Friday, December 23, 2011

Chocolate Sour Cream Cookies

These are one of my favorite kind of cookies to make and eat!  The whole sour cream thing sounds weird but it is amazing.  The cookies are basically like a little cake.  Me trying to describe it will not do them any justice!  Here is the recipe...


Mix together and set aside...
4 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt (I use salted butter and don't add salt)
1 teaspoon baking soda

Cream together...
3/4 cup butter - softened
2 cups of sugar
3 1 oz. squares of unsweetened chocolate - melted
Sugar, butter, AND chocolate? Resist the temptation to eat!
Okay a little bite isn't bad, right? :)

Add to creamed mixture...
2 large eggs
1/3 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla

Add the dry ingredients and mix until blended. It should look something like...


Roll into 1 inch balls and roll in sugar and bake at 350 degrees for 11 minutes.



ENJOY! 













Sunday, December 4, 2011

Cupcakes {Yummy!}

Sweet Potato Cupcakes with Toasted Marshmallow Frosting.  
The perfect execution of a sweet potato casserole in a cupcake.  One of my new favorite things to make AND eat!  Here is the recipe...
 
For the cupcakes:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
16 tbsp. unsalted butter, softened
1½ cups sugar
3 large eggs
17 oz. sweet potato puree
½ tsp. vanilla extract
 
Preheat the oven to 350° F.  Line two cupcake pans with paper liners.  In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon; stir together with a fork and set aside.  In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.  Beat in the eggs one at a time, scraping down the bowl after each addition.  Mix in the sweet potatoes and vanilla extract, beating just until combined.  Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the dry ingredients, mixing just until incorporated.
Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cupcake liners.  Bake for about 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Let cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

For the frosting:
8 large egg whites (Make scrambled eggs to use the yolks!)
2 cups sugar
½ tsp. cream of tartar
2 tsp. vanilla extract

 To make the frosting, combine the egg whites, sugar and cream of tartar in the top of a double boiler. Heat the mixture, whisking frequently, until it reaches 160° F with an instant-read thermometer. (It does take a while!) Transfer the mixture to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Whisk starting at low speed and gradually increasing to medium-high speed until stiff, glossy peaks form. Mix in the vanilla until combined. Frost cooled cupcakes as desired. Brown with a kitchen torch and enjoy!! :)







Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Thankful '11

This year I am thankful for...

  • God. Without my Father to guide me, His grace to cover me, and His abounding love, I don't know where I would be. 
  • The freedom to live out my faith through prayer, worship, and reading my Bible.
  • My Daddy. Yes. I have the very best one. I am thankful for our laughs, our same sense of humor, and for his love.
  • My Momma. She is my very best friend. I always know she will be there for me. {Even when I need to talk late at night!}
  • My little brother. He gets on my nerves, gets in my face, and drives me crazy, but he is awesome and he has been my best friend since he was born. 
  • My little sissy, Boo. Without her I don't think I would ever laugh. {And I wouldn't have little fingers to paint!}
  • My extended family. 
  • My friends. I am thankful for their accountability, laughter, and sweet friendships!
  • Food. Thankful that I wake up every day knowing there is food in my home. And that I can eat lots of it! :D
  • My house. I never have to wonder where I will sleep. 
  • My church family <3
  • Starbucks
  • Movies {like Pride & Prejudice}
  • Pinterest {Yes I am thankful for Pinterest!}
  • Thanksgiving bingo with my family
  • The chance to make a blog post like this! :D
  • There is so very much more, but I would miss eating! :)
I hope you all have a wonderful day celebrating and giving thanks! :)

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever!"
-Psalm 118:1
     
     

Tebow

If you see me cheering for a different football team, don't blame the Colts for a bad, season. 
Blame this guy. 


 Not only is he a good quarter-back and pro-life, Tim Tebow is an amazing Christian. 
A couple years ago, Tebow wore John 3:16 on is eye black during a game against Oklahoma. (See picture above.) During and after the game, 92 million people Googled John 3:16, ""For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.92 million people. NCAA then banned writing on eye black, but that didn't discourage Tebow from keeping his identity in Christ and not in the media. 

Here's a recent video:
Um yeah. Tim Tebow is definitely using the platform God has given him. What a challenge for those of us who are Christians. If Tebow can stand firmly in his faith in front of those 92 million people, what can we do in front of lesser audiences? 

So you can count me as a Broncos fan. Alright. A Tim Tebow fan. He has gained my respect as an awesome athlete and as a brother in Christ.

Tim, keep standing strong in your faith and living out Galatians 1:10.
"For am I now seeking the approval of man or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Toasted Marshmallow Milkshakes

Yes. You read correctly. A toasted marshmallow milkshake. Everything good and perfect about a milkshake and a toasty marshmallow in one.
After having this glorious milkshake in New York, I needed to recreate one closer to home. So here it is!


Toast marshmallows in the broiler. (You seriously need to watch them. They will burn easily!) I used the GIANT ones this time and they work just as well as regular ones.


Put a splash and a half of milk in the bottom of the blender and add the marshmallows. Blend until...


...it looks a little something like this. Add icecream and blend until combined. Toast 4 more marshmallows to top and enjoy!!