Life from a Diva's Point of View
Saturday, December 14, 2013
Countdown to Family Party
Today is my family's annual Christmas party. Packed to go are my $10 game gift, appetizer tray, and four large batches of brownie whoopee bars, chocolate chip cookie dough bars, white chocolate macadamia nut cookies, and shortbread bites. Time to hop in the shower in order to be ready to go at 9:30. Normally I break out a dress and heels, but this year I'm taking it easy - jeans and boots! Here's to a successful, relaxing party with lots of laughter!
Thursday, December 12, 2013
To Die For Nuggets!!!
Ran across a recipe for these cookies on Facebook and had to make them for my upcoming family Christmas party. We are all a lover of chocolate chip cookie dough; these little nuggets are Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bars - no eggs, no baking, and they turned out wonderful. I whipped them up last night then sliced into bars this morning and popped into the back freezer so they are ready for the party.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bars
Ingredients
•½ c. unsalted butter, softened
•¾ c. packed light brown sugar
•1 tsp. vanilla extract
•2 c. all purpose flour
•1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
•2 c. mini chocolate chips
•½ cup creamy peanut butter
•½ cup milk chocolate chips
Instructions
1.Line an 8×8 inch pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil and set aside.
2.In a large mixing bowl, mix together butter and brown sugar until it is fluffy. This takes about 3 minutes. Add vanilla and bet until combined.
3.Turn the mixer to low and alternate the flour and the sweetened condensed milk until combined. Gently fold in chocolate chips.
4.Press the cookie dough into the bottom of the 8×8 pan. It will be sticky so lightly flour your hands if needed.
5.Cover your bars with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight until firm.
6.To make the topping, combine the peanut butter and ½ cup chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl. Stir every 30 seconds until smooth. Pour and spread over the top of the chilled dough and chill at least for 1 hour until firm.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bars
Ingredients
•½ c. unsalted butter, softened
•¾ c. packed light brown sugar
•1 tsp. vanilla extract
•2 c. all purpose flour
•1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
•2 c. mini chocolate chips
•½ cup creamy peanut butter
•½ cup milk chocolate chips
Instructions
1.Line an 8×8 inch pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil and set aside.
2.In a large mixing bowl, mix together butter and brown sugar until it is fluffy. This takes about 3 minutes. Add vanilla and bet until combined.
3.Turn the mixer to low and alternate the flour and the sweetened condensed milk until combined. Gently fold in chocolate chips.
4.Press the cookie dough into the bottom of the 8×8 pan. It will be sticky so lightly flour your hands if needed.
5.Cover your bars with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight until firm.
6.To make the topping, combine the peanut butter and ½ cup chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl. Stir every 30 seconds until smooth. Pour and spread over the top of the chilled dough and chill at least for 1 hour until firm.
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Getting Up Early Ain't for Sissies!
This morning brought another gift - more snow with threat of ice on the road. Hopefully I-5 will be bare during my commute. Here's to everyone having a safe and warm Tuesday!!!
Friday, December 6, 2013
Better Safe than Sorry
It's Friday and I woke up to .....SNOW!!! Thinking optimistically, I proceeded with my normal work day routine. My attire for today included tights, knee-high boots, sweater, and a new scarf I recently sewed with clearance Halloween material. Easing out of the driveway, I cruised on to I-5 Northbound to make my way to work.
The freeway didn't seem bad but snow flurries were coming down strong. Then, only about 5 miles into my drive, traffic came to a halt. Keeping in the slow lane and peering ahead, the traffic jam could be seen stretched up ahead for several more miles. More than one police car passed me by on the shoulder; easing up to the bottleneck, it was clearly an extensive wreck which caused the backlog. There were two to three vehicles involved, including a semi truck and vintage RV that was obliterated....and I mean obliterated....on the road. At that point my mind was made up to turn around, go home and take a vacation day.
Taking the first Castle Rock exit, my car slid around as I tried to cross the street to the Portland return route. On the underpass was a police car and several other trucks sitting, investigating a work truck that had tumbled off the freeway and sat, upside down, on the grass next to the on-ramp. Scary!!! Driving about 5 miles per hour, my car crept on to the freeway Southbound, making my way back home. The snow began getting heavier and heavier; I breathed a sigh of relief when my car entered my garage. Whew!
