Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies

When I make cookies, I use the ice cream scooper. So, the cookies tend to be very large. The kids like it but I think it is a little much. I've tried several times to make mini cookies but I just couldn't get it right. I would burn the edges and the middle wasn't cooked right. Well, I finally figured it out. The kids were surprised they could eat the cookies in one bite. It didn't stop them from eating several of them. I love chocolate chip cookies so this recipe is great. Plus with Halloween here, it is great to eat less cookies.

Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla

2 1/2 cup all purpose flour

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 cup semi sweet mini chocolate chips

Direction:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. 
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. 
3. In a large bowl, cream the butter with the brown sugar and sugar. 
4. Add the eggs one at a time. Mix until incorporated. 
5. Add the vanilla and mix well. 
6. Add the flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix until incorporated. 
7. Fold in the chopped chocolate chips. 
8. Refrigerate for 1 hour.  
9. Scoop the chilled dough into about 1 Tbsp balls onto the cookie sheet spaced about 3 inches apart.
10.  Bake the cookies for about 15 minutes or until the edges are golden brown. 
11. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

 Recipe adapted from Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies.

One year ago..........................I made Seasoned Chicken with sweet potatoes.
Two years ago........................I made Pirate Cookies.
Three years ago......................I made Chocolate Brownie Cookies.
Four years ago........................I made Mummy Cake Pops.

Did you already know...............
-Almost half of Americans celebrate Halloween. 
-Americans will spend over $2 billion on candy for Halloween.
-Americans will spend almost $2 billion on Halloween decorations.

Apple Cinnamon Cookies

My oldest daughter went apple picking three times! Yes, three times. She does love apples. Unfortunately, I didn't make it. When we planned to go, we had bad weather. I hadn't realized how fast the year had gone. When we finally made it to the farm, we had missed apple picking by a week so we picked up so pumpkins and a bag of apples. I have been adding apples to everything. These cookies are very good.

Apple Cinnamon Cookies
2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup milk
1 medium apple, peeled and grated
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cream of tartar
1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbsp cinnamon 

Directions:

1. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and oil.
2. Add the sugar and cream until fluffy.
3. Add one egg at a time. Mix well.
4. Add the milk, apple, and vanilla extract. Combine well. 
5. Add the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, salt, and cinnamon. Mix until combined. 
6. Refrigerate for 1 hour. 
7. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
8. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
9. Scoop about 2 inch balls of dough. 
10. Space the cookies about 3 inches apart.
11. Bake the cookies for 12 to 14 minutes or until the edges are slightly golden. The middle of the cookies should be soft but set.
12. Remove from oven and allow to cool on the baking sheet for at least 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Recipe by Jen of Sweet Morris.

One year ago...............................I made Apple Cinnamon Muffins.
Two years ago.............................I made Chili Mac.
Three years ago...........................I made Mars Alien Cupcakes.
Four years ago.............................I made Vanilla Buttermilk Cupcakes.

Did you already know......................
-The first apple trees planted in the United States were by the pilgrims.
-In an apple, the pockets that hold the seeds are called carpels.
-Apples are grown in all 50 states.

Pierogies with Kielbasa and Caramelized Onions

It sure feels like Fall. It has been cold in the morning but I'm glad it warms up during the day. I know some parts of the country have seen snow. Crazy! Well for some reason, my children have been asking for pierogies. I like to serve the pierogies with kielbasa but wanted to do something a little different. I figured I would make it with caramelized onions, spinach, and an apple. Yes, I added an apple and my son didn't even realized until my husband said something. He had saw me chopping up the apple.

Pierogies with Kielbasa and Caramelized Onions aka Goblin Face
1 tsp olive oil
1 large yellow onion, chopped
1 apple, chopped
2 cups baby spinach, chopped
1 package kielbasa, sliced
20 pierogies, potato and cheese

Directions:

1. In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat.
2. Add the onion and saute for 10 minutes.
3. Add the apple and spinach. Saute for 10 minutes. 
4. Remove the caramelized onion mixture onto a plate. Set aside.
5. Add the kielbasa to the skillet and brown. 
6. Remove and add the kielbasa to the caramelized onion plate. Set aside.
7. Add the pierogies to the skillet.
8. Cook the pierogies for 5 minutes on each side. 
9. Add the caramelized onion mixture with the kielbasa to the pierogies.
10. Gently combine the mixture. 
11. Heat for a couple of minutes.
12. Serve immediately. 

Recipe by Jen of Sweet Morris.

