Magic Peanut Butter Cookies!

It was the super bowl and TJ started a tradition of everyone joining for the festivities. The men enjoyed the game and the women the commercials with lots and lots of food throughout the process. TJ missed it this year because he moved to Utah but we held it any way (not as much shouting from the family room, kind of calm) (TJ, you should think of joining us next year) I do like to try new recipes and this one jumped way off the page calling to me. I found the recipe on the web site Tasty Kitchen (The Pioneer Woman's outlet for the cooks that follow her), posted by Karly Campbell thanks Karly . It's my new favorite cookie. The recipe follows at the bottom of the page, or click on the link and go right to the recipe.

I only changed one small way that they cookies were made and that is that she said to make 30 balls (cookies) but I found it easier to make them into 32 by dividing the dough into fourths, and then divide equally again and again until I had 32 of both the filling and the dough. I find this easier than guessing and making 30. What can I say I need structure, I'm not for much free form. OK, I have issues, but if you know me you already know that.
Dividing the dough.
Rolling the peanut butter/powdered sugar into balls for the filling. It is wonderfully yummy!
My hands don't look so wrinkly on this side just a little pink and I thought that the undertone of my skin was yellowish.

Make sure to completely cover the filling with the Chocolate/Peanut Butter cookie dough.
I then placed them seam side down on my cookie sheet. I love, love, love my silpat mats. I ordered them from ebay (huge ones, and then cut them exactly to fit my cookie sheets, all four of them) boy do they make cooking and removing cookies easy. I also use them for candy making, just pour the candy or carmel corn or whatever you don't want to stick out on the sheet, this way you save having to butter a pan and save a few calories so that you can have more cookies or candy, it's a win/win and easy.
Then I dipped a glass in granulated sugar and gently pressed down on the dough and you get great looking and tasting cookies.

Out of the oven and ready for their fate of making us smile and say yum.
Putting out the cookies for the game, see I'm leaving another spot for the other two types of cookies that I made.
One bite leads to another, and soon they are all gone. Just look at the creamy filling surrounded by a crunchy chocolate/peanut butter cookie. I know you want some!! Better get cooking, it's not too late today.
Just wanted to add this picture, it's our new glasses, yes!! we needed new glasses. I love dishes/glasses and this set was calling our name it's a Riedel, they are crystal but-- a new crystal without lead-- instead they add titanium and their feel is so light yet strong (a little on the pricy side). They are wonderful. Doesn't the milk (in the previous picture) look perfect in the glass?
ENJOY!!

Magic Peanut Butter Cookies

FOR THE COOKIES:

• 1-½ cup All-purpose Flour

• ½ cups Cocoa Powder

• ½ teaspoons Baking Soda

• ½ cups White Sugar

• ½ cups Packed Brown Sugar

• ½ cups Butter

• ¼ cups Peanut Butter

• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

• 1 whole Egg

• _____

• FOR THE PEANUT BUTTER FILLING:

• ¾ cups Powdered Sugar

• ¾ cups Peanut Butter

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a small bowl, mix together the flour, cocoa powder, and baking soda. In a large bowl, beat together the sugars, butter, and 1/4 cup of peanut butter until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla and egg. Slowly mix in the flour mixture. Set aside.

For the peanut butter filling, combine confectioners’ sugar and 3/4 cup peanut butter. Beat together well. Roll filling into 32 small balls. Try to keep the balls all the same size—around 1 inch.

For each cookie, use 1 tablespoon of chocolate dough and roll into a ball (32). Squish the ball of chocolate dough flat and place a peanut butter ball in the center. Wrap the chocolate dough up and around the peanut butter ball to completely cover. Place 2 inches apart on a baking sheet. Dip the bottom of a glass into white sugar and use the cup to lightly flatten the cookie balls. Bake for 7-9 minutes.

Lassi!!

Here is the recipe that I used to create the Lassi for Connie's Indian feast a couple of weeks ago . . .



Bhanu Hajratwala’s Mango Lassi

Serves 4-6

1 big can (30oz) of sweetened mango pulp

3 cups of buttermilk

1 cup water

5 Tbsp sugar

pinch of saffron (optional, but recommended)

1. Blend all ingredients together. (note: if your blender can’t handle all the liquid at once—then put in half the mango, half the buttermilk, all the sugar and the pinch of saffron to make sure the sugar is dissolved and the saffron blended. Then you can add the rest of the mango, buttermilk and water to the blended stuff in a pitcher and just give it a good stir.)

2. Serve over ice or well chilled.

Don’t you love a simple recipe sometimes? I don’t know why every other Lassi recipe I’ve seen has been made with yogurt—the buttermilk is way better in it and the pinch of saffron is just brilliant. It gives it a little exotic aftertaste that is not really place able, but really makes the Lassi special.

Enjoy!!!

Banana Brunch Cake

I (Mark) don't bake that often. I have this favorite recipe that is worth sharing: enjoy!

