In The Kitchen...

If you know anything about me, you know that I love to cook. I am quite the foodie, and perhaps a wine-o. :) Oh well.

Anyway...as much as I love to create meals on my own, baking is not my forte. I wish I could bake, as I love delicious desserts--cakes, brownies, cookies, cupcakes...yum! So tonight I decided to start trying. I made homemade chocolate chip cookies, which were quite delicious. I have posted the recipe below. Enjoy!



Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 1/2 sticks butter (12 tablespoons)
1 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 cup white granulated sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 1/4 cups sifted flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 cup semi-sweet morsels

Preheat oven to 375°F.

In a mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugars. Add eggs.

Sift flour and measure out 2 1/4 cups. After measuring the sifted flour, sift again with remaining dry ingredients. Add the flour mixture to the creamed butter and sugar mixture.

Stir in vanilla and semi-sweet morsels.

Drop the cookie batter by tablespoonfuls onto a parchment or silicone lined baking sheet.

Bake for 10-12 minutes or until cookies are set and firm and only lightly colored. Do not allow cookies to brown.

Transfer to wire racks to cool. Store in an airtight container. Cookies may be wrapped well and frozen.

Amazement

I literally am in amazement and awe every day of how amazing and full of blessing my life is. I know everyone gets in these moments, but for about 5 months now I've been on this positivity kick. It has completely changed my life and I think the lives of others around me. I try to look at the glass half full and my entire life through rose-colored lenses. It has made each day better, me much happier, and has definitely had me become a much better sister, girlfriend, and friend. I hope others have felt the effects of my life-change.

Even now as I sit in Maryland, 7 hours away from my family, as we all deal with a very rough family moment, I am so happy and realize that #lifeisstillamazing. Oh crap! Forgot I was blogging, rather than on Twitter. :)

I hope everyone looks at today with complete positivity. Be more than content. Be happy.

Love you ALL.

April Showers

With all of the amazing things, people, and moments in my life, every once in a while something happens that brings you down...
Think of me during this time.
Much love.