Mommy's Little Helper - Snickerdoodle Cups

I'm sad to admit that I have neglected my poor blog for far to long now! Recently, I started up a craft page on Facebook (La-Breeden Crafts) and it's been overwhelming (in a totally good way) how many people took interest in what I've been doing. Although, I'm no professional, it honestly makes me happy that I am bringing smiles to peoples faces by doing something that I love to do... and would be doing regardless if anyone were buying it or not.

Because I've started that Facebook page, I haven't really been uploading my crafts as much on here, so if you read my blog... because you like what I do or because you like me (which I hope you do!) then go to the above link and "like" my page. I upload pictures maybe once a week. But don't worry! I will still upload a few on here as long as some yummy recipes that I've recently tried.

Just recently I made these amazing cookies for my book club/ my work buddies and I got a few request to share the recipe. I admit I found it on foodgawker.com (never heard of it? Check it out. Food porn at it's best!) but I did make a few changes to the recipe I found so I figured I'd share it with anyone who enjoyed the cookies.... or if you are wanting to try a new cookie recipe! This one was super easy and super quick and it makes about 48 cookies a batch! I know what you are thinking..."You cooked with pumpkin? In January?"....Oh yeah I did, enjoy!

Snickerdoodle Cups w/ Pumpkin Cream Cheese Icing

1 cup butter

1 1/2 cups white sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 3/4 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 Tbs cinnamon

1 tsp cream of tartar

1/4 tsp salt

3 Tbs white sugar

2 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease mini muffin pan (Believe me, do NOT skip this step.)

In a large bowl, combine butter and sugar. Mix in eggs one at a time blending well after each. Add vanilla and mix. In another bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, 1 Tbs cinnamon, cram of tartar, and salt. Gradually add to the wet mixture. Don't be surprised, the mixture will be a really thick.

Combine the 3 Tbs sugar and 2 tsp cinnamon in a small bowl. Shape the dough into walnut sized balls and roll in the cinnamon sugar mixture. (You will feel the urge to make the balls larger than they should be but don't! They will expand a lot during the cooking.) Place dough balls in the mini muffin pan.

Bake for 8-10 minutes. Let cool for one minute then take a 1 tsp measuring spoon and make an indention in each cookie. (Watch you knuckles when you do this! I clumsy hit the hot pan multiple times with mine! Ouch!) Let cool in pan for 5 more minutes before transferring the cookie to a wire rack to cool completely.

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Icing

6 oz cream cheese

1/2 cup canned pumpkin puree - The recipe called for 1/3 cup but then again I'm in LOVE with pumpkin flavored things...so I added more :).

2 cups powdered sugar - add more if you like it sweeter.

1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg 

1/4 tsp ground ginger

1/8 tsp ground cloves

Mix cream cheese and pumpkin until smooth and creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar and spices. Mix well. Pipe onto cookie cups & ENJOY! 

La-Breeden Crafts.

The other week I created a craft page via Facebook called La-Breeden's crafts . Check the page often for new craft ideas/ crafts for sale. My husband even got in on it and made some wood working he is selling. 

Comic Book Speech Bubble Shelf $75 (3ft x 1ft)

Custom Jar Candles $10

Custom painted pictures

Juice Head.

I finally got myself a juicer!! And so far, I absolutely love it. I didn't get it to diet or to supplement meals.... I primarily got to start making fresh juice for Taylor after I read that article about arsenic levels in brand name apple juice. Yeah, I know, nobody's ever died from drinking apple juice over the years but still.

So My husband and I decided to go to the farmers market on Monday, since we had off for the new year. I cannot believe we got ALL these fruit and veggies for $30. Incredible. I think the 20 minute drive in the wrong direction is totally worth the savings! We picked up 5 lbs of carrots, 1 lb of apples, 5 mandarins, 5 kiwis, 2 pomegranates, 3 lemons, 2 limes, 2 packs of blackberries and 2 packs of blueberries. Wow!

Strawberry Kiwi Juice

Blueberry Pomegranate Juice

We've just been kind of throwing fruit in that we've had tried mixed in the past. Taylor really gets into it too. She picked out Strawberries and Kiwis. She even has a blast putting the fruit into the hole and watching it come out the other side! Paul mixed a whole pomegranate, a handful of blueberries, an apple and 1/4 of a lime without the rind. It was quite delicious. Does anyone have any yummy juice recipes they'd like to share??

OH! We also picked up some Chia Seeds for $2. Yeah those plants that grow out of clay heads. Weird, right? I saw them at the farmers market and remembered trying them once at book club. Apparently they are packed with nutrients (click for more information)! And they provide tons of energy... which I so desperately need these days. Also, they made me feel nice and full well into lunch time. I don't know much about them but when we had them at book club they were placed into juice. So that's what I tried. I put a tablespoon of them in 8 oz of orange juice and let it sit for about 30 minutes before drinking. I don't mind the texture but some may. Anyway, lets just say I had one cup of coffee (while waiting for my chia juice to be ready) and my chia juice and I am still wide awake! Not impressed? Normally I drink a cup of coffee at 7 am, another at 9 am, one at 2 pm and sometimes another at 5pm! Yes, I'm an addict! I'm pretty sure this may become part of my daily routine!

Starting 2012 off right

Happy 2012, loves!! 

I had my 2nd annual New Years Day Dinner tonight. I'm starting to really love this tradition. Honestly, I think every family should sit down together and have the first supper of the new year together. In the end of it all, family will always be what is most important....and I wouldn't trade my family for the world. :)

There, sadly, was a minor disaster with the main dish, but it was easily brushed off because my wonderful Mommom brought a glazed ham with her just in case (she must know me too well). My theory is: you live and you learn. And what I learned is...never cook a meat you aren't familiar with cooking with for a bunch of people. The recipe it's self sounded delicious.... and called for baking for 40 minutes. Let's just say it took about an hour and a half.. and never made it to the table. **Sigh** Maybe I'll try again for just my little family before attempting for a party of 12 again!

2012 Menu:
First Course:
Apple Walnut Salad with a light Raspberry Vinegarette Dressing

Second Course:
Broccoli and Cheddar Soup (click for recipe)

Third Course:
Stuffed Pork Tenderloin (click for recipe)

Glazed Ham

Honey Roasted Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes,  and Butternut Squash

Peas and Corn

Biscuits

Dessert:
Frozen Strawberries -n- Cream (Click for recipe)

Carrot Cake - I had picked up a box of Duncan Hines 'Decadent Desserts' Carrot cake because it was on sale. It was amazing! And had real carrots and raisins in the mix. Seriously, I'm not even ashamed to admit I cheated, it was that yummy.

Apple Pie

We all followed up dinner with an hour of playing dolls in Taylor's room and then some Family Scattegories. Seriously, hilarious.

Moment of the night : 
  - Rolled letter - "D" 
  - Scattegory - "Things that are black" 
  - GG laughing hysterically at the 'word' that popped in her head. 
  - Me almost peeing my pants from laughing so hard.


Here's to another year full of family and laughter. I hope everyone has an amazing 2012!