Two years ago..........................I made Snail Cookies.
Three years ago........................I made Pretzel Dogs.
Four years ago.........................I made Chicken Enchiladas.

Did you already know....................
-Kielbasa originates from Poland. 
-Pierogies originate from Eastern Europe.
-The only apple native to America is the crab apple.

Sausage Gravy

Recently, we headed to Vermont for a wedding. It was beautiful. The foliage was at its peak. It was cold. Even the kids were ready to head back to the South. Being back, I decided to make a popular Southern breakfast. We had sausage gravy over biscuits. My husband loves sausage gravy. He told me that this was the best sausage gravy he ever had. Isn't he a sweet husband? He said the sausage gravy should be a food group all by it self. I tried to shape the biscuit as a skull. I guess I will have to practice a little more.

Southern Sausage Gravy aka warty skulls
1 (16 oz.) Jimmy Dean Country Mild Sausage
1/4 cup all purpose flour
2 1/2 cups skim milk
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

Directions:

1. In a large skillet, brown the sausage over medium heat until cooked thoroughly.
2. Sprinkle the  flour over the sausage.
3. Stir in the flour well and cook for 1 minute. 
4. Stir in the milk and mix well. 
5. Allow the gravy to thicken. Stir often. 
6. Season with the salt and pepper. 
7. Serve when the gravy reaches the desired consistency. 

Recipe adapted from The Kitchen. 

One year ago...........................I made One pot Mac and Cheese.
Two years ago.........................I made Buffalo Chicken Soup.
Three years ago.......................I made Crab Rangoon.
Four years ago........................I made Pumpkin Whoopie Pies.

Did you already know...............
-The first week of October tends to be ideal to observe the foliage in Vermont and Maine.
-This week the foliage is at its peak in Connecticut. 
-The red foliage are the foliage from sugar maple, dogwood, sourwood, Luquidamber, and black gum trees.

Pumpkin Muffins

I've heard the term helicopter parents but my husband and I think we are probably more like a surveillance aircraft parents. We give the kids some distance but we can still see them. We will provide advice which some of the kids (the older ones) do not like to listen. When the kids have a problem, we are there for them but we ask them if they can handle the issue or if they need help. We will discipline the kids but we don't beat them. If they behave, they are rewarded. If they misbehave, they are either removed from the situation or they are not rewarded with their favorite technology. We don't try to control every situation. How can we? We will help with their homework but we won't do it for them. We will not clean their rooms or make their beds for them. They can do it now and they will be able to do it when they are adults. Do the kids have chores? Yes. Do the kids have manners? Yes. Do the kids have morals? Yes. Are they reminded about chores, manners, and morals? Yes. We really try to lead by example. We don't run around wild. We are not rude to others. We work hard. The nice thing is my oldest daughter has told me how she was glad I didn't do everything for her since she needs those skills as an adult. Often, I have the kids help in the kitchen. Normally, they like to help. They didn't help with these muffins besides eat them. Maybe it was a good thing they didn't help since I can only imagine the toppings they would have picked. The muffins did come out really good. I brought some to work and the ones with toppings were popular. The kids preferred the muffins with no toppings. I liked the ones with the toppings. I tried to make a pumpkin muffin which wasn't so heavy. I thought I did a pretty good job.

Pumpkin Muffins aka Jack O'Muffins
3 cups all purpose flour.
2 Tbsp pumpkin pie spice
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter
2 1/4 cups sugar
1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin
2 large eggs
1/2 cup milk
2 egg white
toppings: sunflower seeds, honey roasted sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, praline pumpkin seeds

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners. Spray the cupcake liners with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
4. In a large bowl, cream the butter with the sugar until fluffy.
5. Add the pumpkin, the 2 large eggs, and milk to the butter mixture. Mix until incorporated. Set aside.
6. In a medium bowl, whisk the egg whites until soft peaks form.
7. Add the flour mixture and mix until just combined. 
8. Gently fold the egg whites into the flour mixture. Combine until just incorporated.
9. Evenly distribute the batter into the cupcake liners.
10. Sprinkle with desired toppings. 
11. Bake the muffins for 15 minutes or until cooked through.

Recipe created by Jen of Sweet Morris. 

Two years ago..........................I made Witch Brew.
Three years ago........................I made Fried Sausage Dumplings.
Four years ago.........................I made Pork Chops with Garlic and Herb.

Did you already know.......................
-The first surveillance aircraft used were hot air balloons.
-Surveillance aircrafts are often used by government agencies for information gathering including the military and FBI.
-Surveillance aircraft are manned while drones are unmanned surveillance aircraft.