Banana Brunch Cake

_______________

1/2 C. butter ( I use canola oil to cut down my cholesterol)

1 C. sugar

2 eggs

1 C. mashed bananas

1/2 C. sour cream

1/4 tsp. vanilla

2 C. flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

Cream butter and sugar together beating constantly. Beat eggs in one at a time. Mix in banana, sour cream, and vanilla.

Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Fold into creamed mixture just until moistened.

Sprinkle 1/2 topping into a well greased bundt pan. Spoon 1/2 batter over topping. Sprinkle remaining topping over batter, then cover with remaining batter.

Bake @ 350 degrees for 45-55 minutes.

When baked let cool for about 5 minutes then turn out upside onto a plate to finish cooling.

Topping

_________

1/2 C. chopped nuts

1/4 C. sugar

1/2 tsp. cinnamon ( I always add more!)

Scott's Graduation from CSUSB in Accounting!

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Scott Mark Hendrickson walked in his commencement ceremony for his completion of his Bachelors of Science in Accounting from California State University San Bernardino. His finished his schooling in August and already has his diploma but got the opportunity to walk. He graduated with Honors!!

Scott and Amanda--both glad that this part of his schooling is done. Now his 4 CPA tests to pass!
Here he is with his money donors.
Grandparents Bill & Jean Fiet--, his sister Jodi and her husband Robby were also there being very supportive (didn't download a pic, sorry).
Also his In-laws Ken and Penny Marks, Ken's parents (oops, don't know their first names) Grandma & Grandpa Marks, and Amanda's brother Cameron were there.
And the man of the hour with a rainbow of tassels and ribbons around his honored neck. If you watch the 3 minute video you will see that he was the very first one of the day to receive his bachelors degree. (masters program went first, but he was the first undergrad to walk.)

Finley's Quilt

I was a little behind on the Grandkids quilts. I finished Caleb's and then I did a mad dash to get a quilt made for Finley. Jodi helped me pick the pattern and I had a roll of "Jelly Roll" fabric by Moda so it actually went pretty quick. I agonize way to much over fabric choice when I'm working on a quilt and then when I'm finished I feel fabric retarded, so this took all of the stress out fabric choice. A Jelly Roll is 40 - 2 1/2 inch wide strips x 42 inches long of coordinating fabric sold as a roll. Already cut and matched, the easy way out, and I took it.

Here is the finished quilt, it had 5 "Braids" of alternating fabric I really tried to be random when sewing another fabric to the braid. I finished it off with a small pink 1 inch border, and then added polished cotton pink stripe with a small white lace in-between. I like the look but I don't know why with all my weirdness the border seemed a little wavy. I don't like wavy! I like straight!!
This pic is actually before it was finished and I was pinning the "sandwich" together on the parlor floor so that i could machine quilt it.
Finley with her quilt.
I hope the it brings her happiness and warmth for many years to come.
Finley even seemed to like the color choice and appears to be looking and picking out her favorite fabric in the quilt. I love you forever Finley.

She's At it Again!

Tonight Connie was serving a dinner for The Stake President's from around the area and visiting General Authorities. They were gathered for some priesthood training and Connie was in charge of the dinner! She feeds the sisters of the stake spiritually, gives them counsel and guidance, and often feeds others at a variety of functions! She just fed all the sisters before the General Women's Broadcast, and now this tonight! She is, what we sometimes call, the RS caterer.

Her counselor Tupou'ahau and other helpers

Kim Allen - who made the desserts!

lovely server helpers

Breaktime, already?

Aidan at the Beach

Mark, Jodi, Robby, Aidan, Finley, and I went to the beach for Labor Day. I know it's been about three weeks, but I had to post this. The Baird's haven't even seen it yet. Aidan made friends with a girl and she was playing on the beach with him, A huge wave came up (washed alot of peoples stuff away, not ours yeah!) and it made a huge puddle (for lack of a better word) close by and the played there for quite a while. Then she had this great idea. Boy did Adian have fun, and a little fright, but they did this several times with Aidan always asking for more, she was patient. Enjoy the wild man.

Summer Concert Series! Music

This summer we were able to go to several concerts (boy are we varied) and had a great time enjoying the music, the entertainment, and the wonderful friends who shared these evenings with us. Here is a banner from the last concert, it seemed appropriate!

We attended the LA County Fair on opening day to see Al Green and the Spinners in concert. The LA Fair in always an experience. We did a lot of the usual things, the Art building, looking in the buildings for all of the winners in their varied entries, the flowers, looking for Piggy Wigglies (never found them), a tradition we couldn't continue, how sad (it's true Utah daughters, no Piggy Wigglies). But we did find Chocolate covered Bacon, but alas it didn't have the appeal for me. Here we are waiting sooo patiently in our seats. Notice the corn dog.

Here is a pic of "The Spinners" they were very good at motivating the crowd. We did get to see and enjoy all that they had to offer.
Who could not enjoy yellow suits? But with our seating situation during Al Green we heard him but couldn't see him, lots of Gospel, lots of his great deep voice. It was a fun night. Here is the true pic of the night, the fair in all of it's glory, complete with fair food.

