Sweet Tooth Cookies

Yup. For those of us who can't resist a soft, chewy cookie or chocolate and candy this combination is sure to captivate those taste buds!

Sweet Tooth Cookies

1 lb. butter, softened

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 cups brown sugar

3 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1 1/2 tsp. baking soda

6 cups flour

Chocolate bars*, caramels, coconut, any type, chopped

Beat the butter with sugars. Add eggs and vanilla. Beat until nice and fluffy for a few minutes. Mix the dry ingredients together and gradually add to the batter. 

Using an ice cream scoop, drop onto a baking sheet. Parchment works great to keep the bottoms nice and light. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes or until light brown around the edges. Don't over bake these or they won't stay soft.

Allow to cool on a wire rack for a couple minutes, then press the candy and chocolate pieces into the tops of each cookie. Use combinations that sound good to you like chocolate bars and caramel pieces, or just keep it simple and stick to one type on a cookie like Reeses pb cups or Kit Kat. Allow to cool completely. Be sure to store any leftovers in an airtight container to maintain softness. Enjoy them while they last! Yield is 3-4 dozen large cookies.

*If you use peanut butter cups (highly recommended!) be sure to refrigerate them before chopping and placing on the cookie. My first attempt turned into pb puddles!

for goodness sake: point jars

I love this reward system. It is easy to understand, visual and teaches that good stuff really adds up. I have used it since my oldest was barely four and it works wonderfully! I have shared the idea with many friends, sisters and fellow-moms in search of a reward program for kids. Keep reading if you want to learn how it works.

To make the Point Jars...

super cheap supplies:
foam shapes (medium-size shapes work best)
empty jar
label
crayons

lickity split steps:
Have your kiddo decorate his own label, then stick it to the jar. Keep it in a visible place. This is how it works...

Every time your kiddo does what he's asked, goes the extra mile, is helpful, extra good, etc. give him two points. The points are actually foam shapes which are cheap, kids don't try to eat them, an you don't have to worry about keeping loose change handy!

Unless your kiddo is perfect, he'll likely slip up and ignore you or tease his brother, etc. so when something less than good happens, simply remove one point from the jar.

This teaches: good counts double, the good things that he does matter more and get more attention. Very clearly: Good is better! Misbehavior and acting up loses a hard-earned point, but lets them know good behavior is still worth more than the bad, which is why only one point is lost. This method helps you as a parent focus on the positive and allows a very visual tool for your child to see how all those good {or bad!} things add up.

reward time:
Set a goal for what you'd like to use the points for... it can be for a trip to Lagoon, spending money for ToysRUs, going to see a movie in the theater, earning some extra dough for video games... whatever you and your child decide on. You set the amount. I love to use it to diffuse the high anticipation of holidays and vacations as well. I came up with this system about a month before a trip to Disneyland and it worked so well we kept it up. My kids seem to act up a bit more during times like these, so I use the point jar to motivate them to keep up the good stuff, and with all those points they earn they can get a cool souvenir or an extra package under the tree.

bread for baking

Let the aroma of fresh, wonderful bread fill your kitchen with this fool-proof, delicious and perfectly textured bread. Don't shy away from making bread if you are an amateur... it really will turn out and impress your taste buds!

The recipe is my sweet Aunt Lynne's from our family cookbook, with my own tiny little tweeks.

what you'll need:
3 cups super hot water
1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup sugar
1 tbsp. sea salt
1/2 can evaporated milk
2 tbsp. yeast
7-8 cups flour (I use unbleached, it's healthier. You can use half wheat and half white flour for the recipe depending upon your preference, but all white is the tastiest!)

super simple steps:
Put hot water in a mixing bowl (use a KitchenAid or Bosch type mixer). Add butter, sugar and salt to the hot water and wait until the butter melts. Add evaporated milk, then sprinkle the yeast and beat together. Let raise for 10 minutes, then beat again. Add 7 cups of flour and beat using a dough hook. Keep in in the bowl and let rise until double (about 30 minutes), then beat again. Sitting that long allows the flour to soak up the moisture so you can determine if you need more flour. You can add up to a cup more. Too much flour dries out the bread. The dough will slightly stick to your finger but should clean sides of bowl.