Here's to everyone having a safe Friday with our first day of snow!!!
The freeway didn't seem bad but snow flurries were coming down strong. Then, only about 5 miles into my drive, traffic came to a halt. Keeping in the slow lane and peering ahead, the traffic jam could be seen stretched up ahead for several more miles. More than one police car passed me by on the shoulder; easing up to the bottleneck, it was clearly an extensive wreck which caused the backlog. There were two to three vehicles involved, including a semi truck and vintage RV that was obliterated....and I mean obliterated....on the road. At that point my mind was made up to turn around, go home and take a vacation day.
Taking the first Castle Rock exit, my car slid around as I tried to cross the street to the Portland return route. On the underpass was a police car and several other trucks sitting, investigating a work truck that had tumbled off the freeway and sat, upside down, on the grass next to the on-ramp. Scary!!! Driving about 5 miles per hour, my car crept on to the freeway Southbound, making my way back home. The snow began getting heavier and heavier; I breathed a sigh of relief when my car entered my garage. Whew!
Here's to everyone having a safe Friday with our first day of snow!!!
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Thanksgiving Wrap Up
The Thanksgiving holiday weekend was a jumble of activity. Thursday Jordan, Sam and I enjoyed a nice dinner of turkey and sides before kicking back and watching movies. Friday Sam took his rig in for a new water pump; I slept in then braved Target for a prescription. Thankfully I missed the Black Friday melee but did pick up a DVD player for $19.99.
Saturday found Sam and I visiting the auto office to license his car. Unfortunately, the state system placed the car at a much, much higher value than what we paid so we were forced to stop in our tracks and return home to print off an appraisal. The printer has been collecting dust; after two hours trying to hook it up to my laptop, we ended up saving the Edmunds appraisal on a flash drive, booking it to his friend's house to print, then rushing back to the licensing office with only a minute to spare in order to get the title in order. Whew! Another task off the list!
Sunday found me cleaning, organizing, and setting up some Christmas décor on the outside porch as well as inside. Significantly cutting back, this year we are having a two-foot silver and blue tree sitting on a table in living room window as our Christmas tree. It's just one of those years where none of us are in the mood to haul the numerous holiday goodies out of the attic and garage....it's going to be a simple year.
Last night Sam drove to Woodland with Jordan in tow meet with his supervisor and obtain keys for his new job. Unfortunately, Jordan called to inform me that Sam actually began work which resulted in me, with Stubbs along for the ride, cruising to Woodland to pick up him. We had a nice visit on our return ride. I was happy to see Sam had made it home safe and sound this morning from his first shift.
My biggest regret so far of this holiday season? I have not seen my Michael in two weeks!!! Between both of us being sick along with the holiday, potential snow, and car tasks, we have been unable to connect in person. Miss you Babe and can't wait for us to see each other very soon!!!!
Saturday found Sam and I visiting the auto office to license his car. Unfortunately, the state system placed the car at a much, much higher value than what we paid so we were forced to stop in our tracks and return home to print off an appraisal. The printer has been collecting dust; after two hours trying to hook it up to my laptop, we ended up saving the Edmunds appraisal on a flash drive, booking it to his friend's house to print, then rushing back to the licensing office with only a minute to spare in order to get the title in order. Whew! Another task off the list!
Sunday found me cleaning, organizing, and setting up some Christmas décor on the outside porch as well as inside. Significantly cutting back, this year we are having a two-foot silver and blue tree sitting on a table in living room window as our Christmas tree. It's just one of those years where none of us are in the mood to haul the numerous holiday goodies out of the attic and garage....it's going to be a simple year.
Last night Sam drove to Woodland with Jordan in tow meet with his supervisor and obtain keys for his new job. Unfortunately, Jordan called to inform me that Sam actually began work which resulted in me, with Stubbs along for the ride, cruising to Woodland to pick up him. We had a nice visit on our return ride. I was happy to see Sam had made it home safe and sound this morning from his first shift.
My biggest regret so far of this holiday season? I have not seen my Michael in two weeks!!! Between both of us being sick along with the holiday, potential snow, and car tasks, we have been unable to connect in person. Miss you Babe and can't wait for us to see each other very soon!!!!
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