Last night, my mom had a big family get-together at her house to celebrate the homecoming (however brief it may be!) of my cousin, Kelly. All our lives, we’ve only been able to see her every once in a while, because she grew up living with her mom in California. We’d only see her whenever she flew east to visit her dad.
Anyway, these days, Kelly lives in South Korea, teaching English as a Second Language. As you can imagine, now that she lives on the other side of the world, her visits are even less frequent. We haven’t seen her in two years, so we were all excited for her to come to town for a visit. She’s also dating someone she met in Korea–he’s American–so we were excited to meet him, too.
When all of us cousins were growing up, there were several of us that were really close in age. Most of the time, this resulted in great times together, since we were automatic playmates. Sometimes, however, it meant a little bit of drama, as we did fight like brothers and sisters every once in a while. My grandma used to say, “Stop fighting and hug each other! You’re supposed to be kissin’ cousins!” :)
We had a great time together last night, enjoying food, drinks, and each other’s company. Unfortunately, we were missing two cousins, but that didn’t stop us from getting our photo (it’s tradition):
Now that we all have significant others, we decided to take a big group photo, too:
A handful of other photos from the evening (of the kids!):
My cousin, Kelly, is in town this week. She currently lives in Seoul, South Korea, so it’s rare that she gets over to visit us in our part of the world. The last time she visited was two years ago! It’s crazy how much time lapses between visits. Anyway, my mom decided to invite everyone (all my cousins, aunts, uncles, etc.) over to her house tomorrow night so that Kelly could see the whole family at one time.
We’re all supposed to bring something to share, and of course, I decided to make something for dessert. I wasn’t sure what to make, so I turned to my starred “to try” recipes in my Google Reader. When I came across this recipe again, I knew this was the one for such a fun occasion.
Because a cake mix only yields enough cookies to make about 9-10 sandwiches of this size, I had to double the recipe. I made two cake mixes worth of cookies, and kind of made up the frosting as I went along. I think I ended up making about 1 & 1/2 recipes worth of frosting.
To try to make cookies of the same size (so that the sandwich halves match up nicely), Annie used a cookie scoop. I don’t have one, so I decided to whip out my kitchen scale and weigh my balls of dough to ensure they were all the same size. It worked wonderfully. All of my cookies matched up almost perfectly! Each of my dough balls was 35 grams. This made for very generous cookie sandwiches. I would maybe make them smaller next time so that you can get more cookies out of a batch. Don’t get me wrong, I can easily eat a whole one of this size, but I probably shouldn’t eat a whole one of this size, if you know what I mean.
Anyway… give these a try. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. The combination of the semi-sweet cookie with the frosting = a real winner.
(Source: The Crepes of Wrath, as seen on Annie’s Eats)
Ingredients:
For the cookies:
1 package chocolate cake mix (or other flavor of your choice)
1 egg, at room temperature
1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
For the frosting:
3/4 cup butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
2-3 tbsp. milk
For decorating:
multi-colored non-pareils, or other sprinkles or candy of your choice
Directions:
1. To make the cookies, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the cake mix, egg and butter. Beat on low speed until just combined and all dry ingredients have been incorporated.
3. Roll the dough into 1- to 1 1/2-inch balls, place on the prepared baking sheets and press down to slightly flatten.
4. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Allow the cookies to cool completely on the cookie sheets.
5. To make the frosting, in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium-high speed until smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, add the powdered sugar, and beat until incorporated. Add vanilla extract and beat on medium speed until fully incorporated. Add 2 tablespoons of milk and beat on medium-high speed until smooth. If the frosting too thick, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of milk and beat until incorporated.
6. To assemble, pair the cookies based on size on a work surface. Frost the flat side of one cookie from each pair. Place the other cookie of each pair on top of the frosting, flat side down. Lightly press down so that the frosting reaches the edges of the cookies.
7. To decorate, place sprinkles in a small bowl. Dip the sides of each cookie in the sprinkles, pressing down gently and rotating to cover the sides completely.
