Fun Stuff

Favortie Cookie Recipes – Nostalgic

Posted on December 10, 2011 by keepingupwithkate91

Throughout the years, I’ve added recipes to the base cookies. I started adding to the baseline when I lived in Virginnia and I made cookies for some of my co-workers. I really got into it when I lived in Dallas. One year, two of my friends and I made cookies for everyone on each of our team. It even included decorated, sugar cookies (that was a lucky year for my team – I didn’t make them again). The following Christmas I was on my own and back to my Black & Decker hand mixer – the following January I purchased my Kitchen Aid…what a difference that made.

I’ve decided to break-up my additional cookie recipes into 2 blogs: One Nostalgic (this one) and One New Age (more like recent in the last 10 years – and it will give me another blog).

The 3 recipes I’m sharing with you today are Peanut Blossoms, No Bake Cookies, Sugar (not the ones from my Dallas story) and Christmas Crunchies. Each one has a memory.

Peanut Blossoms: This is my Mom-Mom’s recipe. I remember making them as a kid with her (I’m assuming around Christmas time). At some point, I got the recipe (either from my Mom or my Mom-Mom’s recipe box). Here it is (this is my Sister-in-Law’s favorite cookie). 1/2 Cup Butter, 1/2 Cup Peanut Butter, 1/2 Cup Sugar, 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar, 1 egg (room temp), 1 tsp vanilla, 1 3/4 Cup Flour, 1 tsp baking soad, 1/2 tsp salt and 1 bag of Hershey Kisses. Cream butter, peanut butter, sugar and brown sugar. Add egg; beat and add vanilla. Add flour, baking soda and salt. Roll rounded teaspons of dough into balls; then roll in sugar. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes. Remove from oven, top each with a solid Hershey Kiss (I’ve even tried other Hershey Kisses) press down firmly so cookie bracks around edge. Return to oven and bake 2-5 minutes longer.

No Bake Cookies (also called stove top): I remember making these cookies at a friend’s house as a little girl (Becky Legg’s house – wow her last name just came to me…she only lived near me for about a year of so). I also think we made these cookies in Home Ec in middle school. These are my brother’s favorite. 1 1/2 cup sugar, 2 TBSP Cocoa Powder, 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 cup butter, 1 tsp vanilla, 1/2 cup peanut butter, 3 cups quick cooking oats. In a large, heavy saucepan mix and bring to boil sugar, cocoa, milk and butter – stirring occassionally. Boil 1 1/2 minutes. Remove from heat and add vanilla, peanut butter and oats; mix well. Drop by rounded tsps on wax paper or spread in a greased 9x9x1 inch pan. Cool a few hours or until firm (I sometimes put outside or in freezer to speed up the process).

Sugar Cookies: My roommate from college used to make these. The recipe came from her boyfriend (at the time) grandmother. If you read my previous post, I had the Tollhouse cookie recipe memorized – she had this one memorized. She would make these quite a bit…good thing we walked everywhere and had fast metobolisms. These are not your typical sugar cookies – you don’t roll them out – they have a sort of cake consisentency. The original recipe calls for nutmeg – I made them one time not knowing you don’t add the nutmeg…they so didn’t taste the same. 2 Cups Sugar, 1 Cup Butter, 1 Cup Milk, 3 Eggs (room temp), 3 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 2 tsp vanilla, 4 Cups Sugar. Cream sugar, butter and eggs. Sift dry ingredients. Add dry ingredients alternating with milk to the creamed mixture. Baked on ungreased cookie sheet at 375. You’ll have to check on these cookies as the recipe doesn’t have the time. 🙂 These are great cookies to add sugar sprinkles or other decoration.

Christmas Crunchies: I’m not sure when I started making these cookies. I don’t think I’ve made them very oftern either. However, they have a special place in my heart as I received this recipe as a child in a Christmas card from my Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop (price on card was $0.35!). 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup white (this is what is actually in the card) sugar, 1 egg (well beaten), 1/2 tsp vanilla, 1 cup flour, 1/2 tsp soda (baking), 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp baking powder, 1 cup oatmeal, 1 cup corn flakes, 1/2 cup coconut, 1/2 cup chopped nuts (pecans). Cream butter, add sugars then egg and vanilla. Sift dry ingredients together and add to creamed mixture. Last, add corn flakes, oatmeal, coconuts and nuts. Roll into small balls and place about 2 inches apart on cookied sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 – 15 minutes.

