Cravings

I have been craving cookies.   

Big Time.

Not my sugar cookies.  I have had enough of them lately.  Thank you.

But other cookies.  

Fancy Cookies.

Cookies with chocolate.  

Here are a few of the cookies I have been eyeing.

I may bake some up soon.

Beware.  

picture by How Sweet it Is

Fat Little Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies with Chocolate Ganache.   

Oh my.  

I think my heart just skipped a beat.  

These cookies are by How Sweet it Is.   

 And here is the link to her recipe.

 Fat Little Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies with Chocolate Ganache

Picture by Picky Palate

And these cookies. 

Red Velvet.

Milky Way Candy.

Yes please.  

These cookies are from Picky Palate.  

I think she is the cookie queen.  

Juts check out her cookie recipe index sometime.   

Here is the link to her recipe:

Red Velvet Milky Way Cookies

Picture by Two Peas and their Pod

And these cookies.  

Chocolate Chip- classic with a twist.

Two words for you: Salted Caramel.

Who could resist these?

These cookies are by Two Peas and their Pod and here is the link to the cookies:

Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies

Picture by Willow Bird Baking

Brown Butter

Cookie Dough

Salty Pretzels.

All of my favorites

Together

I love you Willow Bird.

I think I shall make thee Brown Butter Cookie Dough Pretzel Bars next.

Now say that three times really fast... 

Brown Butter Cookie Dough Pretzel Bars

Brown Butter Cookie Dough Pretzel Bars

Brown Butter Cookie Dough Pretzel Bars

Here is the link:

Brown Butter Cookie Dough Pretzel Bars

Have a fabulous week everyone.   

Cookie Monster-

Marci

Happy St Patrick's Day!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful end to their weekend!  

This weekend was a busy one for me as well, but I did manage to create a few St Patty's Day inspired cookies.   

Enjoy.... I wish I could share the real thing with all of you. 

Blessings,

Marci

**I linked up these cookies to Simply Sweet Saturdays at Simply Sweets by Honeybee.  Pop over and check out all of the great submissions!

Pinterest fail....

I must share some very sad news....  I had yet another Pinterest failure.   Instead of keeping this failure to myself- I decided to share it all with you.  There are some very funny and witty blogs out there- Pintester and  others that blog exclusively about Pinterest successes and failures.  

I decided to test out the two ingredient pancake "pin" that is floating around out there.   The premise for the recipe is easy- only two ingredients- bananas and eggs. You mash up one egg and banana together.  You then fry it up in a pan like a pancake and presto!- you have two ingredient pancakes. 

I am here to provide a pubic service to you all.   These are not pancakes.   They turn out kinda wet and soggy.   Now I know that I would prefer to scramble my egg and eat a banana on the side.   I can see how these "pancake imposters" appear to be fluffy.  But, don't be fooled.   They are not as fluffy and airy as the real thing.   They do not taste like pancakes.   They taste like mashed up bananas and eggs.   Which I learned I do not like mixed together.  Take note Gerber- banana and egg would not be a best seller.  

I kinda feel duped.  Like when someone told me spaghetti squash tastes just like spaghetti.  Nope.  It doesn't.  It tastes like spaghetti squash with spaghetti sauce on top.   Which can be quite tasty, but does not taste like spaghetti.  

 

So, I know that most blogs are filled with beautiful recipes and talk nothing of kitchen failures.  But, I am a wanna-be blogger so I will keep it real here.  I have many many failures in the kitchen.  I also have made many recipes that were mediocre.   But, I do love to share the recipes that did turn out delicious.  And, I also feel obligated to tell you of the recipes that did not turn out at all.   This is one of them.   So next time you get a hankering for some pancakes- make some real ones please.   Pancakes are meant to be fluffy, tender, buttery pillows of deliciousness.   If you are worried about over indulging on the real thing- save them for the weekend.  And eat the eggs and bananas (served separately- of course) during the week.

