Our Week in Photos

-4/365 New Year's Resolution

I have never been a fan of New Year’s resolutions. I tell myself every year that I am going to eat healthier, lose weight, read more, etc. and obviously, according to my size 7 jeans and dusty bookshelf, I never follow through. So this year, I refuse to make any figure changing goals. My only attempt at a resolution is to capture a little more time; take notes on my life. This year has gone by way too fast and I wish I would have stopped and taken a little more time to enjoy it. So hopefully, by reflecting as often as possible, I will learn to appreciate the little things a tiny bit more. 2013 has been one hell of a year. I learned that I have the power to change my life. I have learned that life is way too short to be unhappy. I have learned that you only have one lifetime to live, so you may as well spend it how you’d like and stop caring what anyone else thinks. I have learned that sometimes, mom and dad aren't always right. Sometimes they are, but you have to make your own mistakes; mistakes are quite often the fun part of growing up. I have learned that life may throw you a curve ball, and that is okay. How boring and unadventurous would life be if it was a one way road, all highway, with no beautiful and winding back roads?

Tonight, I kicked off my resolution and documented our delicious dinner. I have been on a baking spree due to my new KitchenAid so today, we decided to make homemade pizza for dinner. I would love to share my Grandmother's dough recipe, but it is on strict lock-down for Denton family members only. However, here is a link to one of my favorites from All Recipes. Ours was simply topped with tomato sauce, cheese, mushrooms, olives, and turkey pepperoni. I never realized how much money we were wasting on frozen pizzas, even buying the cheap kinds. We made two HUGE pizzas for under $5. However, we had most of the ingredients in our kitchen and only had to buy vegetables and pepperoni. We also had enough dough left over to make honey bread for breakfast tomorrow. As a couple, we are trying to cook at home more to save money and keep our food simple and a little healthier...

Cowboy Cookies

Pardon my language, but bloody hell I am addicted. By request from the boyfriend, I whipped up a batch of cowboy cookies this evening  and I can't stop eating them! Did I mention I made them with my new KITCHENAID!!! My parents were wonderful and surprised me with one! I never thought I would own one, and might I say, it looks beautiful in our kitchen! As delicious as this recipe is, I should probably keep it top secret. But it is the season of giving, so merry Christmas!

Cowboy Cookies:

Ingredients:

3 cups flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 tablespoon baking soda

1 tablespoon cinnamon 

1 teaspoon salt

3 sticks softened butter

1 1/2 cups white sugar

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

3 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 (7oz) bag sweetened coconut flakes

6 packets instant maple and brown sugar oatmeal

(I forgot to pick up oats at the store and I wasn't about to head out the day before Christmas eve to get more, so I made it work!)

4 cups chocolate chips

1 1/2 cups pecan pieces 

Directions: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Using an electric mixer, cream butter for approx. one minute. Slowly add white and brown sugar to the butter. Once thoroughly combined, add in eggs and vanilla. Slowly add dry mix to wet mix. Once combined, using the electric mixer, add coconut flakes and oatmeal. Using your hands, fold in chocolate chips and pecan pieces. (I attempted to use the Kitchenaid for this, but it got way too thick.) Create balls using a 1/4 cup measuring cup, do not flatten. Leave a good distance between cookies on an ungreased cookie sheet because they flatten quite a bit. Bake for 20 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Allow cookies to cool for 5 minutes and remove to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy!