Barefoot Contessa Chocolate Chunk Cookies

After missing the Christmas cookie season I got a wild hair and whipped up Ina's Chocolate Chunk cookies. I usually just use the Toll House recipe on the back of the bag. They were sold out of the regular sized morsels so I grabbed the chocolate chunks. Who knew? I'd been reading the Barefoot Contessa Parties cookbook and saw this recipe and just happened to already have the chunky chunks in my pantry. Score on so many fronts.  

Ina's recipes are flawless in my opinion. I've never ever had an issue. If I add extra cheese to the spinach gratin, it turns out greasy. Trust me and TRUST our dear and beloved Ina. The girl has tested her recipes. 

I used a huge ass ice cream scoop vs the danty 1 3/4 inch one she suggests. I knew they looked huge but put them in the oven anyway.

I checked them at about 4 minutes and knew they were all wrong. I salvaged the second sheet but the first one was a goner. Some mistakes turn out to be blessings in disguise. I cut the melty cookies in half, pulled out a fresh sheet of parchment paper, and started over, making smaller melted mounds. It had a swirly, marbled effect on these little babies. No harm. No foul.

You only cook these cookies for 15 minutes at 350. Do as she says, exactly. This was the "perfect" batch.

Down to cooking them on the sheet for a few extra minutes outside of the oven and then moving them to the cooling racks. 

The bottoms of the cookies were just perfection. Can you hear my enthusiasm Ina? I love you! Thank you for the tireless hours you spend on these recipes. 

I have been craving sugar like MAD crazy after my surgery. The medicine has curbed my appetite and by the end of the day I'm starving and pound a coca-cola. I never drink Coke's anymore and have had one a day for the last two weeks. I haven't had caffeine or wine/beer/alcohol but lots of hot chocolate and sugary stuff. When I don't have it, I get headaches. I realized this week, "Holy f-bomb, I'm addicted to sugar, and bad." So I hopped on the Twitter highway and reconnected with Sarah Stanley, a fantastic health coach and inspiration to get back on track. I happened to jump on her #wellnesschat this past Thursday night at 8:00 pm eastern and even won something! More on that soon. E took the cookies to work. Another blessing in disguise.

Mitt

Mitt Romney Slow Jammed the news with Jimmy Fallon on Friday night on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. It is one of my favorite Late Night sketches. Brian Williams has been on many times and President Obama as well. Mitt was hilarious, poked fun of himself and opened up to promote a documentary about his two races to the White House that was aired for the first time last week at Sundance. You can stream it on Netflix. Whatever side of the aisle you sit on, Mom, I highly suggest watching the film. It takes a look at the grueling process of running for office. How anyone can survive it all is beyond me. The most touching parts are hearing Mitt speak of his father as a self made man, about the support of his wife and hearing his sons speak candidly on why they wanted their father to win. It's wonderful. 

Snow, Man

Earlier this week we had a gorgeous snowfall and chilly Polar Vortex temps in the teens. We had low digits, but nothing like my memories of going to Ripon College in the early 90s. It is number 18 of the coldest colleges in Huff Post. My foot is finally starting to feel better and I just had to get out of the house while it was still snowing. I could actually wear both LLBean boots so that was a huge bonus. No more open toed orthotic shoe. 

I went to check the front porch and this is what I found. This snow was so fine it blew in through our screens.

In my opinion, there is no more beautiful sound than that of a tennis ball can opening and the crunch of your feet on freshly fallen "dry" snow. This was perfect powder.

This snow didn't hang on the limbs like our last snow. Bone crushing (yes that is how my foot actually felt when the weather got to 7 degrees) cold. I'm such a whiner but I figure I want to remember how this feels so I take care of myself and my cartilage.

The Kenworthy's gave us this St. Francis bird bath and it makes our little garden complete. I'm glad I didn't cut the lavender back. 

E. really did peg me with a snowball. 

We stopped by to get Nancy and Kristian for a turn around the hood. It was the furthest I had walked in over a month.

I was pissed that the snow ball that hit me had been packed firmly...but I can't stay mad at this handsome beast of a man.

Use a flash in a snow storm. It was magical. Our neighbors just had a huge pine tree cut down at the end of this lane. It makes such a huge difference in the light coming home now.

Each house and yard in Stone Hill is so different. I love the uniqueness of them all.

The kids all had toddy's to keep them warm. I had my camera and big rimmed hat. I'm still on the dry wagon. 46 days and counting. E was overzealous with the snowballs. 

Even our four legged friends braved the snow to walk around the hood.

This alley has such a Dickensonian feel to it. No filter. Just naturally gray without a tread in sight.

No one does this in the Mid-west. 

 

We keep spying on The Mill and like seeing lights on inside.

Thanks for the lovely walk N&K. E, thanks for the bruise.

Red-Tailed Hawk Sighting

We've had a pretty neat visitor in Stone Hill lately. I've seen this red-tailed hawk twice in the last few weeks. It has landed in our maple tree on the same branch during each visit. I've been able to see "him" chillin from our Breezeway. I always have my camera and hobbled to the front porch, trying to capture him. The door creak spooked him. He moved to another tree, and I caught him sunning in the last moments of the daylight.

Bird Nerds unite! These simple moments take my breath away. 

Baby Nephew FaceTime

Someone has turned into a big flirt! I love my Baby Nephew FaceTime time and had to share a few recent chats.

His smile reminds me of my sweet Momma in this picture.

My brother sends me these precious photos and it makes my heart grow six sizes.

Elise took these of the guys at church. So cute! Baby Nephew's red hair. Love it! 

I love this family photo. Our original plan was that we would drive home to Michigan three days after my surgery. Fat chance. I was out of it, in so much pain, and can't even imagine sitting in a car for 11 hours. Thank goodness for FaceTime. 

Baby Nephew Two is due in February!

Oh how we love you little family. Can't wait to meet the new little one in the spring!