Delicious cookies

I am a cookie girl, always have been always will be. Growing up I never wanted a cake for my birthday, always cookies or brownies :) Something chewy and chocolatey. I love to bake and have found many good cookie recipes in the past few years. I don't make them very often, not unless we have somewhere to take them because me and Kyle will eat them all. And well that's not good for the waistline!

I have a cabinet full of cookbooks, most of which I had never really looked through. Don't get me wrong I love to cook, but I don't leave myself enough time and I'm always hesitant about trying a new recipe. I have been finding lots of recipes on pinterest but I decided to take advantage of all these cookbooks.

So I've been going through them and putting post-it notes on recipes that sound good, would be east to make or fun to take to a group for dinner. I found a recipe for brown sugar oatmeal cookies. The cookbook said they only cost $.08 a serving (it was a cheap and easy meals cookbook) So I decided to make them for my Bible study group this week--let's just say it's a good thing the recipe made over 4 dozen cookies because quite a few disappeared before group.

They taste like a bowl of oatmeal only in cookie form. They are super easy to make, I used my kitchen aid for most of it and then had my hubby stir the oats in for me cause I couldn't get it mixed well enough. I would love to have these around the house more often but I think me and Kyle would both be buying new clothes if that was the case ;) Although, these cookies are fairly healthy since they have 1/2 regular flour 1/2 whole wheat flour.


Brown Sugar-Oatmeal Cookies (from Pilsbury Savvy Shoppers cookbook)
1 3/4 c packed brown sugar
1 c butter softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
1 c all-purpose flour
1 c whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 c old-fashion oats

• Heat oven to 350. Beat brown sugar and butter on medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla and eggs until well blended
• On low speed, beat in all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour and baking powder until well combined. Stir in oats
• Ungreased cookie sheet (I always use the cookie sheet covers)
  
• Bake 12 minutes. Cool 1 minute then transfer to cooling rack

It is well with my soul.

In all honesty it has been a hard month. I've been tired and crabby (my husband deserves major credit for loving me through all of it) I've been letting my worries and insecurities get the best of me. I am having a hard time being content and enjoying where I am at. I always imagined that I would graduate from college and *poof* get my dream 9-5 job. Thing is--I don't know what that dream job is...so I don't know where to start to get that job haha. But the other thing is--I have an awesome job that allows me a lot of extra free time that I wouldn't get with a 9-5 job. I haven't been taking advantage of that free time, I haven't been growing closer to the Lord in those spare moments, I haven't been searching out my passions during this free time.

This morning after work I went to LA fitness, usually I listen to pandora radio while I work out but today I just put my iPod on shuffle and It is Well With my Soul by Aaron Ivey came on. I just felt the Lord speaking to me through this song--"whatever my lot thou has taught me to say it is well, it is well with my soul" That is my prayer for today, tomorrow and the coming days.

I hope this song speaks to you in some way today.

A busy summer

Growing up I remember counting down the days until summer vacation, and I guess in some aspects I still do that but summer is different when you are a grown up. I feel like time is in fast forward, I haven't had a chance to blog and partly because I found pinterest which has consumed most of my computer time.

Last week I finished my last class meaning I'm a college graduate, which still hasn't sunk in but I'm sure it will once August comes around!! Although I'm not currently using my degree directly, having some insight into the human mind does come in handy when dealing with customers on a daily basis haha. I am learning to have a still and patient heart and trust God for my future path. That statement is not easy for me, I am a planner, I like to know what is going on weeks out and what I need to do to get there. God has showed me I'm not in charge and my planning without His guidance is in vain.

For now, I am enjoying the place I am at--at a great job with great people, being married to my best friend, learning to be a supportive wife, and taking advantage of my extra time now that school is done!!!

How has your summer been, busy like ours? :)

Chicken Bacon Bites

This past week we had our first pot luck dinner with our new life group, which we are so excited about!! I decided to make some chicken bacon bites that have become a favorite among our families. I have made them for all kinds of occasions, and they disappear cause they are so delicious! Plus a huge bonus is they are easy to make, require very few ingredients, and are easy to transport to a party.