Do you have any favorite cookie recipes? What are they? Let me know if you try any of the recipes and what you think of them. ENJOY!!

Have a wonderful Saturday!!

Favorite Christmas Cookie Recipes – The Early Years

Posted on December 8, 2011 by keepingupwithkate91

Since I shared some of my FAVs at Christmas, I thought I would share some a little more about each one, this is the Christmas Cookie Edition.

I’ve been making Christmas cookies ever since I was a kid. I remember making cookies with my Mom every year. We kept it simple – 3 types of cookies: Nestle Toll House Choc Chips, Snowflakes and Oatmeal Crispies.

At some point my Mom went to work part-time (I believe I was in high school), so to help her out, my Dad decided to help me make the cookies. My Mom and I used margarine for all of our cookies. All of the recipes called for butter (all were handwritten recipes we used). My Dad insisted we use the butter (even though I insisted we always used margarine) (which makes me believe maybe I was in middle school when my Dad took over)…none of the cookies tasted right that year. So if you go into my parent’s recipe box you will see ~~butter~~ margarine. **I switched all cookies back to butter about 10 years ago.**

Here are the recipes of the staples (I’ll add another post with ones I’ve added over the years that have turned into favorites as well):

Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip: 2 1/4 cup flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp salt, 1 cup butter (I use unsalted – softened), 3/4 cup sugar, 3/4 cup packed brown sugar, 1 tsp vanilla, 2 large eggs (room temp), 2 cups choc chips, 1 cup chopped nuts (optional – i prefer pecans – walnuts will work too). Preheat oven at 375 degrees. Combine dry ingredients in a small bowl. Beat butter, sugar, brown sugar and vanilla until creamy. Add eggs one at a time. Gradually add flour mixture. Bake 9 to 11 minutes. *I usually pull out of the oven at the lower time as they still bake on the pan when you take them out of the oven*

Snowflakes: These are also known as cream cheese spritz cookies. 1 cup butter (unsalted – softened), 1-3 oz cream cheese (I always use Philadelphia brand), 1 cup sugar, 1 egg yolk (room temp), 1 tsp vanilla, 1 tsp finely grated orange rind, 2 1/2 cup sifted flour. 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp vanilla, green & red food coloring. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Sift flour with salt and cinnamon. Cream butter and cream cheese well. Add sugar gradually and continue creaming. Beat in egg yolk, vanilla and orange rind. Add to flour mix to creamed mixture. You can either split the dough in half to add the food coloring to have red and green cookies. Add food coloring and mix in. Don’t over mix. If you are going to using a cookie press- I suggest putting the dough in the refrigerator to assist with it going through the press. We used to make green trees and red bells (usually 2 batches). Bake at 350 degrees for 12 – 15 minutes (watch initially if small they could burn on the edges). You can add additional decoration to the cookies once they come out of the oven – colored sugar, cinnamon or chopped almonds (or before you bake). Yields 6 – 7 dozen.

Oatmeal Crispies: 1 1/2 cups flour, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp soda, 3 cups oats (quick cooking), 1/2 cup chopped nuts (almonds work well – optional), 1 cup butter, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup packed brown sugar, 2 eggs (room temp) and 1 tsp vanilla (or mix it up and use 1 tsp almond extract instead of vanilla). Sift and measure flour, re-sift with salt and baking soda. Stir in oats and nuts. Cream butter with sugar and eggs until very light and fluffy. Add creamed mixture to dry ingredients. Blend thoroughly & form into 2 logs (you can put in your cookie press and push through to create a log). Wrap log in either wax paper or plastic wrap. Place dough in refrigerator either overnight or a few hours. Cut in thin slices with sharp knife. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Yields 6 dozen. **I love this dough raw vs. baked – note there are raw eggs and it is recommended not to eat raw eggs** (that is my disclaimer). The cooked ones are very tasty with a big glass of milk.

Enjoy. What are your favorite recipes?

PS: I have some pictures over the years I’ll post, just have to find them.

Some of my FAVS – Christmas Edition

Posted on December 7, 2011 by keepingupwithkate91

As the song goes…’the most wonderful time of the year’. Thought I’d jot down ~~some~~ many of my favorite things / traditions.

