No Bake Cookies

I think the name of these cookies is kind of weird.  When is it okay to use a sentence fragment as a name?  It sounds like a caveman invented these, maybe so because they didn't have ovens!  Anyways, when the heat is already rising outside, who wants to bake?  Not me.  So these were the perfect treat to make, and the sweet and salty combo is just the best thing ever. 

I found the recipe on Brown Eyed Baker, but really changed it up by adding lots of extra, good things!

It's probably way easier to crush the pretzels in a ziplock with a rolling pin, but I just LOVE using my old-fashioned grinder!

Here's the recipe!

½ cup (1 stick) butter


2 cups granulated sugar


½ cup milk


4 tablespoons cocoa powder


½ cup peanut butter


2 teaspoons vanilla extract


2 cups quick-cooking oats
1/4 cup crushed pretzels
1/4 cup coconut
1/4 cup peanuts
1/4 cup cereal (I used cornflakes)

mini chocolate chips (not necessary because they just melted in) oh well


1. Add the first four ingredients (through the cocoa powder) to a 4-quart saucepan.
2. Bring to a rolling boil and let boil for 1 minute.
3. Remove from heat.
4. Stir in the peanut butter and vanilla until smooth, then stir in the remaining ingredients.
5. Drop by heaping tablespoons onto wax paper-lined baking sheets.
6. Let cool until set.

A Card From Kasey

My sister is about the coolest person I know.  She makes me laugh more than anyone AND she's just absolutely beautiful in every way.  Together we're like Lavern & Shirley or Lorelei & Rory or Lucy & Ethel or any other funny, witty, feminine duo you can think of.  We're so much the same, in the ways we think and in our sense of humor...but we're really different too.  Without her I'd be uptight, and unkempt with a total lack of fashion sense.  And without me she wouldn't know how to cook spaghetti.  And I must mention how brilliantly talented she is....in athletics, and music, and especially art!   

Here's a little taste of her sweetness and creativity.  After she left my house the other day, I found this card on my bed.

I just love it (and her)!

Harvest Market | Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

Yesterday was a jam packed, running around, making lots of stops (with baby making it a lot harder), eventful, really fun kind of day!  My mom and sister came down to visit and we planned lots of fun things to do, starting off with a trip to the Elgin Harvest Market.  As it figures, the one day I was all geared up to be outside, after spending three gorgeous, sunny days inside with Kole, we had a torrential downpour complete with strong winds and lightning.  It put us back a couple hours but didn't keep us away.  We made it to the market.  The vendors were recovering from the storm amidst skeletons of tent poles twisted from the wind and massive, pond-sized puddles edging up to their selling space; but they all looked happy, cold yes, but happy and eager to make a day's work. 

We bundled Kole up, put him in his stroller and rolled off, hoping to find some exciting stuff.

The trip was an overall success.  We walked away with a JUMBO peanut butter cookie, some fruit, veggies, and cheese - only because we felt bad for the lonely cheese guy and after sampling about ten different kinds of cheese, we figured we better buy some!

From here we hit up Kohl's, and I only mention this because one of the highlights of the day was when Kasey and I, shopping about a clothes rack apart, said at EXACTLY the same time, "Oh this is cute," as we held up the EXACT same sweater!  We are truly sisters. 

We eventually ended up home where we started cooking.  When you get fresh veggies at a Farmer's Market, you just HAVE to use them the same day!  Here was our creation: Quinoa Stuffed Peppers!

You will need:

olive oil (about 2 Tbsp)

1/2 onion

green peppers (3, 1 to be chopped up, 2 for stuffing)

garlic

cumin

chili powder

coriander

salt & pepper

fresh cilantro

1 lime

1 tomato

1 can black beans

1 cup quinoa

2 cups water

Pour olive oil into saucepan, heat and saute onions, green pepper, and garlic.  Add cilantro and the other spices (1-2 tsp of each depending on how spicy you want it).

Add 2 cups of water and 1 cup quinoa.  Stir and bring to a boil. 

Meanwhile, chop up tomato, drain and rinse the black beans.  Set aside. 

After the quinoa comes to a boil, turn down the heat a little.  Cook until all the water is absorbed, stirring occasionally.  You know quinoa is cooked when it becomes transparent and the outer, ring of the grain separates. 

Transfer to a bowl and stir in tomato, beans, and juice from one lime. 

Cut 2 green peppers in half, stuff with quinoa, and top with cheese.  Bake on a greased cookie sheet at 375 degrees for about 45 minutes,

Roommates Reunite!

