Chocolate, Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookies

The (only) problem with finding recipes online, is that when I go back to make them I have a hard time trying to figure out where the heck I found it. Printing them out is the logical solution, but when trying to "save a tree", that options seems like a waste. Bookmarks work, when I remember to use them.

This morning I wanted to make another batch of some cookies I made a couple of weeks ago, but couldn't for the life of me find the recipe. Then I realized, I had found a recipe, and modified it for what I wanted. Luckily I found the original, and could go from there.

This recipe was modified from this one, on the Food Network.

CHOCOLATE, CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER CHIP COOKIES

INGREDIENTS

• 2 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 sticks butter, softened
• 2 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1 cup peanut butter chips

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a bowl stir together flour, salt, and baking soda. In mixer, cream butter. Add sugar and mix until creamed. Add eggs, vanilla & cocoa, mix until smooth. Gradually add flour mixture into butter mixture and mix until combined. Stir chocolate chips & peanut butter chips until distributed evenly.

Drop dough by tablespoonfuls onto greased baking sheets and bake about 10 minutes. Cool on a baking rack.

Homemade Oreo's

Ya, you read that right. This afternoon I was busy testing out one of the many delicious recipes I've found on Pinterest, Homemade Oreo's. They are super easy, and according to the hubby, super tasty.

The recipe was from Smitten Kitchen, but I don't recommend following it to the T. I tried following it, even tho my gut told me otherwise, and it didn't work out to well. My batter ended up far more crumbly than doughy. But I was determined to make it work, so I gave it another try. Below, is my version, (almost) the same ingredients, different directions. Worked like a charm!


For the chocolate wafers:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened Dutch process cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) room-temperature, unsalted butter
1 large egg


For the filling:
1/2 cup (1 stick) room-temperature, unsalted butter
2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1. Preheat to 375°F.
2. Mix together the butter & sugar until creamed. Add the egg & Vanilla.
3. In a seperate bowl mix together all the dry ingredients.
4. Add dry ingredients to wet ingreditents until well blended
5. Take rounded teaspoons of batter and place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet approximately two inches apart. With moistened hands, slightly flatten the dough. Bake for 9 minutes, rotating once for even baking. Set baking sheets on a rack to cool.
6. To make the cream, place butter in a mixing bowl, and at low speed, gradually beat in the sugar and vanilla. Turn the mixer on high and beat for 2 to 3 minutes until filling is light and fluffy.
7. To assemble the cookies, in a pastry bag with a 1/2 inch, round tip, pipe teaspoon-size blobs of cream into the center of one cookie. Place another cookie, equal in size to the first, on top of the cream. Lightly press, to work the filling evenly to the outsides of the cookie. Continue this process until all the cookies have been sandwiched with cream. Dunk generously in a large glass of milk.

Another hint, the filling made enough for two batches for cookies for me.

Summertime in the Rockies

Summertime in the Canadian Rockies is the best, and it's a huge part of why I love it here so much. Yes, okay, maybe summer only lasts a couple of months (if we're really lucky), and it's not all that steady (+30 one day, +10 the next), but when it's good, it's really good.

Canmore in particular (yes, I'm biased) is the bomb. We have such a tight-nit community here, and in the summer everyone is playing outdoors. Walking dogs, strolling, hiking, biking, floating at the Quarry, getting ice cream at the Old School Ice Cream Bus, you're bound to run into someone you know, no matter how long you've lived here.

Saturday evening, for me, was the perfect Canmore summertime evening. We deiced to treat ourselves to a Sushi date (no, I didn't eat any raw fish for those ready to give me a lecture), and afterwards Joshua wanted to hit up the Old School Bus, where we ran into many local's. It was so nice out, we didn't want to go home, so we walked down the Riverside Park (the park we got married at, which is, well, on the riverside), grabbed a bench and took in the fresh air. It was stunning watching the sun go behind the mountains, something I haven't done in far to long. (Warning, if you come to Canmore, and watch the sun go behind the mountains, have a sweater ready).

Sunday was even nicer, so we decided to head over to the Quarry (local swimming hole) with some friends, and I'd say about half of Canmore was there. Yes, the Quarry is cold, and not overly swimmable, but it really is an amazing place. The energy that surrounds it on a nice hot day is unbeatable.

Sometimes I lose sight of why I live here, but all I have to do is remember the small simple stuff like this, and our circle of friends, that is ever expanding, and ever shrinking at the same time. For the time being, I couldn't imagine life anywhere but here. I am truly and utterly looking forward to next summer in Canmore with our little girl.

DIY "Mobile" Project

As mentioned in an earlier post, I had been planning on finding a DIY mobile project for the babies room. What I never mentioned was that I never actually pictured it to be "mobile". I wanted something visually stimulating for babe to stare up at, not something cutesy wootsy that sings.

After finding myself addicted to Pinterest, thanks to an invite I received from a few fabulous ladies, I realized I could find something fun on there, and that I did. Pom-poms!  Not only are they fun, cheerful, & visually stimulating, it cost me a total of $6 and about 1.5 hours to create.

Here's a tutorial on how to create them from Martha Stewart Weddings.

