10 Most Wanted Valentine's Gifts for Her and Him

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Why do we have a particular day that we say 'I Love You' with gifts??  I have no idea, but any excuse to give or get gifts is a good enough reason for me!

If you've left it too late to get here in time just print the picture out and put it in a card with the arrival date  :)

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Christmas Cookies

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I don't bake often but when I do it's good!!

With Christmas coming I've been baking with Bronson who really just loves licking the bowl!  My latest item was S'mores Cookies that, if I do say so myself, where just like eating straight from the fire!

 

A purchase we made this past summer was some new patio furniture and we made sure to put it to good use.  Bronson had his first taste of S'mores by the 'campfire'!

 

The recipe for the cookies is below, I got if from Country Crock's list of Christmas Cookies.

I received a coupon for some buttery spread from Country Crock and Influenster complimentary for my honest review.  The spread definitely made the cookies have a great taste and was simple to use.

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  • Ingredients:
  • 1 cup Country Crock® Spreadable Sticks or Tub
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • 3/4 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. baking soda
  • 6 bars (1.55 oz.) milk chocolate, chopped
  • 1 cup mini marshmallows

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375°. Mix Country Crock® Spread, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, egg, egg yolk and vanilla in large bowl until well mixed. Stir in remaining ingredients except milk chocolate and mini marshmallows until blended. (Dough will be soft and creamy.) Stir in half of the chopped milk chocolate until every spoonful of dough has some of the chocolate.
  2. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls on ungreased baking sheets 3-inches apart.
  3. Bake 10 to 12 minutes until edges are lightly golden. Immediately top cookies with remaining chocolate and marshmallows. Return to oven and bake just until chocolate starts to melt and marshmallows begin to soften, about 30 seconds.
  4. Cool 1 minute on wire rack; remove from sheets and cool completely.

Tip: For inspiration for other delicious mix-ins, see our Make it Yours Cookie Recipe.

A Meal Catered to Perfection

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Tracy and Collin travelled from England to stay with the Morelock family only to be taken out to eat every. single. night.  While I definitely won't complain at all to dining at nice restaurants twice a day for a week, I was craving a home cooked meal.  Then like magic I had a marvelous idea.  In come Tim and Johanna.

colin and tracy mellor, sister and brother in law

colin and tracy mellor, sister and brother in law

Tim and johanna o'nan, mission catering company

Tim and johanna o'nan, mission catering company

While driving to our restaurant for Wednesday night, I sent a text to my friend Johanna and asked her to come to my house and cook a meal.  Her response was 'sure'.

While it may seem strange to randomly ask someone to come cook for you, to Johanna it was a normal question.  Her and her husband Tim own an amazing catering business, Mission Catering Co.  So with literally less than 24 hours, they put together ingredients, came out to our house to teach and cook one of the best meals I've tasted.  Really.

Here are some pictures from our night.  I can't wait to have more friends over and do it all again.  I walked into my kitchen after we finished dessert to find that they had cleaned everything and I think it was tidier than when they entered.  Now, THAT I could get used to  :)