Let it rise until double once again, then split it into thirds, and form it into loaves. Use non-stick cooking spray on your bread pans. Cover with a towel and let raise for 30 minutes.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and rub the tops with butter, then turn the loaf out of the pan to cool. Makes 3 delicious loaves!

chick in a nest

super cheap supplies:

1 package white chocolate chips

1 container oriental noodles

Melt the white chocolate in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time until melted. Stir in the noodles until well coated. This is enough to make about six nests.

1 Twinkie, cut in half

2 small sprinkles for eyes

2 lemon wedge candies or other yellow gummy candy

dab of yellow frosting

1 candy corn

This is the amount you'll need for one chick!

lickity split steps:

Take one half of the Twinkie and place it, cut side down, on a plate. Place two sprinkles on the rounded side of the Twinkie for eyes. Gently insert the candy corn for the beak. Using a dab of frosting, secure one wing on each side of the Twinkie.

art clips

I saw this idea at my friend Myndi Paras's house. I thought it was the perfect way to showcase my budding artists' work: both functional and nice to look at. I hung them over the craft table in the nook of our bonus room.

super cheap supplies:
2 cafe rods
2 packages of curtain clips

lickity split steps:
measure and mark the placement for the rod hardware (I spaced them 24" apart for ample room)
drill the hole (see package for correct size, be sure to use drywall anchors if needed)
mount the hardware
slip the rings onto the rod
secure the rod in place
pin up artwork, craft projects, pictures, cards, notes

celestial oatmeal cookies

my weakness in life is sweets.
i love cookies. i make them much too often.
i am always looking for health{ier} recipes that still deliver a sweet and satisfying taste.
here is one of those recipes. if you have another, go ahead and share it here!


Celestial Oatmeal Cookies
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup brummel & brown yogurt spread (or 1/2 stick margarine)
1 cup canned pumpkin
2 egg whites
1 teaspoon grated orange peel
1 1/2 cups flour
2 cups oats
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
for the chocoholic: 2/3 cup chocolate chips, if desired


super simple steps:
heat your oven to 350
mix up the sugar and spread until well blended
add pumpkin, egg whites and orange peal; beat well
combine dry ingredients in another bowl
add to wet mixture and mix well
stir in chocolate chips

lightly grease a baking sheet. drop dough by tablespoonsfuls on cookie sheets.
bake 11-13 minutes. do not overbake. cookie centers are soft and the shape doesn't change during baking. cool on wire racks completely.


Orange Glaze
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon orange juice

combine well.
drizzle over cooled cookies.
store tightly covered.

monogrammed bibs

super cheap supplies:
one plain terry-cloth bib
one piece felt
coordinating thread
letter template

lickity split steps:
make a template of the letter of baby's first name
pin the template to the felt & cut it out
pin the felt letter to the bib where you want it to be
sew a simple straight stitch around the outside border of the letter
trim your threads
give it to the babe of your choice

extra fab idea:
in another color of felt, cut out a heart, circle, flower or other simple shape. Use it in addition to the the monogram or instead.

Don't wanna make it? Leave me a comment and your specifics and I'll make it for you... lickity split! Cost is $5 plus shipping.

pint-sized chicken pies

ready? set... eat!

2 cups cooked chicken breasts, chopped
1 cup canned veggies (pick the ones your little tykes will eat... I used peas, carrots and potatoes)
1 tube refrigerated biscuits, reduced fat
1 can of chicken gravy
french onions

Take a long rectangle of wax paper. Fold it in half and stick one biscuit in the center between the paper. Roll out to a thin circle. Place in a custard cup or jumbo muffin pan. Do this til you fill up your dish.

Mix up your cooked chicken, veggies and gravy. Scoop out about 2/3 cup of filling into each biscuit shell. Bake 'em for 15 minutes at 375 degrees. Sprinkle french fried onions on top, bake for about 2 minutes more.