Photo Source: BravoTV.com
Now I know the end of summer is really near. Why? Because Top Chef is back! As far as I’m concerned, there are only two things to look forward to about end of summer:
1) Football, and 2) The return of good TV.
And Top Chef is kicking it off in style, because they’re in Vegas!
I’m not even sure why I love Top Chef. It’s certainly not the food, as I’m a picky eater and there’s no way I’d eat half the stuff they make. But for some reason, I still love watching them make it all, and of course, I enjoy all the drama that comes along with the competition.
The first episode is always interesting because all of the chefs are new and I don’t have opinions about any of them yet. This is about to change, because I’m going to turn on the show and let them make their first impressions.
I apologize in advance to anyone who doesn’t watch and therefore, doesn’t care, but I’m going to blog as I watch the show (I’ve got nothing better to do tonight!). Let’s see how this goes, shall we?
Oh, and just a warning… if you haven’t watched but plan to, and don’t want any spoilers, you should probably stop reading now, eh? Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
First of all, yayyyy Vegas!
OK, I’m about 10 minutes in now, and I still don’t know anybody’s names. But holy tattoos, Batman! Seems like there are a lot of inked people this season.
I love Tom Colicchio. That is all.
Showgirls? Seriously?
Time for a relay race! Eeeeek, blood already. OK, what’s up with the woman who has no idea how to shuck clams? Why wouldn’t you speak up instead of screwing your team over? So stupid.
Jesse’s pierced face is distracting. I like listening to Mattin talk. I’m digging the brothers (are they twins? I can’t tell them apart!).
Interesting quickfire, but let’s get to the elimination challenge. Guest judge Wolfgang Puck. Awesome.
Whole Foods. The guy who is sticking his nose right into the fish, and opening and sifting through the salad greens, is freaking me out. Gross. Did that Puerto Rican dude just ask the employee if they carry cigars? At Whole Foods? HA.
I always like the frantic kitchen scenes. It’s interesting to see them experience the time crunch for the first time. They always under/overcook everything, don’t get it plated, etc. So many mistakes.
GAIL! Gail is back this season. Thank the lord. That replacement judge last season, the one with the absolutely horrible similies and metaphors? HE WAS KILLING ME. I *heart* Gail, though.
Wolfgang Puck just said he’d like to throw a guy into the fryer. Hehehe.
How is spending 27 days at sea traveling from Haiti to the U.S. a vice? I don’t get it. Is this girl kidding me with her bacon doughnuts? Apparently the judges agree with me, as Wolfgang just launched a piece of doughnut at a cameraman. I love it. Oh, and that chile dish looks absolutely disgusting. That group bombed.
They called the winners for each group; I’m kind of surprised by them. This Jennifer woman is off to a strong start, after winning the quickfire and making the top four in the elimination challenge. Touchy-feely-with-the-food-in-Whole-Foods guy (who I now know is named Kevin) is the winner this week. Hmph.
Now for the bottom four… not surprised by any of the people who landed there. I think disgusting chile girl is going home. I love the pressure the judges put on all of the chefs, and how honest they are with their critiques. They aren’t holding anything back, even at the beginning. Awesome. Is Jesse going to cry?? Please, woman. Hold it together.
Deliberation is done; time to get down to business. Who has to pack their knives and go? Annnnd… commercial. Of course.
And we’re back. DISGUSTING CHILE JENN! I called it, although I think it was pretty obvious. Her dish didn’t even look like it was real food.
And so wraps the first episode of Top Chef – Las Vegas.
At the beginning of every season, I find myself missing some of the personalities from the last. This time around, I’m missing Fabio and Carla. But as always, as the episodes go on, people eventually grow on me and make it an entertaining season. The first few episodes are always a little awkward because I can’t remember names and don’t have anybody to “root” for yet. I’m sure that’ll be changing soon.
So, now that the premiere is over, tell me… Who’s watching? What did you think? Who are your favorites (so far)?
OH, FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY.
I cannot believe I am talking about this guy. Again.
