Fall Fashion

Here are two different fall styles. One look is styled with a white blouse, mustard colored sweater, faded jeans and brown boots. The jewelry added is a gold and brown necklace. The second look is styled with a green plaid shirt, brown tank top, dark jeans, and brown boots. The jewelry included is a brown necklace. These looks are great for early fall or late fall.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies are one of the easiest and most liked desserts among children, teenagers, young adults, middle aged adults, and older adults. It is basically a foolproof dessert that is guaranteed to make everyone happy. Here is one of my favorite recipes to use. I generally bake for 9 minutes for a  chewy cookie but if your gang prefers theirs a little more crisp then just leave them in for a few more minutes. You can also vary this recipe by mixing several types of chocolate chips for a unique cookie.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 1/2 cups butter flavored crisco
2 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
4 tbsp. milk
2 tbsp. vanilla
2 eggs
3 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
3 12 oz bags chocolate chips (semi sweet or milk chocolate)

• heat the oven to 375* and place cooling racks on the counter
• combine the Crisco, brown sugar, milk, and vanilla in a large bowl and beat using a hand mixer at medium speed until blended.
• beat the egg into the mixture
• combine the flour, salt, and baking soda in a small bowl. then mix into the creamed mixture until blended.
• stir in the chocolate chips by hand
• drop rounded tablespoons onto cookie sheets a couple inches apart
• bake 8-10 minutes for chewy cookies, 11-13 minutes for crisp cookies
                                      DO NOT OVERBAKE
• cool for 2 minutes on the baking sheet before placing on the cooling rack

*makes 7-8 dozen cookies depending on how big you choose to make them

Brownies with Sprinkles

I was craving some brownies the other night and didn't have a box mix. So what did I do? Make them from scratch! Turns out they are super easy to make and way yummier than the box mix. Here is the recipe that I used. :)  Hope you enjoy them as much as I do!



Chocolate Brownies


1 1/3 cup flour
2 cups sugar (or a little more if you like them extra sweet)
3/4 cup baking cocoa
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs, beaten
2 teaspoons vanilla

Heat the oven to 350*. Use two separate bowls, In the first bowl combine all of the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, salt). In the second bowl combine the wet ingredients (oil, egg, vanilla).  Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix together until just combined. (do NOT use a mixer) Spread the mix in a 9x13 pan. Top the brownie batter with colorful sprinkles of any kind. Bake for 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Blackberry Cobbler

Blackberries are the fruit of the summer. One great way to eat blackberries is to make a cobbler. This recipe is super easy for anyone to make and it tastes delicious especially with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. I hope you enjoy!

Blackberry Cobbler

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tbsp. baking powder
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 2/3 cup milk
• 1 16 oz package of frozen blackberries (you can also use fresh blackberries or any other frozen berries)

Directions

• Melt the butter in a 2 quart casserole dish (in the microwave)
• Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and milk in a small bowl, mix well
• Pour the flour and sugar mixture over the butter

                     ****Do NOT stir****

• Spoon the blackberries over the batter

                      ****Do NOT stir****

• Bake at 350* for 45 minutes until golden

Snickerdoodles

Snickerdoodles are one of my favorite kinds of cookies to make. They were also one of the first that I learned how to cook. They are super easy for beginner bakers and super easy to whip up on a time crunch. They also make the perfect bite size cookie.  Hope yall enjoy! :)

Recipe:
2 3/4 cups sifted flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup shortening (I use 1 stick butter flavor Crisco)
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
Cinnamon sugar mixture 

To make the cinnamon sugar mixture for the outside of the cookies start with a good size amount of sugar and then add shakes of cinnamon until the mixture is a light brown. There are no exact measurements for this :)

1. Combine flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt in a bowl
2. In a mixing bowl, cream together the shortening and sugar. Then add the eggs and beat well to mix.
3. Slowly add the dry ingredients and blend
4. Chill the dough in the fridge until it is easy to handle.
5. Turn on the oven to 350*
6. Roll the dough into small balls (3/4 inch across) and dip into the cinnamon sugar mixture
7. Place balls on a baking sheet and bake 10-12 minutes until lightly brown





Reference: My First Cookbook, 1972, My First Cookies

Graduation Look

I just graduated from the University of Arkansas. For my graduation I went with a fit and flare white lace dress from Dress Barn. Then I accessorized with red jewelry from Versona.

 

Valentines Day

So what do you do when you are alone on Valentine's Day? You have a blast with your girlfriends! This year for Valentines I went to dinner with some girlfriends of mine and then we indulged ourselves on a chocolate fountain. This was the best way to have fun and to not worry about having a date. Here are some pictures of our night.

Sugar Cookies

Sugar Cookies

 

 

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 cups butter flavored Crisco
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• 2 tablespoons vanilla
• 6 cups flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt

 

 

Procedure:

• Heat the oven to 375*
• Combine sugar, Crisco, beat at medium speed until blended
• add eggs, sugar, syrup, vanilla
• beat until blended and fluffy
• combine flour, baking powder, soda, and salt in a separate bowl
• gradually add flour mixture to creamed mixture at low speed until blended
• drop rounded teaspoons on to an ungreased baking sheet 3 inches apart (I use a small ice cream scoop)
• (sprinkle with colored sugar if desired)
• bake for 10-12 minutes- DO NOT OVERBAKE
• cool 2 minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer to a cooling rack

~If desired you can also frost the cookies with buttercream frosting


Oatmeal Craisin Cookies

Oatmeal Craisin Cookies

1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups craisins (or more depending on your liking)
1 1/4 cup quick oats
1 package white chocolate (I prefer almond bark)

• Heat the oven to 350*
• Beat the butter until creamy, gradually add in the sugars, beat well
• Add egg and vanilla, mix
• Combine flour, soda, powder, and salt
• Gradually add flour mix to butter mix
• Stir in the craisins and oats
• Drop onto a cookie sheet (small scoop)
• Bake for 9-11 minutes
• After they are cool, melt the white chocolate or almond bark and drizzle over the top

Stain-Glass Cookies

Stain-Glass Cookies 

(adapted from  Food Network Magazine)

2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 sticks of butter, room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
several colors of hard candy (I  used Jolly Ranchers and Dum Dums)

1. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl
2. Beat the butter and sugar in a stand mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Add in the flour mix, beat until incorporated.
3. Place bowl into the fridge until it gets cold and firm
4. Separate the candy by color and break the candy into small pieces. (you can mix different types of candy)
5. Line baking sheets with parchment paper
6. Roll out the dough on a counter covered with flour and cut out with shapes (cookie cutters). Then transfer to the baking sheets and use a smaller cookie cutter to remove the inside. Then fill the shapes with candy pieces.
7. Bake cookies 1 pan at a time at 350*  for 12-15 minutes
8. Let cookies cool before removing from the baking sheets.