In between these concerts we went to see Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire, at the Ontario Convention Center. No pics of the event but we really did go. We went with the Ellsworth's and the Kirtley's. If you know me you know I really like Chicago, but I was disappointed, they sounded like a cover band, not the band of my youth. I had tickets to Chicago when I was 16 but wasn't able to go (you know teen age drama, boys) and I have been waiting a long time to finally see them in concert but something happened, they turned old! and many members were missing. Yikes. I thoroughly enjoyed Earth, Wind & Fire, particularly the percussion guy. Great entertainment, great stage presence. Speaking of entertainment there was a women close to the stage dancing, and her moves were indescribable and entertaining, laughs are always good.OK, so I alluded to our trip to the Hollywood bowl to see Aretha, and we went to the Hollywood Bowl again last night to see Diana Krall so I'm going to combine pictures from the two because I didn't take a camera either time and Lisa did the first time , so I stole some pics off her web site and Tada! here they are. It was a great night with great friends. The Gamboa's, The Kirtley's and us, what fun, what great music. We all contributed to our meal in the park (part of the Hollywood Bowl tradition) and the food was great which added to the evening.


Looks almost like a Barbie Dress, I said almost! If was a very warm evening, and she wore the fur coat through her performance. Show a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T, the woman can still sing and belt it out. I was impressed she never sat down during her performance except to play the piano briefly. She was impressive, and a great performer.

Diana Krall was spectacular! She was my favorite concert. I only had 5 songs of hers on my ipod, but there are more now. What a great performer, moving music, multi talented, all around enjoyable evening.

Check our her sultry voice, and music.

A summer of music, friends, and fun. I guess it really started before summer when we went to the Belly Up Bar to see James Morrison who put us in the concert mood. I hope there aremany more concerts in my future.

Caleb's Quilt

Caleb is already one year old, and it has taken me awhile (long) to finish his quilt that I started before he was born.

Just look at his face saying "Am'ma, what's taking so long, tears and all. I love the colors of this pic.

Here's my favorite man holding up the quilt for the pic. He also packaged it up and sent it off for me. I choose a vintage fire-truck material for the focus. Drawing from the colors of the fabric I added my accent fabrics. When I was trying to decide what to do in the corner pieces, the thought came to me Dalmatians, so that was the inspiration for the paw print and the dalmatian dots. I added a yellow fleece/soft fabric for the backing. I love the playfulness, but got a little speedy in machine sewing the whole thing together, and so my stitching isn't always "in the ditch" as I would like it to be. Slow down next time.

LOVE YOU!! Caleb

I hope it comforts you and snuggles you because I can't be there as often as I would like to comfort and snuggle you.

Here is close up of the quilt, Heidi showed me how to do paper piecing, and the results were fabulous, the points are all perfect. But I wouldn't to it again unless it is a very special project. It was so time consuming, glueing all the pieces to the paper, folding all the lines, sewing the lines, and then carefully removing all of the scrapes of paper. Perfect points, perfect matching of seams=lots of time.

Caleb--Enjoy!

Texas Visit - Part II - The Renovation

Steve and Darla, and their family, have been restoring a 114 year old 'farm house' from the 'historical' section of town. I say 'historical' because although it is a historic house (it was built by one of the three founding families of the community) the city does not value it's historical properties and does nothing to save structures such as this one. The home is around 3500 square feet with an additional 1500 square foot porch that wraps around 3 sides of the house. The first floor has 13 foot high ceilings and the second floor has 9 foot high ceilings. The home had just been saved from squatters by the county and was about to be put on the market when Darla spotted signs posted (she ran home to get her binoculars to see what the they said) that declared the premises uninhabitable (to get out the vagrants). She did some detective work and found the bank that owned the property. She negotiated a favorable deal - realizing that they were in for a great deal of work, but recognizing the properties potential. They have done a remarkable job - ask them to see the before pictures sometime! - and will have a fantastic homestead for Hendrickson texans! I had so many photos that I decided to follow the great example of my friend Ken and put them into a slide show for ease and speed - - - enjoy! sorry I can't explain each one . . . oh - also the pictures at the end are of the where they live now. The music is "Strike Two" by Joe Sample from his Ashes to Ashes CD.

Visit to Texas - Part I (Todd's Farewell)

I am a bit slower than Heidi to get my pictures up! I have decided to split my Texas blog into three parts. So here is part one: Todd's farewell




Here is the missionary himself! The flag of Chile is very similar to the flag of Texas - the colors of decorations reflected the flag (red, white and blue).









Steve and Darla getting the tables ready . . . .









Darla getting the food ready . . . . .













I think this is last of this kind of hugging for 2 years. Here is Todd with his "other sister" Angela.













. . . friends from Lufkin 1st Ward









Steve and Darla with their guests having a good time . . .







Here is Ryah with one of her best friends . . .







here is (future missionary) Gabe mugging for the camera . . .
























Todd with some of his friends (members and non-members)














here is proof I was there! This was taken after church on Sunday - Gabe was very quick to get out of his Sunday clothes - so we 'hid' him in the back!


Had a great time and Todd gave a very nice talk in church and will be a great missionary!

See Heidi's blog for pics in Utah. Look forward to part II - (progress on the 114 year old house they are renovating).