Calgary Stampede - Preggo Style

Yesterday we headed into the city, put on our cowboy/girl hats at hit up the Calgary Stampede, preggo style. I just love the Stampede, but not for the same reasons other Calgarians love the Stampede. Not for the 10 day long drink fest, but for the midway, the agriculture buildings, the crazy food (to look at only), the energy & the colours. For as long as I can remember, if there was a carnival within a 30km radius, I was there, and I've always loved the environment.

Usually we'd hit up a ride or 5, but this year that wasn't in the cards. Being 7 months preggo and going on some rickety carni ride sounds like a recipe for disaster (and a few notches off of Alexis's IQ). Instead we wandered thru and watched others have fun, and it was fabulous. All in all we stayed 1.5 hours, and spent, including admission & the c-train ride a grand total of $35.25. The bonus is the Westjet booth, where we won 10% off any flight, which will come in handy when we head to Los Cabos in April. Yay Westjet!

I've been playing with Instagram lately, so don't mind the wacky filters on the photos.

Biebs had to make an appearance. 

Easywalker QTRO

Months, and months ago we ordered our stroller online, off of Hautelook, for an amazing steal of deal (seriously amazing, about 1/3 of the regular cost), the only downside was we had to ship it to the US. We've been slowly receiving the pieces from family, and each time is just so exciting. Today, the final pieces arrived, and now, finally, it was time to play and figure out this thing.

At first glance I was overwhelmed. So many pieces to sort thru, thank goodness for instruction books. This stroller is three strollers in one. There is an attachment that allows you to use your car seat with it (any car seat at all, we have a Baby Trend car seat, and it fits snug as a bug), it has a basinet you can put in, or you can just have the regular three position sit/lay. I have to say, as overwhelming all the pieces are, it's actually really easy to figure out and slap together.

Ordering this stroller was a bit stressful. We really wanted a Chariot, but there was so much a chariot couldn't help with for the first year of babies life, and when it came down to it, we decided we really wanted those features. A Chariot will be in our future, but likely not until next summer, for biking season (hello Kijiji). All in all, I'm extremely happy with our choice and our purchase, and I can't wait to use it, literally, if you want to lend me your baby to push around in my stroller, I'd be ecstatic.

(I apologize in advance for the crappy photos. I was to lazy to A) bring the pieces to our backyard for nice green bright photos; B) Go up two flights of stairs to get a better camera than my iPhone to take photos with; C) Brighten them up in Photoshop).

Easywalker QTRO in the regular 3 stage sit/lay (standard) form.

Has a built in sun canopy extender. Aslo, in the box came a mosquito net and rain cover. The foot rest is adjustable, and the push bar is adjustable.

Peek a boo.

Shocks and large air tires, just what the Rockies needs. Perfect for our Mountain town.

Easywalker QTRO with the added bassinet. Took about 5 seconds to instal. The bassinet is super cozy, and has legs. We'll be using this alot, while traveling for her to sleep in, or if we choose to have our little lady in our room with us.

Bassinet also comes with a mosquito net and rain cover.

Car seat! This is the Easywalker with the any car seat adapter. Took about 5 seconds to instal the attachment, and about 2 to fit the car seat in snuggly. 

Folds down in about 2 seconds, and is nice and compact. It can fold down in each stage, as long as you take the car seat and bassinet off (duh), for easy travel. 

It's hard to imagine that in just 12 or so weeks we'll be pushing a little lady around in this.

Rustic Mountain Wedding

Yesterday we attended our friends, Lindsay & Rob's wedding, and it was absolutely perfect! The ceremony was held at one of the most beautiful spots I've seen around here, and the reception was at a Ranch. Lindsay and Rob live in Canmore for a reason, they are true mountain folk, and their wedding did a great job of showcasing that, it was such a beautiful day.

Congrats again you two, you are perfect for each other. We're looking forward to watching you and your family grow (in love, not necessarily in members) for many years to come.

It was so beautiful even the wild life came to check it out.

 

Nursery (for the most part) done.

A couple weeks ago I said I would post more pics after the long weekend, when we would finish the nursery, well, here I am! I'll admit, the nursery isn't DONE done, but, it's mostly done. We're still waiting to find a bedding set that is perfect for out little girl, and I'm trying to find a DIY mobile project to start on, and then of course, we have to wait (an estimated) 93 (but who's counting) days until our little miss arrives and completes it. Never-the-less, here we are, the perfect sanctuary for our little girl to grow up in.

I have a few DIY projects in mind for the mobile, here's hoping you see one of them sooner than later. All I need to do is find a spare afternoon, or to browse Etsy and find something that will arrive in my mailbox. Can one consider Etsy the cheaters way to DIY?

Rolo Brownies

Last week I found a fabulous new baking website, My Baking Addiction, the name doesn't lie, it's a fabulous site for any baking fanatics out there. She was doing a feature week on Rolo recipes, and I stumbled upon a recipe for Rolo Brownies. I tested them out last weekend, and let me just say that they lasted 2 days in my house, and my husband tends to be the only one to eat my baking.

This recipe is super easy, and only have five ingredients (!). You really can't beat that. Check it out here.

They were so easy, that I'm making them again today for a BBQ with my cousins tomorrow.

Happy Canada Day to all you Canadians out there!