Chocolate Brownie Cookies

 Yes, I'm repeating myself, but my little baking elf calls them this so that's what we are calling them. One of the first things she always asks is, "What are we baking today, Gram"? Today we are baking up fun, sweet girl.

I found this recipe HERE and E and I mixed up a batch on Sunday

It didn't make very many cookies so I doubled everything when I wrote it below

Chocolate Brownie Cookies

2 C  chocolate chips, melted

2 C flour

Scant 2/3 C baking cocoa

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp sea salt

1 C softened unsalted butter

2 C light brown sugar

4 large eggs

2 tsp vanilla

*In medium sized bowl, mix flour, cocoa, baking powder, soda, salt. Set aside. In large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar. Mix in eggs, melted chocolate and vanilla. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Using cookie scoop, place on parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 10-11 minutes. (Thank you to the reader that pointed out that I had neglected to add the oven temperature) I really AM still recuperating. 😉

They were the perfect side to a scoop of ice cream (with sprinkles of course!) and we all know that everything tastes better out on the deck

And I just thought of something...these would be perfect for adding a thin layer of Peanut Butter or Nutella, or Marshmallow Creme on a cookie and topping it with a second cookie. Next time everyone's here, we'll definitely test those combinations out, but these will absolutely be added to the regular cookie rotation to satisfy those chocolate cravings.

4 Yr Old Fun

 Our weekend was busy. Having a little one around for a few days will insure your time will be filled with adventure and blessings, laughter and hugs, and snacks and snuggles. And if you're in your 60's, you will be pooped at the end of your time together, but your heart will be full.

We never watch television when she's here, but we had a special movie night

 complete with popcorn

And an introduction to Milo and Otis (a favorite when our chiddlers were small)

Mornings began out at the barn where baby kitties were entertained before settling into the dirt in one's jammies

She's already learned that chores come before play, but at this age, it's all fun

Meals are always better when eaten out on the deck

She was very interested in looking for Pap on the mountain using his 'noculars'

Who needs toys when you've got a neverending supply of dirt?

She spent much of her time like this

It was such a fun weekend, and I treasure these moments, 

but it may take me a few days to recover. 

Breakfast is served!

Thank you kisses

Sneaking in one last favorite shot from this morning and wishing ya'll a happy Monday.🥰

Cranberry Orange Pecan Snickerdoodles

 I have an extensive collection of family favorite cookie recipes that I've amassed over the past 38 years. They've all been made countless times and have stood the test of time.

I haven't baked a whole lot this summer, but I do like to keep a stash of cookies in the deep freeze to hand out to friends and family. Even our 4 yr old granddaughter has learned that Gram always has cookies on hand. 

Well my cookie supply has been in dire need of restocking. The biggest reason is that we are entering the 5th season. We have Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, and Hunting Season here and bear season begins tomorrow. We have several friends who will be out and about crawling through the mountains and I want to be prepared if and when they pop in.

So yesterday I made Cowboy Cookies

Ranger Cookies

Gingersnaps

And  this new recipe for Cranberry Orange Snickerdoodles. These haven't made the rounds yet but DH and I both love them and I wanted to share them here

Here's a link to the original recipe: Grandma Honey's House

The only thing I changed is that I added a lot more chopped cranberries and I didn't dip them in white chocolate.

Cranberry Orange Pecan Snickerdoodles

2 3/4 C flour

2 tsp cream of tarter

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 C butter, softened

1/2 C shortening

2 C sugar, divided

2 eggs

1 Tbsp cinnamon

1 C finely chopped, fresh cranberries (I pulled mine out of the freezer)

zest of 1 large orange

1/2 C chopped pecans

* Mix flour, cream of tarter, soda and salt - set aside. In another large bowl, cream butter and shortening together. Mix in 1 1/2 C sugar and eggs. Gradually add the flour mixture and mix well. Stir in cranberries, orange zest, and pecans. Combine 1/2 C sugar and cinnamon in small bowl. Shape dough into small balls. Coat in sugar / cinnamon mixture. Place on parchment covered cookie sheets. Bake at 350 for 11-12 minutes.

I may have to make these again and add them to Christmas cookie platters. It was an epic baking day, but I should be set for a little while.

Farmhouse Summer Quilt

 In 2020 I'd gone to Amarillo, TX with a friend and as we headed back home, we stopped at a quilt shop in Clovis, NM. The first thing we saw when we walked in was this quilt on the wall and I don't know what it was, but we both instantly fell in love with it and had the quilt shop owner cut kits for us. I don't generally like making quilts from kits because I like selecting my own fabrics, but I loved everything about this one. 

There was something about the slightly shabby, faded Americana aesthetic that spoke to me. And then it sat in a project bin for 5 years until I finally decided to tie into it in February.

The blocks are big and I didn't enjoy piecing them all that much, but they were easy and came together quickly

I've never been drawn to cheater fabrics, but I loved this one and it came in wide yardage and was on sale so I used it on the back

I'm tickled to have this one stitched together

It'll be just right on the 2nd guest room bed

Jackie and Sandy quilted a design called Geranium across it 

It finishes at 88" x 100"

 and I love the end result!