Photo Source: ESPN
Oh wait, yes I can. Because I predicted it.
I’m feeling the need to point you to this post from last year. And this one, too.
I honestly believe that Brett Favre is trashing his own legacy. Instead of being remembered as a great football player, he will be remembered as the guy who just couldn’t let it go.
I’m annoyed at what this could mean for the future of football. How many more times are we going to see this? How many players will now pull “a Brett Favre” to get whatever they want?
Let’s say you’re a football player. You’re not happy with the team you’re on. So you pretend you’re retiring. Then, just as a team is entering a new season, you create a media frenzy and pick a new team. Any team. But no… not just any team. Pick your old team’s biggest rival. Yes, that oughta do it. And don’t forget to somehow convince this new team to pay you $12 million a year.
I actually feel really sorry for his new Vikings teammates, who’ve all been in training camp for three weeks, busting their asses. Now, Brett Favre plops himself in the middle of it all and takes the attention away from everything and everyone else. Lovely. I feel especially sorry for the guys trying out to make the team as quarterbacks. He just effectively stole the dreams of some young kid who was hoping to make it (just as a third stringer!). Guess what? There’s no longer space for that guy on the team.
I am just SO SICK of hearing about Brett Favre. I didn’t think it was possible, but with this latest “coming out of retirement,” he has officially surpassed Tom Brady on my NFL Shit List.
Congratulations, Brett. You now annoy me more than any other NFL personality. You should be proud. And good luck when you play at Lambeau Field, you schmuck.
On Saturday, we drove back to our old college stomping grounds to witness the marriage of one of my very good friends, Rich. We first met when he was a teacher’s assistant for one of my classes, and since we shared a major, we ended up being in many subsequent classes together. A couple years after graduation, he met Katie, and now the two of them are married!
Before the ceremony, Michael and I took the time to drive through our college town and reminisce about all the old fun times. It’s weird how things come flooding back to you when you visit places from the past… I suddenly remembered things I hadn’t thought about it in a really long time! It was fun, but admittedly sort of sad.
We also went to campus and walked around a little bit. I walked around behind my freshman dorm and pointed out my dorm room window up on the third floor. Awww, memories! It’s hard to believe that we’ve been out of college for more than five years already. It’s even harder to believe that it’s been nine years since I was a freshman. Holy crap.
But I digress.
We left campus and headed to the park where the wedding and reception were to take place. We walked up the hill to the ceremony location, and met up with some other old friends. The bartenders were set up in a gazebo up on the hill, serving beer and water for guests prior to the ceremony. I can’t say I’ve ever enjoyed a beer during a wedding ceremony before! It was pretty laid back, and true to the spirit of Rich and Katie.
Soon, the ceremony started…
After the ceremony ended, all of the guests walked back down the hill to the gigantic tent where the reception was to take place. While Rich, Katie, and their bridal party took photos throughout the park, the guests enjoyed light appetizers (cheese, crackers, vegetables, fruit), and drinks in the tent.
After a buffet dinner and a few hours of catching up with old friends, we watched as Rich and Katie cut their cake…
Afterwards, we grabbed Rich for a few photos.
Love these two friends of mine. I have some seriously good memories with them.
Our project group name was “ARCH” (for Aimee, Rich, Corrie, and Heather), and Ann joked that 3/4 of her ARCH members are married off now. In fact, we were excited to learn at the wedding that Corrie is expecting the first ARCH baby in January!
Congratulations, Rich and Katie!
About
I'm Heather. I'm 33 and have been married to Michael for seven years. Together, we have two beautiful little girls we love more than anything, and a miniature dachshund who drives us crazy. I'm a full-time working mom who has very little time for my own "stuff" these days, like home improvement, cooking/baking, cake decorating, and photography. Despite the team not making the playoffs since 1999, I'm STILL a Buffalo Bills fan, which I think speaks to my loyalty AND sense of humor. I can't wait to pick up the pace with travel again some day... you know, when we're done being ruled by tiny fists. Welcome to my blog.
