas decorations we got done in the house before Christmas was my mom’s Christmas Village, and a medium-sized fiber optic tree.

We had no lights hung outside, and the rest of the house as very bare and… un-Christmas-y.

When I finally had time to work on things, I was busy with Christmas baking and planning gifts. Unfortunately, being the procrastinator that I was, I didn’t have everything done before Christmas Eve like I had hoped.