happy new year.

may your life

be crowded with
unexpected
joys
(h. jackson brown jr.)

image via flickr.

it's all about the element of surprise.

these may look like ordinary cookies (although, i think they look pretty fancy with all that chocolate icing going on).but, other than that, they really do look like plain-jane, "normal" cookies. wouldn't you agree? that is, until you take a bite & then "surprise", there's a snickers inside! and let me tell you what a delightful surprise this is. someone baked us up a batch this holiday season & i couldn't stop eating them. i'm thinking i might have to bake me up a batch tomorrow... it's still the "holiday season", i can continue filling my belly to my little heart's content! i can work eating more healthy next week.

peanut butter surprise
ingredients:
2 sticks butter (softened)
1 cup light brown sugar
1 cup sugar
3 1/2 cups all purpose flour (sifted)
2 eggs
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 bag snickers miniatures
1 bag dove brand milk or dark chocolate (or any other melting chocolate will do)

instructions:
1. combine the butter, peanut butter & sugars using a mixer on a medium to low speed until light and fluffy.
2. slowly add the eggs and vanilla until thoroughly combined. then mix in the flour, salt & baking soda.
3. cover and chill dough for 2-3 hours.
3. unwrap all of the snickers miniatures (make sure to eat one or two, that's my favorite paft of baking... taste testing)
4. remove dough from refrigerator. divide into 1-tablespoon pieces & flatten.
place a snickers miniature piece in the center of each piece of dough.
5. form each piece of dough into a ball around the snickers miniatures piece.
6. place on a greased cookie sheet & bake at 325 degrees for 10-12 minutes. (baking time and temperature may need to be adjusted if using more than 1 tablespoon of dough per cookie.)
7. let cookies cool on baking rack or wax paper.
8. "spruce up" your cookies by drizzling melted dove brand promises milk or dark chocolate over the top of each cookie!

here comes trouble.

i've pretty much gotten used to how much havoc two little boys can cause. but when you add my niece to the mix, you definitely have a handful. those three, sweet & innocent looking children, had lots & lots of fun together. in the past week they've managed to: with a little "team effort" they open the fridge door & empty out all the condiments; escape into the backyard running through the "safety" of the sprinklers to jump on the trampoline, in 50 degree weather; open the front door & escape down the street with all three dogs in tow; unwrap every present they saw (prior to christmas of course!)... and those are just the memorable happenings. these three will definitely keep you on your toes, i can't wait to see what they come up with next!

keep their little tootsies warm.

our family has a christmas eve tradition. it's nothing unique, i'm sure many people of the same tradition, or at least some variation of it. anyway, every year on christmas eve, santa pays our house an extra special, early visit. i don't know how he finds the time in his busy schedule, but he always manages to drop by to deliver a few gifts. it's never a surprise, because we always get pajamas. but it's always fun to see what santa has picked out for us that year. my boys were especially thrilled to find THESE cute slippers in their packages from santa. (gavin got the sharks & little o got the lizards.) they made the oprah o list so you know they've gotta be good!

santa's prayer.

the sleigh was all packed, the reindeer were fed,
but santa still knelt by the side of the bed.

"dear father," he prayed "be with me tonight.
there's much work to do and my schedule is tight.

i must jump in my sleigh and streak through the sky,
knowing full well that a reindeer can't fly.

i will visit each household before the first light,
i'll cover the world and all in one night.

with sleigh bells a-ringing, i'll land on each roof,
amid the soft clatter of each little hoof.

to get in the house is the difficult part,
so I'll slide down the chimney of each child's heart.

my sack will hold toys to grant all their wishes.
the supply will be endless like the loaves and the fishes.

i will fill all the stockings and not leave a track.
i'll eat every cookie that is left for my snack.

i can do all these things lord, only through you,
i just need your blessing, then it's easy to do.

all this is to honor the birth of the one,
that was sent to redeem us, your most holy son.

so to all of my friends, least your glory I rob,
please Lord, remind them who gave me this job."

by warren d. jennings