Alterations are almost done!!

So I finally got the bustles done on my dress, all fifteen of them!!! I am so excited I finally get to work on wedding stuff again now that finals over.

Christmas Cookies

So today I spent four hours making cookies. I made 4 dozen double chocolate chip macadamia nut, 3 dozen cornflake wreaths and almost 8 dozen spritz cookies!! I love days where I get to bake like this. I have listed my recipes as separate posts so they are easier to find. I have to say that these were some of the best Christmas cookies I have made to date. I have to give credit to my new Cookie Pro Ultra spritzer. I received it for a shower gift and this is the first spritzer I haven't had problems with. It worked perfectly from the start. It is Wilton brand and I got mine from Bed Bath and Beyond but I have seen them at Micheal's as well. This is a MUST HAVE for cookie bakers. Plus there is not batteries or cords, it is all some sort of weird fantastic pump system. Very easy to use and works amazing!!

Spritz Cookies

I was so pleased with these spritz cookies. Normally I have a lot of trouble getting the dough the right consistency, but these were perfect first and second time through.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups butter (3 sticks)
1 cup sugar
1 egg
2 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp almond extract
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder





Directions:
1.Cream butter and sugar until smooth and slightly fluffy
2. Add egg, milk, vanilla and almond extract. Beat well
3. Gradually add flour and baking soda until smooth
4. Place dough in press and press on ungreased cookie sheet
5. Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes

Double Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

These are the best cookies I have ever made!! I had gone through many recipes for these cookies and I was having a hard time finding one that stuck together well with out drying out. These are an absolute must try at least once, but I know they will become a favorite!

Ingredients:
12 oz chopped bittersweet or semisweet chocolate
3/4 cup butter, cubed
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
8-10 oz white chocolate chips/chunks
1/2 cups coarsely chopped macadamia nuts (I use roasted for added flavor)

Directions:

1. In a heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water (but make sure it doesn't touch the bottom of pan), stir bittersweet chocolate and butter until smooth, 5 minutes. Remove bowl from over water; whisk in sugar, eggs, and vanilla.

2. In another bowl, mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add to chocolate mixture and stir until well blended. Stir in white chocolate chunks and nuts. Cover and chill dough until firm, at least 1 hour.

3. Shape dough into 2-inch balls and place about 3 inches apart on a buttered 12- by 15-inch baking sheets.

4. Bake in a preheated 325 degree oven until the edges cooked but still soft in the center, 12 to 15 minutes. If baking more than one pan at a time, switch pan positions halfway through baking.

5. Let cool for 5 minutes on sheets; transfer to racks to cool completely.
Makes about 30 cookies

Cornflake Christmas Wreaths

I love these Christmas "cookies." They are sweet with that little spice from the red hots. They never last very long in my house.

Ingredients:
1 package large marshmallows
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 tsp green food coloring
4 1/2 cups cornflakes
red hot cinnamon candies







Directions:
1. Melt marshmallows, butter, vanilla and green food coloring over low heat.
2. Mix in cereal
3. drop by spoonful (or by hand) on wax paper, decorate with red hots
4. Allow to cool completely

*I found it was easier to store them between layers of sran-wrap after they were allowed to cool completely
**I generally have to add about 1/4-1/2 cups more cereal depending on how the consistency is looking. they should not be as dry as rice crispies.

December has arrived...

Time...
I have always hated December, well I guess just since I started college. There is always so much to do and I feel like days actually are actually shorter. I have finals which is two weeks of steady projects and test prep, Christmas which is shopping, decorating, cooking and traveling to a million places ( I hate separated families and I am sorry to say, but I am glad that the fiance's family lives out of state, one less place to try and make it to) and on top of that this is the busiest time of year at work. And for some reason I decided that this year I would mover over Thanksgiving week with only one week of prep time before hand and get married on Jan. 15th. I have no idea how how I am going to fit finalizing wedding details amongst the rest of the regular duties and unpacking.

Keeper of time, I could really use an extension on the month of December.
Sincerely,
Sam

Thanksgiving Time

This past week was Thanksgiving which brings good food, drinks, family time and SHOPPING! I must say that I felt a little bit useless this year since I was so busy before hand. I think this is just because last year I hosted and this year I didn't but I still felt like I did nothing. I did make cupcakes and a delicious no-bake pumpkin pie. I also slept until noon on Thanksgiving and didn't even leave the apartment for the drive until almost 1pm!! I did love seeing my nephew this week though, I even got to babysit him for the first official time on Friday while my sister went to work. This was a little interesting since I had gotten up at 3:30am for shopping. I guess I am lucky that he is still a little under the weather so he was pretty chillaxed all day.

I was very disappointed with shopping this year though. I started at Target and only hit JCPenny's after. At target I was very surprised at how few people were there. I didn't wait in line outside I went in at the end of the crowd. I spent about 15 minutes walking around and really didn't find much. The DVD selection was the exact same as last year with maybe 5 new selections and I was highly disappointed with the amount of sweaters that were NOT on sale!! This explains my trip to JCP. I was primarily going there for a pair of boots in the add, but the location I went to had a very limited shoe department and did not have the style I wanted. I did get three sweaters at 60% off, a pink leather wallet and a black and white diamond accent penguin necklace at 70% off. Overall I was pleased that I didn't spend too much money however I got no Christmas shopping done!! What my family wants is too practical and day-to-day stuff to be on Blackfriday add. Oh well, I think next year I will do the four day add before Thanksgiving instead since they seemed to be better deals.

