Yummy Chocolate Chip Cookies!

I have so many chocolate chip cookie recipes, it is ridiculous really. There are few that are my favorites....one is the neiman marcus recipe, who doesn't love them, but what a pain to make! I also love my friend Tim's recipe, which is amazing and gets better as they sit on the counter....though they don't sit for long. Previously, I really enjoyed the recipe on the back of the Macey's chocolate chip bag, but that recipe just got knocked out of my favorite list for this one....a recipe from my friend Maile. Enjoy! I love them!

1 cup margarine
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 bag milk chocolate chips

Mix margarine and two sugars. Add egg and vanilla. Mix. Add Baking soda and salt. Mix. Add flour, mix, and then add chocolate chips.

Medium size balls bake at 350 for 9 1/2 to 10 minutes. Better if undercooked than over. :)

Yum! Thanks Maile!

A Wonderful Weekend!

(sorry the pictures are not in order, slide.com was having problems!)

On Thursday night, my sister and Cousin (from Miami)called to surprise me and tell me they were coming to see me on Friday morning! I couldnt' believe it. They had been in Las Vegas at a fashion show marketing my cousins new line! (Check it out at www.peaceloveworld.com) It is amazing! Anyways, as you can imagine, I was stunned and quickly thought, I have some washing and cleaning to do before the morning. :) I was so excited to see them! They were coming in town for my baby shower scheduled for Saturday at Los Hermanos. The girls quickly became excited Auntie Angie was coming in the morning with Cousin Alina, who although has sent them many presents and such over the years, has yet to meet them. On Friday morning, we woke up to go to the airport and get them at 10am! After picking them up, we all piled into our suburban and headed to where else... The Olive Garden. It is a tradition my sister and I seem to keep up with everytime we pick her up from the airport. Alina brought her two assistants, Alejandra and Alexandra. So we had a table full! It was super fun. After lunch, we dropped Jayda off at school, Nelson and the rest of the girls at home, and we went to Royal Nails to all get manicures. (not the best place, might I add). But certianly cheap. :) After manicures, we headed to walmart for a few groceries for dinner and it was a serious tourist attraction for them. Walmart is few and far between in Miami and so the trip wasnt complete without pictures of them in front of walmart with the mountains in the back (a must!). Auntie Angie bought the girls each a new pair of pjs, as per her usual trip as well, and Alina won their affections with HSM 3! After walmart, we headed home, everyone tired...them from a long work week and me from being fat and pregnant. We all layed around, ate dinner, and watched missed episodes of The Biggest Loser, The Office, and Kath & Kim! Saturday, we woke up to go to the mall before the baby shower at 1pm. Alina bought the girls all kinds of candy and jewelry...whatever they wanted. Her favorite thing was to say "Who do we love?" and everyone yell "Alina..." Although the response was a plethora of answers at one time "me! Auntie Angie, Alina!" I guess they love everyone! After the mall, we headed to Los Hermanos for my baby shower, which was very fun! Camille organized it and put it together and my sister sent the invitations...it turned out wonderfully! Thank you Camille! Thanks to all who came! We got so much stuff and plenty of clothes! It was so nice! It is funny to have a shower on the 5th child. But well needed....we had no boy stuff! After lunch, we went to Tibble Fork to let them take pictures, which was fun. It was beautiful. Then we came home for a sec, and it was soon time to take them back to the airport. It was such a fun, though fast, weekend. A great surprise! The girls had so much fun and were sad when they left. Sometimes, Halle would just get a little teary, and I know it is because she got sad they left, even though she wouldn't say. She is just like her mom. We love our family and we love company!

The Loves of My Life!

Nelson and I don't like to go out on Valentines day, because yikes...the crowds...so we usually try to go out before or after..on a less busy day. So Valentines was reserved for all our sweet babies! We planned out a day of fun for them, and it really was fun. They woke up to a "heart attack" on the hall wall! Sienna just oohed and ahhed at it, which was super cute. I had to go to a Ward basketball game and when I came home, they had cleaned the house the for me. It was wonderful! The girls' first activity was to go on a treasure hunt to find their valentines from mom and dad. That was enjoyable because now Jayda can read, so the girls followed her around and found all the clues. :) They got a box of choclates, little valentine doodle books, and a princess sleeping thingy ( I never know what to call them..I call them an eye patch). Sienna got a ducky instead of the eyeware. :)She loves that ducky!!!! After our treasure hunt, we made valentines boxes. We decorated shoe boxes with foil paper and stickers. Then we made valentines for each other and put them in our boxes. Later we invited Camille, Gracie, and Ollie over to have dinner with us and make cupcakes. We made heartshaped pizzas, and "I Choo-Choose You!" Cupcakes. It was a funfilled day, one in which I went to bed pooped! But it was worth it. The girls had a great time playing with us all day...and to tell you the truth, we had fun too. Happy Valentine's Day!