Christmas Lights – we didn’t have outdoor lights at our house growing up. I picked it up when I move to Dallas. I guess because it is so warm down there everyone puts lights up and there are some amazing decorations. Each year in NJ I see more and more lights…I just love driving around and seeing what everyone has done.
Christmas Movies / Shows): A Christmas Story, It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street (the original), Bishop’s Wife, Christmas Vacation, Thin Man (starts off during Christmas), All Creature’s Great and Small (Chrismas Show), The Year withouth a Santa Claus, Rudolph and of course the Grinch. I’m sure there are many more…I watch a lot of them in December.
Toys for Tots: I love going shopping and buying gifts for kids in need. A great way to give back. Click on this link for more details: http://www.toysfortots.org/
Baking Christmas Cookies: I love doing this but haven’t done it the last couple of years as I like to make a lot to give to friends and family. Here are the list of family favorites: Choc Chip, Snowflakes (cream cheese press cookies), Oatmeal (the dough is better than the cookie), English Shortbread, No Bake Cookies, Hershey Kiss, Coffee Bean.
A blazing fire and my Christmas Tree
Midnight Mass – I haven’t been to a midnight mass in quite a few years as I’ve been going Christmas morning. I may get to go to Midnight this year…I just always enjoyed it at home. Maybe I’ll even make myself a grasshopper after mass (a tradition from my Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop).
Decorating the Tree. I love looking at the ornaments and remembering where I got them or who gave them to me…each one has a memory. Many of the ornaments on my tree were hand made by my Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop (I split their ornaments between my brother and I with my Mom-Mom supervising making sure it was a fair split 🙂 ).
Christmas Dinner at my house. This will be the third year at my house. It is very low key – just the 7 of us.
Hanging out with my niece and nephew while their parents go out shopping.
Christmas Candles – just love lots of the wonderful scents.
Finding that perfect gift (I dislike wrapping)
Buying my brother and I the Swarvoski Annual Christmas Ornament – it has become a tradition (I try to find a fun way to wrap it each year). Check out this year’s ornament: http://tiny.cc/mi6ql (I purchased mine from Amazon and in the past e-Bay).
NYC at Christmas time…just love seeing all the sights and people watching
Christmas Carols – and yes as a kid I went caroling – even as an adult when I lived in Texas.

What are your favorite Christmas / Holiday traditions?

Toys for Tots & Silent Auction

Posted on November 28, 2011 by keepingupwithkate91

Looking for something fun to do this Thursday, December 1st and an opportunity to give back to the community and get a little shopping in while you are at it? Join the Central NJ Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association for our 4th Annual Toys for Tots Event and Silent Auction at PURE Princeton (formerly BT Bistro) (Route 1 South, Princeton, NJ) from 6:30 – 9:00 pm.

Bring an unwrapped toy or two to make the holiday a little brighter for a child in our area. If you don’t have a chance to pick-up a gift, drop by the event and we will have a donation can (the chapter will purchase additional gifts).

As an added bonus this year, we are holding a silent auction to benefit our Central NJ Chapter Scholarship fund. All procceeds of the Silent Auction stay locally and assist an incoming freshman during the fall semester. Last year we provided a $1,500 scholarship to help defer costs. Pictures are posted with the Silent Auction items. We have a week’s vacation in Williamsburg, VA, Golf Foursome at NJ National in 2012, Body Project Fitness Bootcamp, 2 Private Sessions of Yoga, Manicure / Pedicure, Gift Baskets, PSU and PSU Alumni Association items. Check the following album on Facebook for more details: http://tiny.cc/kb6cf

Hope to see you on Thursday!

PSU Reunion Weekend + / –

Posted on October 17, 2011 by keepingupwithkate91

This past weekend, I headed up to Happy Valley (State College, PA) for homecoming to see my Penn State Nittany Lions take on the Purdue Boilermakers. This wasn’t just another football weekend for me. I went with my college roommates from my Junior year. The three of us haven’t been to State College in years and probably haven’t been together since LH’s baby shower for her oldest (let’s just say it was a long time ago).

