Reese's Pieces Chocolate Chip Cookie

So last week we bought a bag of Reese's Pieces.  Keith and I both started to wonder how they would taste if we added them to our FAVORITE Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe.  So Sunday Keith made them and they are wonderful they are a little more like a peanut butter cookie.  Next we want to try M&M's.

Neiman Marcus Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Ingredients

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

1 cup light brown sugar

3 tablespoons granulated sugar

1 large egg

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1-3/4 cups all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1-1/2 teaspoons instant espresso coffee powder (we can not find...so have never tried this)

1-1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions

1.	Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Cream the butter with the sugars using an electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy (approximately 30 seconds)
2.	Beat in the egg and the vanilla extract for another 30 seconds.
3.	In a mixing bowl, sift together the dry ingredients and beat into the butter mixture at low speed for about 15 seconds. Stir in the espresso coffee powder and chocolate chips.
4.	Using a 1 ounce scoop or a 2 tablespoon measure (I use an ice cream scoop), drop cookie dough onto a greased cookie sheet about 3 inches apart. Gently press down on the dough with the back of a spoon to spread out into a 2 inch circle. Bake for about 20 minutes or until nicely browned around the edges (they will not look done at 20mins but take the out, they will harden and be PREFECT). Bake a little longer for a crispier cookie.
	Adaptations  1.  Reese's Pieces Cookie  Instead of 1-1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips.  Put 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips and 3/4 cup of Reese's Pieces.  Put a couple Reese's Pieces on top of each drop of cookie dough before you bake them.
Yield	2 dozen cookies

My 30th Birthday Weekend!

My parents came to celebrate my birthday and bring us out to lunch on Saturday.  I mom brought trick candles for my cake and Grady LOVED them.

Sunday I went shopping alone to spend some of my birthday $$.  (Thanks mom & dad and Shay & Andy!!) Keith watched the boys and had fresh baked cookies waiting when I got home.

Monday was just another normal Monday with me and the boys weekly grocery trip.  But we did get a Chick-fil-a chicken biscuit and Starbucks to enjoy while shopping at Target.

Keith came home early from work and grilled us filets and zucchini and roasted potatoes.  And then while enjoying our lovely meal Grady made himself throw up while trying a potato because we told him he had to eat one potato and one zucchini to get cake.  But he did continue to eat the potato and the zucchini so he could have cake!!

I had a wonderful weekend.  I am so blessed to have such a wonderful husband, kids, family and friends.

Liz & Jim's Wedding

We had a wonderful time last weekend at the wedding and visiting with the family!! 

Side by Side - 9 months old

Reece is above and Grady is below

Reece Patrick is 9 months old!

Weight: 19lbs 2oz - 24th percentile

Height: 27.8in - 30th percentile

Head: 18 1/4in - 77th percentile

He now has two bottom teeth.  He started crawling and sitting himself up on August 6.  Then he started standing himself up 4 days later.  And by the end on that week is was crawling fast and is now everywhere.  

He loves Winston he crawling after the dog all the time.  He also loves to feed and let Winston clean his hand during supper.  

Reece is saying Mama & Dada a lot now and I think he knows what they mean.  He loves to eat and will eat anything we put in front of him.  

Reece is now wearing 12-18month clothes that Grady was wearing at 1year old.  

Grady's 9month update

7 Quick Takes: Reece and Playing

1. Wedding Shower
On Saturday we went to a BBQ/Pool Wedding Shower for Portia and Rob.  We all had a lot of fun, the boys loved swimming and Grady loved playing in the indoor basketball court.

2. Baby Plank
Here is the plank and/or downward dog Reece has been doing since last week.

3.  Playing in balls
I took out the balls and baby pool to give Reece something new to play.  Reece loves it but I think Grady LOVES it MORE!!

4. Soccer 
Keith has been out of town for his last 2 soccer games so it was nice to go out to his game Wednesday night.  We had supper at the field and Grady loved misting everyone with his spray bottle and I think everyone liked it too because it was HOT out there.  

5.  Fresh Faces
I entered the boys in a local photographers Fresh Face contest.  They were both selected as a Fall 2010 Childish Couture Fresh Face!! They will get ultimate Couture Session in downtown Baton Rouge.  In addition their images may be used for advertising, business ads, and marketing.  We will receive digital images of the boys that we can use for printing.

6. Sitting
Reece started sitting himself up from his the crawling position today.

7. Crawling 
Then this afternoon Reece and I were sitting in the doorway watching Grady Slip N Slide outside and Reece started to CRAWL to get out the door.  It is a crazy looking crawl but he is moving FORWARD.  Go Reece we are so proud of you but nervous about having two mobile children :)