Good Ole Days

Tonight we met an old friend from our mission in Oregon at the mall! Elder Johnson, or as we know him EJ! He and his wife Mary, and there cute little girl Sadie met us at South Towne to eat dinner and play. It was so much fun to see them and laugh about the good ole days in Oregon. And we had some good ones! :) His wife is exactly like him and is perfect for him! They are so much fun and we are planning a game night soon because guess what...they are super competetive like me! :) I am going to teach her settlers! And then beat her. :) It is fun to meet up with old friends.

Draper Temple Open House

Today we went to the temple open house, which was so fun. We took all the girls, and were planning on taking my cousin, Mike, who was here for the week, but he got too sick and couldn't go! The girls, especially Mia, always talk about the temple and going there when they get married. She always asked if Jesus is in there and she says all the time she wants to go in and see Jesus. So you can imagine how excited she was to finally get to go in a temple. She still asked if she would see Jesus, how do you answer that? I just said, "I don't know honey! Mabye. " Mia is very concerned about getting married and being a mom :) I love it. The temple was beautiful and the girls just loved it. Their favorite rooms were the sealing room and celestial room of course. I couldn't help but think how blessed we are to live in a place where there are so many temples and my children have the opportunity to go through one before they are older and see it and feel the special spirit there. I wish Mike could've been able to go, it is so neat for non-members to have the opportunity to walk through it. I am hoping the next one will be ready when my sister comes so she has the opportunity to walk through it before it is dedicated. I love the temple! I took pictures of the girls in front of the temple so they will always remember the first time they ever went through the temple. Aren't they so cute. :)

Happy Birthday My Little Halle Bug!

Five years ago today, I was huge and having my little Halle at the hospital! Time flies so fast. She is such a sweet easy going little spirit. She is so sensitive and loves everyone. She is a great helper and never wants anything. For christmas and for her birthday, she never has anything she wants, she doesn't care. She just loves anything. She is such an angel! I love you Halle Bug! I hope you had a great birthday.

The Best Breadsticks in the World!

Although I can't take credit for the recipe or seasonings, I can take credit for making them. That in itself is a feat. It has taken me many times to get them really good...and I think they are now. Maile and Camille may remember my first attempt..yikes. :) I love these breadsticks. I make them with anything italian or any soup. I decided to post the recipe and some pictures just for the fun of it. For one, there is a lack of really interesting things to blog about in these cold winter days...and two...they are just so pretty and tasty. :) So today, a little bit from the kitchen of Valerie and her helpers. :)

Lion House Dinner Roll Recipe (what I use for breadsticks too)
2 Cups of warm water (100 to 115 degrees)
2/3 cup of nonfat dry milk (instant or non-instant)
2 TBS dry yeast (SAF's brand the best)
1/4 cup of sugar
2 tsp salt
1/3 cup of butter (real butter)
1 egg
5 to 5 1/2 cups of bread flour

Directions: Combine water and milk powder, stir unti milk dissolves. Add yeast, sugar, salt, butter, egg, and 2 cups of flour. Mix on low until ingredients moistened, then mix on medium for 2 minutes. Add 2 more cups of flour, mix on low until wet, then mix on medium for 2 minutes. Add about 1/2 cup flour at at time in mixer or by hand until dough is soft, not overly sticky, and not stiff. ( I usually use a total of 5 1/4 cups). Scrape dough out and place in bowl with tiny bit of veg. oil) Roll the dough around in oil and cover in bowl until doubled. Roll out into desired breadstick shape...bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Top with butter and seasonings.

Garlic Bread Seasoning
1/2 cup powdered Parmesan cheese
2 tsp kosher salt
2 TBSP garlic powder
2 tsp oregano
2 tsp basil
2 tsp marjoram
2 tsp parsley

Mix all together. ( I keep a large jar made of it for future use) Mix desired amount with melted butter and put on breadsticks. :) Yummmy!


In the Oven


My Helpers

From the Mouth of Babes....

For lack of anything better to report, and besides it is so cute....yesterday in primary....the sharing time teacher was calling up kids to help turn cards over that asked questions. She called Halle up...and the card she turned over said, "How should we dress?" (The answer she was looking for of course was modest). Halle's answer..."Cute!" :) hahaha. Well, that is true too....what a cutie.