About a month ago, I shared a post about my fabulous roommates who I missed so much.  Well last night was a glorious reunion long overdue.  We laughed and talked and caught up, ate pizza and Doritos and cookies, played with Kole and just had a fabulous time!  I am so thankful for friends! 

On a side note, we also found out Kole is ticklish.....see the video at the end!

Message Board

Today I've got a little DIY project to share.  Since we're renting our apartment our walls are white, white, white, and they have to stay that way.  I'll be so excited one day when I can paint my kitchen green, but until then I have to add color in other ways. 

So I picked up this message board at the thrift store, got some fabric, covered it (actually Jason did that part), and now it's up in our kitchen, brightening up the walls and holding reminders, cards, the pool hours, and some pictures. 

My favorite message on the board - a card from one of the little girls at church.  She gave it to me on Mother's Day.  It says,

Dear Mrs. JeanaLe,
         Happy Mom day.  I think if Kole could talk he would say "mom of the year goes to you!"

A Roller Coaster Weekend | Oreo Cheesecake Cookies

 

This weekend was one of those roller coaster ride weekends....and unfortunately, I'm not talking about six flags (although we do hope to go there sometime this summer).  Anyways, last Saturday I took the Illinois State Spanish Proficiency Test for the second time because I failed it on my first attempt two years ago.  It's a really hard test.  It's five hours long and when you're done your brain feels like absolute mush.  At least my brain did.  This was the low part of the weekend.

After the test we went to a potluck at our church.  It was really a goodbye party disguised as a potluck; maybe they thought the good food would cover up the sadness we all felt.  To be honest it kind of did, although my contribution surely didn't stir up any grand emotions!  I'm not even embarrassed to say I just threw two frozen pizzas in the oven, cut them into squares and plopped them on the table amongst all the other fabulous looking home cooked dishes.  Oh well, you can't win em all.  It turned out to be a relaxing and bittersweet night, catching up with friends, letting our church family love on Kole, and helping say goodbye to an amazing family we all love so much.  This was the upswing part of the weekend; not totally terrific, but getting there.

Sunday brought the BEST part of the weekend.  We headed to Wisconsin to celebrate my mom and uncle's retirement and my cousin Liz graduating from college.  It was so awesome to see family and spend the day in a completely carefree state of mind.  The things I loved about yesterday.......

• wearing a sundress because there was SUN!

• working on my tan

• seeing my family hold and love my baby

• sneaking off with my love to go on a walk through the woods :)

• eating lots and lots of fresh vegetables and fruit

• (ok I'm not that healthy).... I must also add to the list cake (chocolate and vanilla because I just had to try them both), cookies, and handfuls of peanut butter mnm's!

• being encouraged by my extra brother who has failed a test more times than I have and still is not giving up!

• watching Kole sway back and forth in his new swing

• the humor of my aunt and cousins who stole Kole, took off his cute Cardinals onsie and replaced it with a Brewers onsie!

• talking with my brother's girlfriend Julia and getting to know her better

• watching my mom learn how to use her new Ipad!!

• seeing a beautiful couple in love who can't WAIT to get married in a month, and remembering what that felt like :)

• playing FIVE CROWNS.....it's not over til the Kings go wild!

• changing out of my dress into comfty pj pants......ahh thanks Sarah!

• getting my toenails painted.....thanks Kase, they look very berry good :)

• enjoying a late night pot of coffee and great conversation with the three sets of sisters I love so much

• soaking up the love and generosity of my family and feeling SO blessed because next weekend I get to do it all over again with my MARSHALL family who is equally loving and generous and fun!!

I'm proud to say for this gathering I did have the time to bake some cookies and they turned out so good.  Oreos and cream cheese that's all I have to say.  I found the recipe on Brown Eyed Baker.

Oreo Cheesecake Cookies


½ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
3 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup mini chocolate chips
1 cup Oreo cookie crumbs

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

2. In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter and cream cheese on medium speed until smooth and well-combined.

3. Add the sugar and vanilla extract and mix until the ingredients are well-combined. Add the flour and mix on low until the flour is incorporated. Stir in the mini chocolate chips with a rubber spatula.

4. Place the Oreo cookie crumbs in a small bowl. Scoop the cookies into about 1½ to 2″ balls and then roll in the cookie crumbs. Place the cookie balls on the baking sheet. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the tops are slightly puffed.

5. Cool on the pan for 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.