Annual Cookie Bake-off 2008!

3:38 PM Posted In , , , , , , , 11 Comments »
Every year my aunts and Grandma come up for the weekend and we do our holiday baking. This year we decided we would each pick out two new cookie recipes and bake our butts off all weekend. This year was a success...we only had trouble with two batches of cookies, but we still ended up with more cookies than I ever care to think about ever...

Cameron loves it when the aunties come because that means non-stop fun all weekend and, of course, they NEVER come empty handed. Cam got to open up a couple of Christmas presents early. Was he excited?


He got a cool new tent. Aunt Leigh is smart and knew I had HAD it with the living room forts :)

Cameron approves!
And Gabby approves of her new santa hat aunt Nutty brought!

Shortly after their arrival, the bake-off began. This is one of many chocolate-face pics.

One of the first batches was Nutty's famous Sour cream cookies...look on my recipe blog in a couple of days ;)



How about some Molasses Sugar Cookies? DELISH!



The prettiest cookies of the weekend...Aunt Leigh's Angel Wings!




G-ma's Chocolate Macadamia Macaroons!


While we were busy hustling in the kitchen, we would take breaks and Gabby would entertain us with her smiles.




And of course, she got to open a few presents as well!



Cameron was not left out of the bake-off. He had a major part in the CUTEST concoctions of the weekend, Christmas MICE! He was the official "cherry-dunker."



These were the cookies that almost didn't survive. First I dropped an egg in the mixing bowl while the mixer was going, stirring in millions of tiny eggshell pieces into the batter. THEN, instead of the 1 tsp. of Rum extract, I decided half the bottle was good. Somehow, someway, I salvaged them. Don't ask me how.


These were the other cookies that gave us a hard time. We still don't know what the deal was, but they were flatter than pancakes. Still yummy though.


After a full day of baking and no nap, Cameron decided he was tired at 10:30pm so he made himself a little bed under the Christmas tree...
And he was out within seconds.


All that hardwork paid off though...check out Cam's Christmas Mice!

They were beyond adorable.
The next morning, we were back at it. More sour cream cookies were needed and Cameron helped with the frosting.

sidenote: If you saw what this cookie ended up looking like when Cam was through with it, you would have vomited.
"Would you like some cookie with your frosting?"
Making the fudge!


And just because I like taking pictures of textures...




There were many more different types of cookies/bars that we made but uploading to blogger is exhausting (it takes for.ev.er.) I will be posting TONS of recipes on my recipe blog soon though, so you can check them all out there if you feel like it :)
So it was a super fun weekend and we are still tired, and it's wednesday! I can't stop eating cookies and I really should check myself into the Betty Crocker clinic.
Happy hump day!


baking fun!

11:30 AM Posted In , 9 Comments »
Cameron and I were B.O.R.E.D. on Friday and it was pretty chilly outside, so we opted for some baking. I asked him if he wanted to make cookies or muffins and he picked cookies!

I was planning on making classic chocolate chip cookies, but then the recipe for DOUBLE chocolate chip cookies on the back of the nestle bag caught my eye. :)



Really? The camera? Whatever.

Once he saw that chocolate was involved, he perked right up. Just like his mama.

And I am a totally mean mommy. I won't let him lick the spoon or bowl. I'm not down with foodborn illness. ; )

Gabby gave us lots of good baking advice.

MMMM. They were so yummy fresh out of the oven!

Hope everyone is enjoying their Sunday!

Double Chocolate Dream Cookies

*2 1/4 cups all purpouse flour

*1/2 cup baking cocoa

*1 tsp. baking soda

*1/2 tsp. salt

*1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margerine, softened

*1 cup packed brown sugar

*3/4 cup granulated sugar

*1 tsp. vanilla extract

*2 large eggs

*2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

PREHEAT oven to 375*F

COMBINE flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar and vanilla extract in large mixing bowl until creamy. Beat in eggs for about two minutes or until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased cookie sheet.

BAKE for 8 to 10 minutes or until cookies are puffed. Cool on baking sheets 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.