sticky buns! yum!

i'm just lovin' my new kitchenaid mixer!  i finally had time friday to make these...

it's one of my all-time favorite recipes--sticky buns.  but without a stand mixer, it was a lot harder to mix up the dough.  my hand mixer just couldn't quite do it properly.  that's why i hadn't made these since before cj was born!  i'm so glad to have the right tool for the job now!  only problem is yummy baked goods like these aren't good for people who are trying to lose weight and not gain more. 

they sure were delicious though!

Happy Valentine's Day! (recipe included)

I hope your Valentine's Day has been as lovely and fun as mine! 

My hubby and I did a little shopping together this weekend.  While we were at Sears to return a shirt I had purchased that ended up being a tad too big, he "hunted" for a certain item I've been wanting for quite a few years...

Can I just say I was so surprised?!  And isn't the red a fun color?  I shall always remember that he gave it to me for Valentine's Day!  ♥ 

So, I tried out my new KitchenAid today and made a double batch of chocolate chip cookies. Yummy!

If you're like me and you like your chocolate chip cookies to be just a little bit crispy on the outside but nice and chewy on the inside, you'll want to try this recipe for sure!   

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies   Yields about 24 cookies
1 egg
1/2 cup shortening (or butter)
1 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 Tablespoons water
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips (I substitute milk chocolate chips and my hubby loves 'em!)

Set the oven temperature to 375 degrees F.
Grease the cookie sheets (or use parchment paper...much easier).
In a small bowl, beat egg until light and foamy. Set aside.  (My KitchenAid hand mixer got used for this recipe too!  Didn't want to hurt it's feelings after almost 13 years of it being my only mixer!)
In a large mixing bowl, cream shortening and brown sugar.  Add beaten egg, vanilla and water.  Beat until smooth and creamy.
Sift together flour, soda and salt.
Stir half the dry ingredients into batter. Then stir in the other half until all the flour is blended into the batter.  (I just added it gradually and mixed the batter until it was all blended together.)
Stir the chocolate chips into the batter.
Drop rounded teaspoonfuls about 2 inches apart onto greased (parchment lined) cookie sheet.
Bake about 12 minutes.  Cool on wire rack. 

A double batch works really well.  ENJOY!

So I had thought that my new KitchenAid mixer was all I was getting.  I mean, really!  It's a VERY NICE GIFT!  But no.  My wonderful husband had also ordered me a Kindle.  He brought it home today at lunch--handed the box to me with the mail--and I could see it had been opened so I popped the box open and I believe the words that left my mouth were "No WAY!  You're SICK!"  I guess that what ya get when you really surprise me.  LOL! 

I spent the afternoon learning how to use it. (No school today! Mommy wants to play!) I already have a bunch of free books including The Light of Eidon by Karen Hancock.  It's the first in a wonderful series that I've read and own in paper format too.  How fun to get it free for my Kindle too! Next I need to figure out how to download PDF files to it and maybe MP3s too.  I'm just so happy, I could burst!

My poor, dear, hubby didn't have such a great day though.  He's sick.  Poor guy!  I put him to bed early and I hope he's feeling better by morning.  He even has a low-grade fever.  Not very fun.  I wish I could make him feel better with a hug and a kiss, but I tried...it didn't work. 

Get well, my love!  And thank you, again, for the wonderful gifts this Valentine's Day!  I love you.

a little this, a little that.

i see that i haven't posted anything here for a while.  not much to say, i guess.  i've been busy knitting, crocheting, and doing a little designing too for my soon-to-open Etsy shop.  it's taking me longer than i had hoped to get it all organized, but i'm just a few small steps away from actually posting items in my shop!  if you've been following my knitting blog here, you already know that. 

it's an amazingly warm day today.  35 degrees.  that's nearly unheard of up here in the northern minnesota tundra for early february.  i'm sure it'll cool back down soon though.  it usually does.  but for now, the snow is melting off the rooftops and is, i believe, the perfect wetness for packing.  which means my boys are going to go outside and play this afternoon.  and maybe even try to make a snowman!  this could be their only chance to make one this winter since our snow is usually like a powder of fine ice crystals that won't stick together.

i will probably stay indoors myself (unless the kiddos convince me that they NEED me to help them make a snowman) and work on a little housework and then maybe i'll have a little time to work on one of my knitting projects this afternoon too.

speaking of knitting projects, i'm very close to finishing a lightweight sweater that i'm making for myself--my first-ever adult-sized sweater.  {yes, i still make time to knit stuff for myself too!} i've been working on this one, off and on, since june.  it's a beautiful wrap sweater with some lace details that look like bubbles--hence the name of the pattern:  soap bubble wrap!  i can't wait to see how this looks/fits when it's done!  i think i'm to the point of seaming it, so unless sewing the seams in mattress stitch gives me fits {which wouldn't be a first} i should be able to finish it sunday. 

hopefully, i'll be able to get it done before the super bowl.  'cuz i'll probably be too busy watching the game--and commercials--to focus on seaming properly.  i'll have to work on something easy that doesn't take a lot of concentration during the game.  as a loyal Packers fan, i must say i'm hoping for a really good game against the Steelers {and that the Pack wins, of course}! 

have a great weekend everyone! 
enjoy the game on sunday! 
and, of course:
Go PACK Go!