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cupcakes:
1 box spice cake mix
1 cup pumpkin puree, NOT pumpkin pie filling
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup milk
2 cups (1 regular size bag) semisweet chocolate chips

1. Mix all ingredients until smooth
2. Fill 3/4 full and bake at 350 for 15-18 minutes
3. Cool and frost
* I used a store bought cream cheese frosting but a chocolate ganache or buttercream would be good as well.

No Bake Pumpkin Pie:
1 can pumpkin puree
1 large tub coolwhip
1 large box instant vanilla pudding mix
1 tsp cinnamon

1. Combine all ingredients
2. Fill two graham cracker pie crusts
3. Refrigerate 1-2 hours to set
*I also did this in the classroom and instead of using pie crust I just put a scoop of graham cracker crumbs in a paper cup with a scoop of filling on top. The kids loved it and it doesn't have to set up then!

Moving!!

So I have been moving this past weekend as well as working and keeping up on homework. Today while I was figuring out my time-offs for next month in between assignments while I was cooling off after hauling dishes I realized I have a problem: I NEED to be overwhelmed!! Who in their right mind would plan a wedding while in college two weeks after Christmas and decide to move on top of all of that the week of Thanksgiving? As I am sitting here writing this I am thinking about what I am going to bake for Thanksgiving Wednesday in between school and work...I think I need help! My mother-in-law was right, I am going to be bored after the wedding with nothing but school. It will still be too early for kids so I am foreseeing lots of cooking, baking and crafts over the next year.

More Cupcakes and Good News!!

First my good news is that we are moving into a two bedroom, two bath apartment! I am so excited. There will be so much more room and we will have an office (2nd bedroom) for all of my school work and things I have started collecting for my own classroom. It is on the third floor and we don't have elevators, but luckily it is in the same building and the stairwell right outside of our apartment leads straight to the door of the new one!! How lucky!! I so can't wait for vaulted ceiling bedroom, two bathrooms (that means I get one to decorate girly!!), and office space.


I also received my bridesmaid dresses, well my mother in law did. She inspected them and said they were perfect!! So excited, 67 days until the wedding. I wish I had more to do, but now I have to start packing and cleaning so I guess that will work! This dress but in a pinky-coral color.


I also made another cupcake: Double Chocolate Chip with Oatmeal with Chocolate Butter Cream Frosting. These are a very rich cupcake and very chocolaty!! Still working on finding frosting I like. I think It might be that my recipes are calling for two much powdered sugar or the vanilla? Still pretty good for first time butter cream.

Double Chocolate Chip with Oatmeal Cupcake:
1 chocolate cake mix
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup oil
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup oats (instant works best, but I used the regular kind and they were delicious and had added texture)
1 cup chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350, prep pan with liners
2. Mix all ingredients until combined (batter will be shiny and very thick)
3. Fill liners 2/3 full
4. Bake 15-18 minutes

Chocolate Butter Cream Frosting:
1 stick of butter (8 tbsp)
1/3 cup cocoa powder
3 cups sifted powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
3-4 tbsp milk or cream

1. Beat butter until fluffy
2. Turn off mixer and add cocoa, sugar, vanilla and 3tsp milk.
3. Mix until combined and fluffy
4. Add the rest of milk if frosting is too thick or dry

Wedding Shower

This past Sunday I had a wonderful wedding shower. It was so nice to see so many of my friends and family. I was so overwhelmed by the amount of stuff we/I received at the shower. When I got home it felt like moving in all over again!! Most items were for the kitchen, which is my sanctuary so I was excited. I cannot wait to use all of my new things. I feel like a real grown-up chef now that I have glass measuring cups, serving ware and a Kitchen Aid. It is also nice to have a grown-up feeling bathroom set starting instead of our brightly rainbow colored dorm set we have now.

The whole day got me so excited about the upcoming wedding. Talking to everyone made everything seem so new and exciting again. I feel like I have a second wind in the wedding planning process. I am now more excited and aware that in 82 days I will be Mrs. Hoff!!

OMG!! I almost forgot, Evan started crawling and saying Mama and Dada this past week!! My sister was so excited the first time he said Mama that she scared him and he wouldn't say it for a few days...too funny. Now that he has started to crawl and has tasted freedom he is even more eager to walk. He has always tried to walk before he could crawl but now he seems hellbent on the idea with out mastering crawling first. I think he is going to be a well-mannered-trouble-maker, but what little boy isn't? -Auntie loves you Evan OXOXO

Mixed Feelings

I was going through all of my wedding stuff when I realized it is three months before my wedding and I have nothing to do...aside from sifting through mountains of songs. I have all of the specific songs picked out like the ceremony songs, cake cutting, first dance ect. but I am still trying to figure out what to play during the social hour and lunch, which to me is so boring! But every task I give to the FI I end up doing two weeks after I wanted it done once I find out he hasn't done it yet. I would much rather be doing crafting things, however I have completed everything that can be done until I can start doing escort cards. I am looking forward to doing the thank you notes for my shower!! I am happy that I am so far ahead, but I thought my school load was going to be more intense and since it isn't I find myself bored sometimes when I have a whole afternoon off. I mean you can only sleep so late and take a nap for so long. I also appreciate my readiness since my stomach has been flaring up lately and I have not felt well. However, I would rather be doing something crafty compered to watching cable and doing nothing. I guess I will just keep on keeping on and trying to find new ways to entertain myself.