Here are the +s / -s from the weekend:

– I had to work Friday morning (but for a really good reason)
+ Bunny Burgers at the Red Rabbit (en route)
+ Hitting some local establishments over the weekend
– Paying $15 to get some Pita
+ Tailgating
+ PSU Win over Purdue
– The guys behind TB and I during the game – one was a Debbie Downer and the other a Negative Nellie
– No nap
+ Original Sins at the Adam’s Apple
– Getting in very late two nights in a row (I can’t hang like I used to)
+ Souvenir Shopping on Sunday
+ Picture at the Lion (in our new PSU tshirts)
– Waiting in Line at the Creamery
+ Waiting in Line at the Creamery for some yummy PSU ice cream – WPSU Coffee Break, Keeny Beany Chocolate and Butter Pecan were our selections
– The weekend ended way too early!
+ Planning already started for next year

Bottomline – An AMAZING Time had by ALL!! 🙂

Vintage 'S' Zone

Some of my FAVS

Posted on October 6, 2011 by keepingupwithkate91

I thought I’d share some of my favorite blogs / internet sites that I visit on a regular and not so regular basis. They are in no particular order. Check them out (I tried to do the fancy links…but you get the webpage and if you roll-over you get the name I provided…something for me to work on).

Fitness:

http://bodyprojectfitness.com/ – This is where it all started for me! It is a muscle – mind connection thing for me…and has changed how I think about food and working out (and many other things). A site related to this is an internal site (Facebook for bootcampers…I utilize it a lot…a great forum for all of us during our transformation). Thank you Lindsay and BP Fit Pros! And if you live in the West Windsor, Robbinsville or Bordentown areas of NJ…check out bootcamp…it will change your life! 🙂

http://kbellqueen.blogspot.com/ – I love this blog as I fell in love with kettlebells the first time I went back to Body Project bootcamp. I even bought the DVDs…take a look at Lauren’s abs. She has some great tips and I enjoy checking it out once in a while.

http://www.findyourwarrior.com/index.html A plug for a very dear friend of mine who has transformed herself with Yoga. Her HOT YOGA class is fantastic!! Schedule included on the blog.

Food = Fuel:

http://www.101cookbooks.com/about/ Put an ingredient = get some suggestions

http://www.elanaspantry.com/: Use this when I was on the Clean Program – used some of the soup recipes. I do want to try the Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe around Christmas time to see if anyone notices a difference…shhhh…don’t tell anyone.

http://my.cleanprogram.com/ The site I used daily to support my detox. I do need to get back to reading. They have some great recipes out there (the Hummus Chicken recipe came from this site)

http://clarksvillechefexpress.com/index.php I order my food from this site every week. Love, Love, Love the food. It changes every week. Some of my favs: Spicy Turkey Meatloaf (and I’m not a meatloaf lover), Tilapia Tacos, Salmon Ceasar Salad, Chicken Salad to name a few. I order side salads and extra veggies to add to the salads. If you are in Central NJ, check out the Jersey Girl Cafe on Route 33 in Hamilton – signature sandwich: Chicken Salad and the Cranberry Shortbread Cookie.

For Fun:

http://thriftygoodness.blogspot.com/ Rebecca is the first of my friend’s to blog. She is so creative…and I’m not at all…I love looking at what she creates, her adventures in thrifting or read about her swaps.

www.gopsusports.com: Everything PSU sports…do I need to say more?

http://www.pennstatecnj.org/: Everything PSU in Central NJ (shameless plug for our Central NJ Chapter of the Alumni Association)…WE ARE…

www.pennlive.com: To stay up-to-date with happenings in my hometown

http://gothamgirl.weebly.com/1/category/purses/1.html: A friend posted this one…one of these days I’ll post what is in my purse…right now it might scare you all away.

http://lindsaylately.weebly.com/ The friend who turned me onto Gotham Girl. I like her + / – blogs (which she got from another blogger)

http://crazysexylife.com/about/ This is a little bit of this and that

Excitement is Building…

Posted on October 6, 2011 by keepingupwithkate91

In a little over a week I’ll be heading up to Happy Valley to spend time with my college roommates from my junior year. I’m so excited. I haven’t seen TB in many years and she hasn’t been to Happy Valley since we graduated (year not provided on purpose). LH is joining us on Saturday and it should be a hoot. I believe there will be lots of laughing and silliness.

