Year-End Wrap Up

Well, it's been an interesting year. One that I'll never forget, that's for sure.

One thing I am grateful for is my family, my husband and 2 adorable little girls who love me unconditionally. I have such supportive friends although I wonder sometimes why they stick with me! ;0) I am looking forward to new year with exciting opportunities, regardless of where I'm at in a month. Either way I'll be doing something different in my career and am looking forward to the change.

My little craftiness has kicked off strong the last half of the year with a new etsy shop that I'm hoping to continue. Crafting gets me through some of the rough patches, especially these last couple of months. It's been nice to focus on something that I know will be there no matter what!

My kiddos are growing like weeds and I can't believe another year has flown by, I know I say that every year but it's true. Time goes faster and faster when you get older~ I do believe! This year I will take time to smell the roses, I've come to realize I need to do that more often. I will take time to watch my kids every movement for a day. It's amazing watching them and wondering what they're thinking. They are such smart cookies~ smarter than their mama most days! At least they outsmart me I should say!

Anyway, kind of a rambling post but felt like I needed to say it and hoping the new year is one where you take time to smell the roses too!

Baking

I've been baking up a storm this morning! I have a Christmas gathering this evening and am hoping the blizzard warning they say is supposed to happen doesn't! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this Martha Stewart recipe for Chewy Molasses Spice Cookies. If you haven't tried these you should, they are out of this world, melt in your mouth goodness!!

Here's the recipe:

Makes 36

• 2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 cup molasses

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. In a shallow bowl, place 1/2 cup sugar; set aside.
2. With an electric mixer, beat butter and remaining cup of sugar until combined. Beat in egg and then molasses until combined. Reduce speed to low; gradually mix in dry ingredients, just until a dough forms.
3. Pinch off and roll dough into balls, each equal to 1 tablespoon. Roll balls in reserved sugar to coat.
4. Arrange balls on baking sheets, about 3 inches apart. Bake, one sheet at a time, until edges of cookies are just firm, 10 to 15 minutes (cookies can be baked two sheets at a time, but they will not crackle uniformly). Cool 1 minute on baking sheets; transfer to racks to cool completely. Store in an airtight container up to 4 days.

Happy Baking!!