Cookie cookie cookies

I brought these compost cookies (complete with potato chips, chocolate chips and Rolo candy chunks) to a recent "Potato Pallooza" party. This crowd favorite was borrowed from Tastespotting, one of my go-to sites for food inspiration. Here is a copy of the much requested receipe for you to try.

Momofuku Milk Bar’s Compost Cookies
Recipe and image taken from www.lafujimama.com

Makes 15 6-ounce cookies

8 ounces (1 cup) butter
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoon Kosher salt
1 1/2 cups Your favorite baking ingredients! (chopped chocolate, mini chocolate chips, Raisinettes, Rolos, Cocoa Krispies, etc.)
1 1/2 cups Your favorite snack foods (potato chips, pretzels, goldfish crackers, etc.)

1. In a stand mixer, using the paddle attachment, cream together the butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and corn syrup on medium high speed for 2 – 3 minutes until the mixture is fluffy and pale yellow in color. Use a spatula to scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl.

2. On low speed, add the eggs and vanilla and mix until they are incorporated. then increase the speed to medium-high and start a timer for 10 minutes. During the 10 minutes, the sugar granules will fully dissolve and the mixture will become a pale cream color and double in size.

3. After the 10 minutes, lower the speed to low and add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix for 45 – 6o seconds—just until your dough comes together and the dry ingredients have become incorporated. DO NOT overmix the dough. Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl with a spatula.

4. Continuing on the low speed, add the mix of your favorite baking ingredients and mix for 30 – 45 seconds until they are evenly mixed into the dough. Then finally, add your favorite snack foods last, mixing on low until they are just incorporated.

5. Use a 6-ounce ice cream scoop to scoop out balls of dough onto a parchment lined baking sheet. When you have scooped out all of the dough, wrap the baking sheet tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 1 hour (or up to 1 week). DO NOT bake your cookies from room temperature or they will not hold their shape.

6. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahreneheit. When the oven has come to temperature, arrange the chilled cookie dough balls on a parchment or silpat-lined baking sheet 4-inches apart. Bake the cookies for 9 – 11 minutes. Check the cookies at 9 minutes. They should be browned on the edges and just beginning to brown towards the center. If not (if they seem pale and dough on the surface), leave them in the oven for the additional 2 minutes. Cool the cookies completely on the baking sheet before transferring them to a plate or airtight container for storage.

* The cookies will keep fresh at room temperature for 5 days, or in the freezer for 1 month.

Fifteen years and counting

From the first time we met we were drawn to one another. Our spark is undeniable. I look forward to growing stronger and keeping our flame burning bright.

A time of reflection.

I happened to come across a notebook that, once insignificant, has become a time capsule of sorts. I jotted down sketches of my wedding dress, transcribed passages that would be read at our ceremony, a rough draft of my vows, and a list of potential names for our daughter while pregnant and anxiously waiting to find out her gender.

Next month, my husband and I will be celebrating our 15th anniversary, nearly half of our lives. I've been thinking a lot about commitment and our wedding vows, remembering our journey and contemplating the future. Here are some of the words put to paper and shared at our wedding ceremony:

"The Art of Marriage" by Wilferd A. Peterson, modified by us

A good marriage must be created
In marriage the little things are the big things
It is never being too old to hold hands
It is remembering to say "I love you" at least once a day
It is never going to sleep angry
It is not taking the other for granted
It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives
It is standing together and facing the world
It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family
It is speaking words of appreciation
and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways
It is having the capacity to forgive and forget
It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow
It is a common search for the good and the beautiful
It is not only marrying the right person, it is being the right partner


Vows to my new husband:

Sean,
You make me laugh.
You let me cry.
You are my greatest ally and best friend.
I have discovered myself in the comfort of your love.
I know the you that no one else gets to.
I admire your passion,
Appreciate your deep sense of loyalty,
Am refreshed by your wit,
And am relieved that, fundamentally, we value the same things.
I promise to nurture your dreams and help shoulder your challenges.
I promise to love you,
Comfort and encourage you,
And be open and honest with you.
I know that together we can face any challenge that life may bring.
I make this commitment to you today simply because
. . . I can't live without you!
So take this ring as a symbol of my love and unending devotion.

Preoccupation

It's been awhile since I last blogged. I've been spending a great portion of the finite amount of free time I have working on a flickr page where we've taken an image a day of our little girl for nearly four months.

At this juncture, I'm not certain of the direction of this blog. My new status as mother causes me to find inspiration in more things domestic but I am reluctant to predominantly share what only a handful of close friends might care about, which has contributed to my lack of attention to this blog. Typical of me, I'm over thinking it. Just know, handful of wonderful you, I haven't forgot about you or the me that I was before.

Quantum Leap

Meet Aubrey June, born on July 14th after 14 hours of natural labor. She breaks my heart every time I look at her. I want to capture every moment.


Another heartbreaker: my husband of three years and partner going on fifteen. Marrying him was the single best decision I ever made. This experience has been up and down, bringing us closer than we've ever been, and challenging us in ways we've never imagined. I love love love you more than words can express.


Sweet pea and me in the backyard, stargazing. We've started a Flickr page for friends and family to access. We plan to post a photograph a day of little one for the first year of life, a sort of photographic diary, to document her growth. Contact us if you're interested in watching her grow.

Mother's Day comes early

Thanks to my baby daddy, Mother's Day has come early in two respects: Mother's Day isn't until tomorrow and I haven't actually delivered any babies yet. Regardless, I was thrilled to receive some local jewelry that I've been eyeing from AK Vintage.

Based out of Portland, Anna Korte makes some beautiful pieces for both men and women used from antique stores and estate stales and transforms them into a contemporary setting that you'll love to show off. The ultra soft leather used to make the jewelry that was gifted to me came from recycled antique leather gloves.

I can't wait to be the most stylish mama on the block.

Happy Anniversary

Sean and I celebrated 14 years as a couple yesterday. That's almost half our lives! I've posted a little before and after for your amusement. (The first photos were from 1995 when we were just 16 years old. Notice in the photo above, I'm wearing his hat --a real sign that a girl is into you in adolescence. The other photos were taken recently).



We've grown and experienced a lot over our time together and I must say that the time has flown by. I laugh now at how we would celebrate every passing month in that first year as an anniversary (after all, it was high school). We were just babies when it all began. I had braces, a perpetually bad perm and thought I could pull off plaid polyester pants and a chunky wool sweater. You were bashful, played football and believed that nice guys always finish last (a notion that I hope to have beat out of you). Thank you for loving me for what I am and for never letting me sell myself short. I could not imagine a better partner in life. I adore you and look forward to the years to come.