Monday Blues

I have a case of the Monday blues...

I just might have the Tuesday blues as well...

And don't even get me started on Wednesday...

I am not quite sure what I was so blue about...

There was cake and donuts involved this Monday.

I avoided the donuts...

except for that tiny corner piece I snuck in this afternoon....

But if no one saw you eat it..

it doesn't count right...

I did eat cake though...

I probably should have just eaten a donut instead.

I ate pizza (gulp) for lunch and....

I am not even going to tell you what I ate for dinner.

ugh.  I feel bloated.  

Yep.  Bloated and Monday Blues.

I am training for a half marathon.

Walking not running.  

If you see my running... trouble is coming

But I feel more tired and bloated than ever.

What is wrong?

Is it the Monday blues speaking?

Maybe tomorrow I will eat lettuce.  

Lettuce and carrots.  yum.  Not.  

Well, I am going to have to kick myself out of this funk.  

So, instead of being blue... let's talk about babies.

Baby Girls!!

I made these cookies for a friend's baby shower the other weekend.  

And pink is the opposite of blue right??

Enjoy!!

Smiles (even if I had to force it a little today),

Marci

Homemade Oatmeal Cream Pies

Homemade Oatmeal Cream Pies

Best Idea Ever.  

The filling in these.

Amazing.

Creamy.

mmmmm....

How could anyone resist these?

Kid or adult?

I brought these into work.

They were gone.

Fast.

Again look at that filling.
and I loved the hint of cinnamon in these cookies.

Even my cat was intrigued.  

What do you mean your cats don't like Oatmeal Cream pies?

Make these cookies.

Soon!

I found this recipe from Girl Who Bakes. 

It was a Pinterest find. 

Of course.   

Here is the link to her recipe.

I made some alterations.  

I drastically reduced the amount of sugar in the cream filling.

It sounded way too sweet for me.

I probably only used a half cup of sugar.  

I also did not use any whole wheat flour in the cookie recipe. 

I used all purpose for the flour called for in the recipe.

And they turned out amazing!

Smiles and have a great weekend!!

Marci

Love is....

Love is.....

Decorating a bike for a bike parade.  

With pink balloons.  

Love is seeing the joy and excitement on sweet faces for their first parade.

Love is making two twin boys pose for a picture.

That they really don't want to do.

But, you make them anyway.  

:)

Love smells like pink roses on a hot day.

And ice cream and Popsicles.

Love is seeing smiles on a face that loves the water and beach.

Love is watching cartoons in bed.  

And making funny faces during commercial breaks.

Love is Goonies..... lol

Love is two brothers who will always be there for each other.  

Always. 

Love is this face.  And the cutest patootiest pose ever!!

Love is this.  In your face.  All consuming.  

Love and Smiles to all of you.

Marci

Hey You Guys......

Hey you guys.....

I am having a ton of fun.

With two cuties...

Who are celebrating their half birthday.

We celebrated with a Goonies Style Party. 

Yep- you know...

Goonies Never Say Die.....

I promise to bake something soon for you.. 

Until then. 

Enjoy.  

Doing the Truffle Shuffle....

Marci

Lemon Melting Moments Cookies

One can never eat too many cookies right?

I mean itty bitty cookies like these...

surely count as half a cookie.

Only, there are two cookies sandwiched together...

But an oreo counts as one so surely these are the same.

I saw this recipe a while ago on Pinterest.

And I decided that it was time I tested it out.

In my very technical Suzy Social Worker way...

which is totally spur of the moment.

And based on a bag of lemons in my fridge that are just dying to be used up.

It was fun to try out a recipe from a site I am not familiar with.  

Pinterest is a great place for finding ideas and recipes from new blogs and authors.  

The only problem.  

I get overwhelmed.  

For example- I have 143 cookie ideas pinned to be "Cookie" board.  

143 cookies!!!

Help!!

So, I think I wanna keep trying out these new recipes.

But, I need some help.  

So, come find me and follow me at my Pinterest page

And let me know what cookie recipe you want me to try next.  

And if you want to try out these cookies- check out this link

Itty Bitty Kitchen made these cookies and they are delicious.

Of course, I did made some small adaptions. 

For example, I used the zest of two lemons for the cookies (they were small lemons)

and the juice of two lemons in the filling. 

I also made these cookie as small as I could and ended up with 18 sandwich cookies.  

Enjoy!!

And be sure to tell me what cookie you want to see next.
As I cannot keep cookies around me all day- I tend to share them at work.  

So, if you know me come find me soon for some cookies!

Smiles, Marci

Thirty One Cookies... well it was more like 36 cookies to be exact...

I made some cookies for a friend's work party.  

Sometimes I get job envy.

She has the kind of job where she gets to meet cool people.

And entertains important businesses and groups.

Like "Thirty-One". 

Heard of them?  I have. 

I love my large utility tote.  

Anyways, I am getting off track.

I know my friend works very hard at her job, but at times it looks like FUN.

I love my job, but I do not often get to use the words Fun and Social Worker together.

But, I did get to have fun making these cookies.  

They are not perfect.

I am still working on "technique".

But, they were fun to make. 

And I loved the colors.  

So thank you friend for trusting me and supporting me.

I had fun making these cookies.

And I am now a "little" less nervous about making cookies for strangers...

versus friends.

and family.

Who always love your baked goods.  

Even if you started out your love of baking at a young age.

And may have once put salt instead of sugar in a recipe.

And used to eat canned frosting out of a can. (and still does).

Nope scratch that.  I never have done that last one.

And still cannot make a pie crust to save her life.

Have a fabulous weekend everyone!!

Smiles,

Marci  

Sugar Crackle Cookies... aka Crack Cookies

I made some cookies for a friend.

Crack Cookies as she calls them.

I like this particular cookie because it is like a store bought cookie

without the store and the preservatives...

They are hard and crunchy on the outside

And crumbly inside. 

A perfect tea or coffee dipping cookie.

My friend disagrees.  

She says you don't need to dunk this cookie in anything. 

Just enjoy it as it is...

Regardless of whether or not you dunk or savor....

This cookie is a unique one. 

And delicious.

It's main flavor is sugar... There is vanilla in the recipe..

But basic sugar cookie flavor is what stands out.

Give this recipe a try and let me know if you are a dunker...

or not!

Enjoy!

Marci

Sugar Crackle Cookies

1/2 cup butter- room temperature

1/2/ cup shortening

2 cups sugar

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cream of tarter

1/8 tsp salt

3 egg yolks

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 3/4 cups all purpose flour

Beat butter and shortening in a large bowl with a hand mixer or in a stand mixer.  Beat on med to high speed for 30 seconds.  Add sugar, soda , cream of tarter and salt and beat until combined.  Beat in egg yolks and vanilla until combined.  Last, add flour and mix until incorporated.

Shape into 1 inch balls and place on ungreased cookie sheets.  Bake in a 300 degree oven for 18-20 minutes.  (In my oven it was closer to 17 minutes).  Bake until tops are crackled and sides are set.  Cool on wire rack.  

Store at room temp in airtight container.  

makes 4-5 dozen