Friday Things #518
1. The kids have been on break this week, and it’s been so nice for everyone to be home! It has basically monsooned all week here, but we’ve had fun, including a trip to the museum earlier this week. The kids loved the dinosaurs and all of the animal exhibits.
2. Isabelle turns SIX tomorrow! I can’t believe how fast time flies. She is so excited to celebrate! 🎉 And she took her first gymnastics class this week; she has been wanting it to try it for awhile now, and she loved it.
3. What are you excited about cooking and baking in the coming month? I feel like the beginning of the year is a short recovery from the holiday season, then it’s multiple birthdays in our family, the Super Bowl, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Lent, Easter… so many occasions to think about.
4. This week, Dominic asked for chocolate chip cookies and I made my very favorite chewy chocolate chip cookies. I don’t make them all the time because they require a bit of advanced planning (you have to soften the butter and then chill the dough), but this week, we had lots of time, and I remembered just how much I love these cookies! I stocked the freezer with these before each of the kids were born and packed a handful in my hospital bag. My freezer is now officially restocked :)
5. I loved scrolling this list of pantry awards for favorite snack foods. Have you tried any of these? I actually haven’t had any! My kids just tried the almond version of the Nature Valley granola bars mentioned in this list and they LOVED them. I want to try the hot honey potato chips, as well as the dill pickle ones!
6. Love >> 51 Simple Pleasures to Seek Out and Appreciate More Often
7. I finished The Last Mrs. Parrish this week and loooooved it. I would probably put it into the category of “suspense”, and I couldn’t wait to see how everything was going to shake out. Next up: The Maid (haven’t started it yet).
8. Yessss >> The Joy (and Nerdery) of a Crossword Puzzle Routine… A few years ago, I would always do the WSJ crossword after dinner and my husband had gotten me the USA Today crossword a day calendar for Christmas, so I would that on, too. I need to get back into them, I love crosswords!
9. We finally finished Reign, which seemed to have a very rushed and abrupt ending. We’re now back to a new season of No Offence. What are you watching right now?
10. TGIF! The coziest, snuggliest dog I’ve ever known…
Happy Birthday, Isabelle!!! You’re 6 years old already! How wonderful, you sweet girl!
May your day be filled with sunshine and laughter, and a lot of cake, too! Have a funtastic birthday!!! xoxo
Happy 6th Birthday to Isabelle!!!! I’m glad you had a fun week with the kids!
I have weird taste buds. The hot honey chips taste like teriyaki chicken to me!
Lemon icebox pie and in the mood for lovely blueberry muffins. Just bought new coffee pot so sounds like muffins in morning will be grand
Can’t believe there is a 6 year old bright lady in the house now.
All of you well and snuggled in
God is good
Happy Birthday Isabelle🥳❤🎂. Hope you have a special day sweet girl.
Happy Birthday Isabelle! Can’t believe you’re SIX already!
David Leite – author of the NY Times chocolate chip cookies is a dear friend. LOVE these cookies. My niece has gone gluten & dairy free to help with tummy issues. I tried making blondies with Bob’s GF flour – ick! It must be the rice flour that gave them a gritty taste. Any suggestions?
I’m reading an old Kristin Hannah book “Magic Hour”. It’s sooooo good!
I do the NYT puzzles…Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword even morning. I can’t start the day until I exercise my brain, ha!Today I bombed on the Connection puzzle but scored on the other two,.
So question…do the bread flour and the cake flour in the CC cookies cancel each other out to basically make AP flour ? Seems like protein/ gluten wise, that might be the case but I am not a chemistry whiz so who knows?
I am craving CC cookies now so I might give it a try and just add some cornstarch as all I have is AP flour.
Have a great weekend and Happy Birthday to Isabelle…she needs t hold up two hands now to show her age.
The Maid is fantastic! I like the dill pickle chips from IKEA and the SmartFood white cheese popcorn is yum! I didn’t know there was a new season of No Offence…will look for it.
Do you do the NYT Mini Crossword every day? I do it right after Wordle – so fun!