Pinterest Challenge – Cookie Butter Cookies

by | Aug 1, 2014 | Blogging Life, Pinterest Challenge, Redefining Perfect

As a Pinterest junkie, I started this challenge a while back to make myself do more pins. Then life went berzerker and I ran out of time for anything. With my new job settling down, I decided to dive back in. Luckily my first challenge was actually done a while ago, so I’ll be doing this partly from memory, but at least I was prepared. 😉

PinterestcookiebuttercookiesFor this challenge I settled on this pin, Softbatch Cookie Butter Brown Sugar Cookies, by Averie Cooks (I have pinned a TON of cookies from this site in all honesty…these just happened to be the first I chose.)

I’m not going to post the recipe, because it’s not mine, but you can do directly to it HERE.

I had to make some modifications, not in the ingredients, but in the size. The recipe calls for a 2Tbs cookie scoop, I only had a 1Tbs scoop.  So I followed the same directions, but cooked for less time (5 minutes, I believe).

The cookies came out perfect, just like pictured on the site. They were fluffy and soft and a rich brown in color. The smell was incredible.

I didn’t even wait for them to cool down before I dove in for the first taste.

14376172527_c347d09d22_zEverything promised by Averie was spot on. Light, soft, flavorful.  They were so good I didn’t want to share…

But alas, I have a sixteen year old that found them just as good as I did.

Oh, and a husband that likes to find my “hidden” treats…

And so they were gone way too fast.

So clearly, the final verdict on this pin was a YAY! I plan on making these again–after I get through the full list of cookies on the Averie Cooks site. I’m sure you’ll see a few more of these in the pinterest challenges.

Again, the recipe isn’t mine, go visit Averie Cooks to get it. You will not regret it.

Pinterest Challenge – Balloon Bracelets!

by | Mar 21, 2014 | All About Kennedy, All About Me, All About Molly, Blogging Life, Pinterest Challenge, Redefining Perfect

The Pinterest ChallengeTime for another round of Pinterest Challenge!

This time I decided to take on a craft – and one my girls could participate in.

So we went with BALLOON BRACELETS!!

I actually just found this Pin a few weeks back.  The original link is not currently working, so I can’t share it, but the premise was simple.

Elastic.

Twisty balloons cut into pieces.

I did add a detail. In order to make the stringing of the balloons onto the elastic run smoother, I put a safety pin on the end of the elastic. It made it about 100 times easier.

Balloons - cut upSo I did a test run, in secret, away from the girls. I kept my color scheme simple, white, blue and green and slid them onto the elastic.  I found myself sometimes struggling to get the balloon on, but overall it was pretty easy. When it was done, I tied the ends together, pulled one of the balloons over the tie and slipped that sucker on.

Other than making it a wee bit too tight for myself, I liked it.

(And to answer one of my reader questions – NO. The balloon did not tug on my arm hair.)

Stringing BalloonsSo a couple of days later, the girls got off the bus, did their homework and it was their time to try.

I gave them a short, five minute instruction and they were off!

They both picked it up really quick, although Molly was a bit faster to string on the balloons than her sister. Must be all that fine motor therapy she’s had over the years.

In the end, each girl had 3 bracelets and big smiles.

So of course, I have to say that this was definitely a Pinterest YAY!!!

Pinterest Challenge – Mini Red Velvet Cheesecake

by | Mar 5, 2014 | All About Home, Blogging Life, Pinterest Challenge, Redefining Perfect

I’m a Pinterest junkie. I pin everything and anything, really. I even have a tendency to make probably 5% of all I pin, that’s capable of being made. Usually food items first, but a craft or two slips in. I want to be more active so I’ve decided to try to do two a month, one food, one craft.

The Pinterest ChallengeI’m starting with these Mini Red Velvet Cheesecakes (from Sally’s Baking Addiction).

I’m a sucker for Red Velvet, and for cheesecake, so what better, right?

First off, I only have one mini-cupcake pan, so I made regular size cupcakes. The final product looked identical to the mini ones pictured on the original site.

I managed to make the cupcakes in about an hour with little mess. I was even able to wash my mixer while the cookie base baked. The recipe was easy to follow, and I loved the addition of yogurt in the cheesecake.

_MG_4785Of course, the proof is in the final product.  The cupcakes came out beautifully. Just stunning.

I could hardly wait the appropriate cool-down period to dive in.

The cheesecake tasted amazing. The red velvet was good, but too much. Because it’s a dense “cookie” form instead of a light cupcake sort, there was too much cookie to cheesecake in the ratio.

My end result? A definite YAY ~ with a sidebar. Next time I make it, I’ll adjust the recipe and make half the cookie recipe, and double the cheesecake. In my opinion that would make perfection!! (and that is just my opinion, the teen is scarfing them down like nobody’s business)

And no, I’m not going to put the recipe here, I made no adjustments, just followed it exactly.  So head on over to Sally’s Baking Addiction to get the recipe. It’s delicious.