Exciting news this past week:
-I found 5 new books at the book fair
-I bought the flowers for my wedding cake...FI thought they were real flowers not knowing they were silk and for the cake =)
-I bought all of the stuff for my grandma to make my garter
-I have finished my bouquet and boutonnieres
-I successfully created and uploaded a podcast to my website, which is still under construction
     studentweb.stcloudstate.edu/mcsa0607/site
-I celebrated my grandparents 60th wedding anniversary with them, what a treat!
-I cleaned the apartment...only to mess it up with my attempts and making thank you cards.

Thought for today:
Even though my body hates me, it is mine and I will always be the stronger one carrying us through!

Cooking, Baking and Frustration

This weekend was a stressful one. I worked all weekend, with some late night partying, and did hours of homework...yesterday I did homework for 8 hours straight!! I feel a little run down so I am doing something special tonight, making dinner and cupcakes! I love to cook and really love to bake, but I don't get much time for it anymore. When I do get time it's when I'm alone and have no one to cook for...=( Tonight I threw together a chicken recipe, a random creation of mine. I split my chicken breasts and stuffed them with a mixture of rondele cheese spread and prosciutto, then I breaded them w/shake and bake. ( I can't be too fancy here!) I just pulled this out of my head so hopefully it's delicious, although I did make one regular chicken breast just in case!! I will also be making Devil's Food cupcakes with a cream cheese frosting.
A piece of heaven for a way too busy life. I will report on both since I have also never made cream cheese frosting.

I have also decided that anybody who is hired to teach at computer class should be required to show that they can complete the tasks we as students are required to do. My teacher has not been able to answer any of my questions and few class-wide. Creating a website is the most stressful thing I have ever done! We have all of these requirements such as adding external and internal links, having multiple pages, pictures, video, blog ect.... I cannot figure out the internal links and my teacher said she was unsure of how to do it in the software we are required to use (iWeb). This brings me to my second frustration: if you are requiring us to use a special program that most students do not have access to at home and there is limited availability on campus; give us time to do it in class! It is not our fault that as a teacher you are behind as a result of your inability to use the software you are supposed to teach.

My Thoughts for Tuesday

Today is my second day as a blogger! Yes, I did return. Today I spent a bit of time reading through other peoples' blogs. These are my thoughts:

1. If you click "Next Blog" at the top of the screen, they seem to be themed...today's must have been Baliwood.
2. While searching for people with my similar joy of baking I realized that just because they have it listed as an interest means nothing as far as them having baking themed posts...not helpful when looking for cupcake recipes.
3. I need to find a new way of searching for blogs to follow.
4. I cannot figure out how to add a picture without it messing up the text under the "About Me" gadget.
5. I am not nearly as crafty as I thought I was after seeing so many cute blogs.

I also would like to share that during a power outage at school today, one of my penguins (specifically the one on my keyring) disappeared today. This made me very sad and a little worried since this is what occupied my hands to keep me still and keep me sane during class.

My First Blog!

So today is the day! I am not a very Internet savvy person so I have stayed away from all forms of blogging...until now. I had to create a website and blog for one of my classes (Who knew to be an elementary teacher you needed to know how to blog?) and it turned out to be kind of entertaining.

My previous blog for school was a practice, unpublished blog so when I had to name my blog and create the URL I was faced with my first obstacle. I was struck by sheer panic thinking it would be permanent and that it would be how everyone would find my blog. I have no idea how businesses come up with their names or how you would ever come up with a title for a book, the thought of that is nerve-wracking to me. I read a few articles on "how to name your blog" and none of them were very helpful. The only thing I got from them was that your URL should match your title. I ended up getting the idea for my blog title while searching for penguin stuff (penguins have become a mini obsession of mine lately). Then you have to hope what you want is available. Luckily I only had to tweak my title once otherwise I think I would have become very discouraged.

I know you are supposed to have a general theme for your blog, but I have decided that I needed a place to blog about whatever is going on in my life. There are so many things happening everyday it's hard to be able to share it all with everyone. I am currently working at a family owned bar, going to school to be an elementary school teacher and planning my upcoming wedding. All of this makes for very full and wonderfully exciting days! There is rarely a boring day in my life and I am constantly finding myself in new experiences so I have decided to share some of them with anyone who is interested. Some topics to expect are:

• School
• Stories from the bar
• Evan: My nephew
• The Wedding
• And the occasional penguin post

I hope you can find the color in your life!
Sincerely,
Sam