It's a Paula Deen recipe so how can it not be delicious right? ;)

What you need:
2 raw chicken breasts
1 package of uncooked bacon
2/3 c. packed brown sugar
2 Tbsp chili powder
toothpicks

Heat the oven to 350 degrees

The first thing I do is get my rub ready so that I don't have raw meat on my hands when I touch all my ingredients and measuring cups. Just mix them together in a flat dish so that you will be able to roll the bites in them. (Don't worry about the amount of chili powder being too spicy, it really just adds a smoky flavor and a tiny kick but I've never had anyone complain about the heat)

Start out by cutting the chicken into cubes, about 1" cubes works best. Then using kitchen scissors cut the bacon strips in half. Put a piece of the chicken on one of the cut bacon strips and roll until it's covered, use a toothpick to keep the bite closed.

Now place the bite in the brown sugar, chili powder mixture and using a spoon make sure it's all covered including the top and the sides.
Place the deliciously covered bites on a cookie sheet, leaving about an inch between each one.

Place them in the hot oven and let them cook between 30 and 45 minutes. It really depends on the size of the chicken as to how long they cook. The outsides should look crispy and bubbly when you take them out.
Yum!! I don't have anymore pictures of them, they really did disappear. I think my batch made around 30, give or take a few that Kyle ate before they made it to the tray haha ;)

Keep these in mind the next time you need an appetizer!

Cooking for a crowd

My aunt and uncle decided this summer they are gonna take their kids on a ocean to ocean road trip this summer, and they made the journey through Texas earlier this week. Their kids are so excited and have a full binder of fun road games and places to keep memories of the trip, it's such an awesome idea.

Me and my mama wanted to make something easy that the adults and kids would both like, so I went with my famous enchiladas plus a veggie version. I went out on a whim with the veggie version, but it was delicious! Even Kyle, who is a major carnivore, said I should make them again soon.

I love cooking and cook for me & Kyle quite often, it's a challenge to cook for 2 since I am not a fan of left overs. This was the biggest group I've ever cooked for, and I would love to do it again. Kyle thinks we should go in to business with the Kimmel's and have a all-encompassing wedding business. I think it's a fabulous idea :)

I wish I had pictures of the big dinner night, but I was cooking all night so no pictures here. All in all it was a wonderful night :)

Your love is strong

I love how songs can meet you where you are and speak to your heart. It really catches me off guard sometimes and shows me God's always with me. The words to this song are so simple yet are so true for me, not only that but I have so many memories of this song. I first heard it at UBC in Waco, it always seems to come on my ipod when I need to hear it the most, and me and Kyle played it at our wedding during our prayer time. It's a beautiful song, I hope you listen to it or at least read through the words.



I look out the window
The birds are composing
Not a note is out of tune
Or out of place
I look at the meadow
And stare at the flowers
Better dressed than any girl
On her wedding day

So why do I worry?
Why do I freak out?
God knows what I need
You know what I need

Your love is
Your love is
Your love is strong

The kingdom of the heavens
Is now advancing
Invade my heart
Invade this broken town
The kingdom of the heavens
Is buried treasure
Will you sell yourself
To buy the one you've found?

Two things you told me
That you are strong
And you love me
Yes, you love me

Coffee.

I discovered my love for coffee freshman year of college. I had drank coffee before then, but nothing strong and didn't really love it until I found Common Grounds, or CG if you're in the know. CG has cowboy coffee, and I loved to get it iced, basically it's iced coffee, milk and their "secret sauce" which sweetens it and has some addicting quality haha. One day when I was home on Christmas break I had this horrible headache, which I finally realized was do to my lack of coffee. This was the start of my relationship with coffee.

A year ago I got hired as a barista at Starbucks and I absolutely love my job. Lots of people drink coffee every day, but very few people understand all that goes in to that delicious cup of joe. Starting with choosing the area and soil to grow the beans in. The kind of soil can drastically change the taste of the brew, which most people never realize because of all the cream and sugar in their coffee ;)

There are many perks to my job--free drinks while I'm on my shifts, getting to work for an awesome company that cares for their employees, but one of the best is a free pound of coffee every week. I try and share as many of these mark outs as I can, but sometimes they pile up cause two people can only drink so much coffee haha.

I have my favorites--Casi Cielo and Tribute (which both are limited time offerings)

Kyle has found his favorite--Yukon Blend, a bold coffee which is quickly climbing my list too

My other love related to coffee is coffee mugs. We have a ton of coffee mugs and they are all different, just the way I wanted it. My favorites are the ones I've gotten as gifts or that have stories behind them. What's better than sipping delicious coffee out of a mug that reminds you of a close friend? I guess having them next to you, but it is a close second.


So go find a fun mug, sit back and enjoy your coffee!