Saving the world from fake pancakes.  No thanks is needed.
Marci

Double Trouble.....

I just wanted one picture.  One little picture.   One picture with two cuties looking straight at the camera.  One picture with two cuties sitting straight and still.  One picture with two cuties smiling.  One picture with two cuties showing off their adorable faces.  One picture that shows two cuties in their "I love my Aunt CiCi" shirt.   I just wanted one picture.   But three year old boys have their own idea of what they want.....   You have been warned... There will not be two cuties sitting up straight.   There will not be two cuties sitting still.   There will not be two cuties looking straight at the camera.   But.... there will be two cuties... there will be smiles.... and one proud auntie.

At least I have a picture of the shirt... right??

Smiles,
Marci aka Aunt CiCi.....

Oscars

For the past few years I have enjoyed the Oscars with a great group of folks.  Kim hosts a fabulous Oscars party every year.  And- I swear- each year it gets better and better.   I did take a few pictures at the party which I will share later with everyone.  

This year I made Oscar inspired cookies to take.   They turned out great.  Until it came time for me to practice my writing-with-royal-icing-technique.  Which is significantly flawed.   

I started out planning to write Oscar on each one.   yep.  After a couple of tries I realized it was not meant to happen.

I think that there are two factors here that contributed to my failure in the handwriting department.   Firstly, it is really really hard to write evenly and straight on sugared cookies.  The fine sugar granules caused my piping to go astray.   Yep, that's right.  Let's blame it all on the sugar.   But in all honesty, I am still very much a novice at this whole cookie decorating thing.  I love it, but am still trying to figure out what works for me.  And this did not work.
 

So, I made cookies.  And they did not turn out exactly as I pictured them in my head.  Oh well.  I will keep trying.   And I will try hard not to compare myself to all of the other fabulous, mind blowing, cookie decorators out there.  Although, I really am comparing myself in my head.

So what should I make next cookie-wise?  Anyone else have any cookie tips for me?  Any tips on writing with royal icing?

Smiles and have a great week everyone!
Marci

Excuses.....

I have been busy, busy, busy- but with everything but blogging.  Work has been busy, life has been busy and I have not been able to pull together any fun posts.   This past weekend instead of baking and taking pictures- I was playing with two cuties who might respond to the names cake butt and pie.   They were exceptionally cute.  My heart just needs some twin time every now and then.   I truly cannot wait until it warms up and the days are longer.   I find it impossible to photograph anything at home unless it is on the weekend.  By the time I get home from work, all sunlight is gone.   I need some photography pointers from some mid westerners like me who struggle with lighting in the early evening.  

So, instead of me sharing food or treats, I am going to share laughter and smiles.   Here are some goodies that make me smile.   Enjoy and I will see you soon.   

  I really do believe in public service.... I am a social worker remember.   I practically work for free....

This is me.   I am telling you that if you call me and I have come home and put on my "comfy" pants, there is little that will convince me to leave my house.  

Yep.... enough said.

I need this.   Last time I checked the local gym did not offer cupcakes.

This is me.  I can be a bit sassy sometimes.   Okay- I can hear my family snorting right now.   I am a lot sassy.

And I leave you all with happy thoughts, gummy bears and unicorns.

Have a fabulous Friday everyone!

Marci

    

Simple Valentine Cookies

I made some simple Valentine's cookies to send off as care packages this past week.   A boxful of these cookies went off to a cousin who just gave birth to her first baby boy!! And the second boxful went off two adorable boys who may answer to "cake butt" and "pie".   In return for the cookies- I got the most adorable video of them thanking me.   

Hope everyone is having a great weekend.   Enjoy and I promise to bring some more sweet treats soon to share.

Smiles,
Marci


I am sharing this cookies as well on Simply Sweets by Honeybee.   I simply love her cookies and her work.   Plus-she is as sweet as her name and treats imply!!  Check out her page and her Simply Sweets Saturday link Party!