January 16, 2019

The Game Changing Cookie Dough

Guys.  I stumbled on this chocolate chip cookie dough recipe a few years ago and it was a total GAME CHANGER.  It is now the base to any standard cookie I make.  This weekend I threw in M&M’s.

The base of the dough is heaven.  You add in whatever flavor of the week you are after, and magic happens.   I’ve done Reese’s Pieces, PB Cups, Whoppers, Andes Mints, Snickers… you name it.  Sometimes I sub in almond extract for the vanilla just depending on what result I am after.

 

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Bake for 7 minutes max for that gooey, doughy, goodness that everyone is after and you will have ZERO leftovers.  Promise.  Cross My Heart.

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The recipe is originally from Two Peas and Their Pod.   I adjust the recipe by doubling it, using a cookie dough scoop, and mix and match my crunchy additions, again, depending on the taste-buds (or requests) of the week.  Remember, I make WEEKLY goodies for Clint’s shop.  Many a hungry bellies travel through those doors.

 

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ENJOY!

 

The below recipe is doubled from the original.

 

LIFE CHANGING COOKIE DOUGH BASE 

prep time: 15 MINUTES

cook time: 6-8 MINUTES

INGREDIENTS:

  • 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 cup salted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 3 teaspoons vanilla extract (or almond)
  • Add-ins of your choice: chocolate chips. M&M’s, Reese’s Pieces, pretzels, snickers, Whoppers, etc.
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. In medium bowl, whisk the flour, salt, and baking soda together. Set aside.
  3. Cream the butter and sugars together until creamy and smooth. Add in the eggs and extract.
  4. Slowly mix in the flour, until combined. Stir in chocolate chips, M&M’s, etc.
  5. Use cookie dough scoop to form small ball, place on baking sheet and bake for 6-8 minutes (I cook for 7 minutes for a doughy effect). Remove from the oven and let cool on cookie sheet if you want it to continue cooking a little longer, or immediately transfer to foil lined counter-top.  I don’t cool these bad boys on a wire rack as I want the maximum doughy gooey effect.

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January 15, 2019

Sugar and Sass, Champagne and Class… That’s What 40 Is Made Of

VALERIE

Age: 480 Months

Height: 61 3/4″

Weight: Fabulous

 

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Every girl, everywhere, listen up.

Take a page from the book of Valerie and celebrate age with enthusiasm, youthfulness and excitement.

Like fine wine, we get BETTER with age.

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By 40 we’ve been through a lot, learned a lot, mourned losses, and celebrated wins.  We’ve redefined boundaries, established meaningful relationships, and evolved into our best selves.

 

And we are wise enough to know that we will continue to evolve and redefine who we are, what we stand for, and what we believe in.

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We take life seriously…

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But we know how to let loose, make fun of ourselves, be eccentric, and LIVE our life for us.  And only us.

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We get ONE life, and darling… 40 is another chapter in our book.  A chapter WE get to write ourselves.

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Valerie, my friend.   I am not sure in what chapter we became acquainted, but I am ever so thankful we did.  Your spontaneity, humor, EXTRA AF attitude is everything.

EVERYTHING

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May you never lose your light, your sparkle or your youthfulness.

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Forty

(well, near 40 since you started celebrating exactly 35 days early)

looks SO good on you.

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Cheers to your teens, twenties and thirties.

Forties? 

Watch it… She’s coming for ya.

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CHEERS!

 

January 14, 2019

Snow {Love} Birds

Nebraska’s most recent snow storm created the most beautiful backdrop for a Sunday morning shoot at Zorinsky lake.  Add in the warmth these two lovebirds share and we barely noticed the 28 degree temperature.

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Cole’s MILLION dollar smile, Tyree’s natural beauty, and the love and affection these two share gave way to an easy, natural and relaxed morning.  My goal was to simply capture the respect and admiration these two share for one another.

 

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Between walking through the snow capped trees and wading through ankle deep fields, we made sure to have fun and enjoy the moment in nature, which is definitely their element.

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And can we just take a moment on this next one.

Simply. Stunning.

 

Thanks for the fun, Tyree and Cole!

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Cheers to July 4th in Colorado!

October 29, 2018

National Cat Day!

It’s no secret that I am a crazy cat lady.  What I don’t think you understand is what level of crazy I exist on.  I’ve got the shirts, the kitchen towels, the hat, the socks… let’s not forget the things I have for the cats.  Towers, tunnels, outdoor tent and toys on toys.

Let’s just say I need to add to my shirt collection with one that says

“I work hard so my cats can live a better life”.

Harley came along first in July of 2016.  SHE found Clint, is how he describes their meeting.  A stranded little baby lost in the cornfield out by the shop.  He adopted her and kept her “hired” as the shop cat until that November when he decided it was much too cold for a pretty girl to be left in a shop, so he brought her home.

And that is what started their daily travels back and forth between home and the shop for a few months.  Guys, what would you do if you rolled up next to a dude in a big ol work truck and saw this:

Harley and I did a few road trips of our own and she was the QUEEN of kisses on those travels.  I don’t know if it was her way of saying THANK YOU THIS IS AWESOME… or HOW MANY KISSES DO YOU NEED TO PROVE I LOVE YOU and PLEASE TAKE ME HOME!

 

Harley was our ornery cat who provided us our own “cat versus Christmas tree” scenarios in our very own living room.

Harley loved attention.  From snuggles:

 

to light paws on the face to divert your attention back to her:

or just a quick chat after a long hard day of napping…

 

She was the cat that got us over our heartbreak of losing Champ and Sasha.  We were dog peeps up until this crazy little nugget.

And then came Grimmy.

Named after a Gremlin… cute and cuddly and oh so sweet… but with one drop of water, that little bug turns into a lunatic and will attack the rubber-band on your arm while you sleep.

But, how can you not love that little bug when she curls up with you so sweetly?

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We aquired Grimmy from my in-laws.  A stray at their house, they adopted her and brought her into their family of all dogs, but my FIL, being allergic to cats, started looking for a new home for her.  Of course I couldn’t resist and said “let’s give it a try”.

It took a while for Harley to warm up to Grimmy, which broke my heart for Harley because she was crazy pissed at us (there went the snuggles) BUT in return I got a LOT of snuggles in those early days from Grimmy.  If she could be in my arms, she was.  It was awesome.

And sometimes suffocating…

To say we are straight up obsessed with these fur balls is an understatement.  I won’t even tell you how many photos I have of them.   Trust me.  I know. There’s an album…

HAPPY NATIONAL CAT DAY!

And remember: Adopt, don’t shop.