Brunch at Moms

Retirement is treating me nicely. My Mom's retirement, that is! She invited us over to brunch to celebrate Jeff's birthday and prepared an amazing spread. Everything was homemade, and delicious. My two favorites were the Monkeybread, a wonderful concoction of cinnamon, sugar, pecans and biscuts, and an old family recipe for Banana Bread. Yum! She also prepared an elaborate easter egg hunt for the kids. I managed to catch them all in one shot in the picture below. So much fun! Thank you, Mom!

The difference between Jeff's photos and mine

Exhibit #1: Coffee cake

My photo:


Jeff's photo:




Exhibit #2: Reindeer cookies

My photo:


Jeff's photo:

A new cookie to surpass my best in show cookie

Well, I have to say it, it's true. My mother in law managed to outdo me in the Christmas cookie department. As you may recall from my previous blog entry, I won Best-in-show at the annual book club Christmas party for my white chocolate drizzled chocolate chip cookie last week. So saying she's outdone me is saying a lot. Take a look at these rudolph cookies.

I have to believe they would have beat mine if they had been in the competition. At least a win for best looking, if not for best in show. Can't beat these for holiday spirit!

They were easy to make, up until the last two frantic minutes after they come out of the oven and while we tried to get the eyes, nose and antlers in before the cookies cool off and harden up. Quite a challenge! But well worth the effort.

Merry Christmas!

Best in show cookie!

My cookies won BEST IN SHOW at the book club holiday party cookie exchange and contest! Couldn't believe it!!!!

The contest featured three highly competitive categories: best tasting, best looking, and best in show. I submitted a white chocolate drizzled chocolate chip cookie, shown here, and I WON! I didn't think I'd get a single vote, so it was quite a surprise. Perhaps they were impressed by my drizzle technique, or perhaps it is the pure fact that nothing beats a good chocolate chip cookie. And a little white chocolate drizzled on top sure can't hurt!

And the best part, other than our prize of two eco friendly re-usable shopping bags, is that I came home with a huge tin of assorted holiday cookies! The only thing is... who is going to help me eat them? Come on by if you're hungry!

Pumpkin spice muffins

Wendy (our nanny) and Julia made muffins yesterday. Wendy has a super-easy, very healthy muffin recipe that is great for kids. Start with a Dunkin Heinz Spice Cake Mix, add one small can of pumpkin, and 1/2 cup water. Mix and bake! They are very light (no fat in the recipe) and quite tasty. And they couldn't be easier. Here's what they look like: