Rosemary-kissed Orange Thumbprint Cookies

Lately, I have been on a cooking/baking-from-Pinterest spree... It's been so fun finding new recipes and actually trying them! Granted, most of the over 2000 pins on my boards will never be realized by my hands, I love feeling creative and productive with something new. 

This recipe, however, was not from Pinterest, although it's probably out there somewhere. I got this deliciousness from a Christmas cookie exchange I went to several years ago. My sister and I still talk about how savory and scrumptious these cookies were. Well, tonight, I finally decided to try them... 

Oh. My. I'm in big trouble when I weigh in at Weight Watchers this week! Surely there is a lower fat recipe for these, but the melty buttery goodness is not substitutable! (is that even a word?) Chilling the dough was a key factor, as well as using parchment paper on the cookie sheet. Hope you enjoy them!

Rosemary-kissed Orange Thumbprint Cookies

Prep: 30 min. Bake: 14-16 min. Chill: 1 hr. 

Oven: 325*F

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup cornstarch 

1 tsp. snipped fresh rosemary

1/4 tsp. salt

3/4 cup butter, softened

1/3 cup powdered sugar

Few drops almond OR vanilla extract

1/4 cup orange marmalade

Powdered sugar to sift on cookies after baked

1. In a small bowl stir together the flour, cornstarch, rosemary, and salt; set aside. In a medium mixing bowl beat the butter with an electric mixer on medium-high for 30 seconds. Add 1/3 cup powdered sugar and extract and beat until combined. Add flour mixture and beat until combined. Wrap and chill dough for 1 hour or until easy to handle. 

2. Preheat oven rot 325*F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats; set aside. Shape dough into twenty-four 1 inch balls. Arrange 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Use thumb to make indentations in each cookie. Spoon about 1/2 tsp. marmalade into center of each. 

3. Bake 14-16 minutes or until edges are lightly golden. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets. Remove and cool completely on wire racks. Sprinkle with additional powdered sugar to serve. 

Makes 24 cookies. 

Merry Christmas...

Halloween!!

They made the cutest Vikings... Meet Hiccup and Astrid!

Paris...? Yes please!

Here is a romantic contest I just entered... ah, to dream...

Oh Happy Day... goes to Paris!

Christmas...

Lights are up outside... Decorations are up in the house... it feels like Christmastime. I am in my happy place.

Pure Bliss Desserts

My friend, Andi, had a dream to bake delicious desserts, cakes, scones, cupcakes.... You get it. She has been running her business out of a rented kitchen and her home... Until now. She opened her BEAUTIFUL store front in Bellingham yesterday.


If you need a new date night place, girlfriend talk session, or just to fix your sweet tooth craving, go! You won't be sorry...















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It's that time of year...

My kids have been begging me to carve pumpkins.... So here they are!

Let's give it a shot...

Facebook has taken over my cyberlife. Ugh! I hate it, but it's true. I love blogging, I love talking about my family and keeping up with everyone. But it seems so easy just to post a quick "status update" on Facebook rather than a long blog about the day/trip/event....
While reading a friend’s blog she mentioned how she was going to become a five minute blogger (an idea she got from her friend). I love this idea!
So.... I am going to give it a shot... I want to keep this blog if only for myself. Hope I can keep it going... miss you all!

Sam...

Well, since I haven't properly introduced our newest edition, allow me to now:

This is America Samuel Danzig Norris, more commonly known as "Sam."

This is Sam at 3 weeks old.
Sam is a South African Mastiff, also known as a Boerboel.

4 weeks old...

6 weeks old...

8 weeks old... our first meeting!

Certainly love at first sight, that's for sure.

He was calm and confident right from the beginning.

He immediately took to Rick. He knew right way who Daddy was.

We flew down to LA to pick him up. There are not many reputable breeders in the US, and the one we chose was in California. So we flew out EARLY Friday morning, picked him up at 11 am, and headed to Hermosa Beach for a few hours of bonding time. As you can see, there was not issues with bonding at all!
He seems SO small in Rick's arms. When we brought him home, he was around 18 pounds at 8 weeks old.

Yes, he actually used to fit in Rick's lap

9 weeks old... and helping me with my homework

Sam went to Ski to Sea with us, and met an English Mastiff along the way. He was right at home with him!

10 weeks old...

12 weeks old...

13 weeks old... He loves the kids and they love him... if you can't tell

16 weeks old... first time out on the boat!

17 weeks old... loves to play with Rick!

18 weeks old...

19 weeks old...

He is already 56 pounds!!

Well... that is our boy! We love him... I am sure there are going to be more posts on him. I certainly have enough pictures of him :-)

4th of July Boating

We took the boat our for it's (second) maiden voyage this weekend for the 4th of July. We headed out to Sucia Island in the San Juans. It is a beautiful island right on the US/Canadian border. We had SUCH a great time! Rick and I loved being out there with our family. The kids were especially excited about being on the boat! Jim and Joanne joined us for the weekend. We can't wait to go again!

Here are some of the pictures from our weekend:









Click here to view more photos from the weekend! Thank you, husband, for the wonderful weekend. Can't wait for the next...

Graduation

Well, I did it.

I finally finished Nursing School. It is no secret that it hasn't been an easy two years (four if you count the prereqs). Going to school when you have a husband AND kids is a HUGE task! On top of all that, our church closed, we moved, and life happened.

But after all of that was said and done, I still graduated. And I am glad. Glad to have accomplished this, glad it's over, glad my family walked along side with me, glad we are all better for it.

I am so thankful to everyone who supported me throughout this whole process. We would NEVER have made it without all of your love and support.
Here are the girls I lovingly call the nurses... I truly would not have finished school if it weren't for your encouragement, support, late night study sessions and dance parties, fun weekends "off", and shoulders to cry on. Thank you ladies. (Chelsea wasn't in the picture, darn it!).
Jennay... I love you! You are my person. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.




To Momma and Poppa, Dad, Jim and Joanne, Christine and Mike, Lisa and Chris... thank you is not enough. Through my ups and downs, laughter and tears, you stood by me when I needed you the most. We can NEVER thank you enough, but we'll say thank you anyway and we love you.


To Maddie and Taylor, thank you for understanding that mommy had to study, couldn't watch movies all the time or color whenever you wanted, thank you for loving me despite my grumpiness and frustration. Thank you for all your hugs, kisses, and prayers. They worked miracles. I hope that my endurance and perseverance showed you how hard work can really pay off. I love you both.

To my wonderful husband... You ran, walked, and crawled this journey with me. I know God has truly blessed us for walking thorough this together. I cannot imagine my world without you, and I am so thankful to have you in my life. I am so excited about the next chapter in our life. Boating... no studying... spontaneity... time together. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for us. Thank you... I love you. Oh, and I won't tell anyone that you got choked up with tears in your eyes as you pinned me... that just wouldn't be cool :-)