We've been Baking!

We actually had some free time last week-end! Mackenzie insisted on watching cartoons, but I was SO tired of hearing the same "toon music" over and over. SO, how did I entertain Mackenzie you ask??! We baked, of course!

Mackenzie has become a major helper in the kitchen. . .almost too much of one at times. But last week-end was all about her, so she was expected to help! We started off the week-end by making homemade cinnamon rolls. YUM! Mackenzie was allowed to do almost everything. . .she still isn't allowed to touch the raw eggs or put things in the oven yet.

Here she is mixing the ingredients. . .

From the time she was itty-bitty, she has always stuck her tongue out when concentrating. She still does it, and it cracks me up!!!

The finished product. They were best the first morning they came out of the oven, but were still delicious reheated in the microwave!!


The next morning we made blueberry muffins. . .from scratch! I got the recipe out of a cookbook that was recommended to me by my sister-in-law. I purchased the book back in November, but I JUST got it last week! Apparently it was on backorder. The book came at a perfect time. .. we had a free week-end, and time to make a wonderful breakfast!

First she had to sift together the flour and baking soda. . .

Next she had to combine the wet ingredients. . .

Combine the wet and dry together. . .and. . .

Bake! YUM! Serve warm with butter or margarine!

Monster Cookies. . .YUM!

So I have been a little preoccupied lately. . .reading the "Twilight" Saga by Stephenie Meyer. If you haven't read it, DO!. . .I mean, seriously, the books are wonderfully written, and the storyline is amazing! I finished the 4th book of the series, and now that it is over, feel a bit sad. I started a new book, but it's just not the same.

Anyway, when I wasn't obsessively reading, I was still living lift to the fullest. Last Saturday we went to the birthday party for a one year old whose name is Blakeli. Blakeli's parents just bought a new home, so we decided to celebrate Blakeli's b-day and their housewarming all at once. We got Blakeli a gift certificate to our local paint-your-own-pottery place. Honestly, it was probably more for her parents than Blakeli, I mean really, it's not like Blakeli really cares about how cute her hand prints will look on a plate or bowl. I hope they all enjoy the gift certificate. . .we have painted pottery each Christmas with Mackenzie, and I love the pieces we have created as a family. I will have to post those sometime. . .but alas, I digress. Back to the party.

For the housewarming gift, Mackenzie and I went to Target for an adorable cookie jar. What home is complete without a cookie jar?! I found exactly what I was looking for and made immediate plans to fill the jar with a recipe that I couldn't wait to try. A month or two ago, while watching the Food Network, Ms. Paula Deen was making Monster Cookies. I waited, and waited for an excuse to make them, and when the housewarming party came up, I was elated! Trust me, the cookies were wonderful! Here are some pics of our labored (ha!) effort!

Mackenzie is ready to go. . .
Apron on. . .Check
Mixer. . .check
Ingredients. . .check
Slightly obsessive mom with a camera. . .check. . .


Adding the oatmeal. . .
I love drop cookies. . .they are so EASY! :)The cooling process. . .
The finished product. Isn't the cookie jar cute? I think I might have to go buy one for myself! With the chalk spot, you could put most anything inside the jar. Think of the possibilities. . .crayons, pasta, coffee. . .