Some activities for the weekend – (as I believe I’m the designated tour guide):

Re-visit some of our favorite establishments in town (and maybe a few new ones)
Check out the Shoe-Fly (it is called something else now)
Show off the Berkey Creamery new location (new to my roommates) and of course get some ice cream It was only a $1 when we were Juniors. My favorite is WSPU Coffee Break…yummy!
Ride the Loop (for old times sake) (bonus – get a nice view of changes on campus)
Check out Pattee and the HUB…where you could find us most days on campus when not in class
Homecoming Parade
Souvenir shopping
Tailgating
PSU vs. Purdue game
Check out the Elms
Swing by the Hintz Alumni Center
Get some Bank Buttons
Nap (I’ve been asked to make sure that is on the agenda…think I’ll just pencil that one in!) 🙂
Picture at The Lion!!
and anything else we feel like doing!

A Few of my Favorite Things – Fall

Posted on October 2, 2011 by keepingupwithkate91

It is a beautiful, crisp Sunday fall morning in NJ. Thought I’d share some of my favorite Fall things (in no particular order):

College Football Saturdays (particular on days when I go to Happy Valley)
Sleeping with the windows open (finally able to turn off the AC)
Slatkin & Co Candles – some of my favs: Kitchen & Spice, Leaves & Autumn (and they have great accent pieces too)
Apple Cider
Nice cup of coffee on a crisp morning
Turtlenecks and boots
Sweatshirts
Mums – just love all the vibrant colors
Fall Transformation Bootcamp
Roaring fire
New Fall Season of favorite shows: Big Bang Theory, Bones, etc…

I’m sure I’ll think of more…so check back for any updates. What are your favorite Fall things?

Posted on September 18, 2011 by keepingupwithkate91

I know I’ve been posting lots about my journey of self-discovery.

Thought I’d let you in on some of the fun I’ve been having this very busy September. I love summer, but if summer has to end I’m glad fall follows it. I went to Penn State and love, love, love college football…especially my Nittany Lions. I’ve been a season ticket holder for 9 seasons now!

September 3rd was PSU’s first game of the season against Indiana State. I didn’t go to the game, but went to the Central NJ Chapter’s of the Penn State Alumni Association (www.pennstatecnj.org) football watching party. We raffled off a pair of tickets to the PSU vs. Alabama game. We raised $2k for our local scholarship fund. We had a great turnout at our watching parties and it was great to see so many friends and Alums out for our parties.

I headed up to Penn State on 9/7 to meet my Mom and one of her friend’s for lunch at The Quarterback Club of State College. What is it? Lunch in Beaver Stadium and a chance to hear coaches and players speak after lunch. AWESOME!! I’ve had a chance to go to a luncheon for the last few years…and I always have a great time. My Mom and I stayed in State College for the remainder of the week to celebrate my birthday (I think this might be an annual event from now on). I took her to some of my favorite spots in town (Pickles, Cafe 210 West, Corner Room) (the ‘Skeller is next year) and discovered a new one (Allen Street Grill). My Dad joined us for my birthday celebration at The Tavern. We capped off the week with lunch at The Mt. Nittany Inn. The views were fantastic…too bad it was a bit foggy. There isn’t a bad view in the place. We sat on the glass enclosed deck…it was awesome. I took some pictures…they just don’t do the views justice due to the weather. The trip to State College was capped off with the PSU vs. Alabama game. I had an opporutnity to sit in club seats for the first time ever. The seats were great (even if there was someone behind us who didn’t like us standing for every play…seriously…watch the game from home if you don’t want to stand up). It was a beautiful day but sadly my Lions did not win.

This past Saturday, Penn State took on Temple at the LINC. I went to the game with my Dad and brother. We had a nice, simple tailgate. Nothing better than bagel sandwiches and beer to start the day off right! 🙂 We had great seats in the end zone (last row and seats starting on the aisle). It was a bit of a nail biter to say the least. PSU won by the skin of their chinny chin chins! We made the fastest exit out of a parking lot ever…it is the little things! And I had a fantastic time hanging out with my Dad and brother.

Next week, I’m off to State College again for the PSU vs. Eastern MI game with a bunch of my college friends. Looking forward to a great weekend and the hopes that PSU has a much better performance next weekend.

For the Glory!!

WE ARE…