Cheesecake filled Graham Cracker cookies!

I started thinking today wouldn't it be amazing to have cheesecake inside of a cookie.  Then was just trying to figure out what kind of cookie would be best.  I had never heard of a graham cracker cookie but that was the first thing that came to mind.  I felt like a genius!  So Abbey, Nathaniel and I immediately went in the kitchen to concoct something.  After eating these bad boys I'm so proud and have to share the recipe!

Yield: 2 dozen large cookies

The Cookie:

2 sticks softened unsalted butter

1 1/2 cup sugar

2 egg

2 cup AP flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup graham cracker crumbs

The Filling:

8oz softened cream cheese

1/4 cup sugar

2 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350.  Start by mixing all of the filling ingredients together.  I covered and put in my fridge while I was making the cookie dough.  

Cream the butter and sugar together.  Add the eggs one at a time scraping the sides of the bowl after each egg.  Add in flour, baking soda, salt and vanilla.  Mix in the graham cracker crumbs (you can buy them already ground up in the baking isle at any grocery store, or just finely grind up some graham crackers) Mix until combined.  

Take a ball of cookie dough (about 2tbsp) put 1tsp of the cheesecake mixture on it then add another cookie dough ball on top.  Make sure to seal the edges.  I rolled mine back into balls.  Put them on a foil or parchment paper lined pan about 2 inches apart.  ( I used foil because I was out of the parchment paper worked just as good and didn't have to spray any cooking spray) Bake for 8-10 minutes.  Let cool on a wire rack.  

I found they are good both after being in the fridge and leaving them at room temp.  I think it's totally up to your preference.  I hope you enjoy!!

Every time I look at this picture I want another one!

Pinkalicious 3rd Birthday!

Even though her bday was in November I thought I'd go ahead and post about it.  She is obsessed with the book Pinkalicious and the color pink so we had to throw a Pinkalicious party for her.  It was so much fun to plan!!
It all started with her invitations.  I took this picture and made an invitation on Shutterfly.  I just loved how they turned out!

I started making and planning for it months in advance.  I made wands for all the kids.  Pink for the girls and Green for the boys.  I made one a couple weeks early and let my kids play with it a bunch to make sure it wouldn't break so they would last a while!

I got some crowns for all of the kids in the dollar section at target.  Which I'm pretty much obsessed with.  We tried to keep everything as "Pinkatastic" as possible.

I made cupcakes to look like the ones Pinkalicious made with her mom in the book.  Then made some homemade marshmallow pops to match the cupcakes

I made a bracelet for each girl with their names on it for the goodie bags.  Most of them still wear them too:)

Since she was turning 3 and was more excited about her friends being there then playing a game I just decided while they were eating their cupcakes to read them the book just in case someone hadn't heard it before.  It was so fun I can't wait to start planning her next party!

Sidewalk Chalk fun

We LOVE playing with sidewalk chalk.  Especially the Crayola it has the brightest colors.  In fact it's become part of our daily routine.  As soon as most of the back patio is shaded we make our way out there to start having some fun.  Nathaniel is really just into breaking the chalk or throwing it in the grass for me to go find later.  Abigail is the brains behind whatever I try to draw.  She has some great ideas.  If only I was a better artist haha!

She wanted her and N to be King and Queen:

Watch out for a rainstorm:

Dora mermaid :

She then decided I needed to draw her and N:

She wanted her pic taken with her:

He didn't really care about this but she wanted it to happen:

So much fun!  

Jell-o Playdoh

So simple and easy to do!  I found a recipe at modernparentsmessykids.com.  It makes a ton!  I ended up making two batches because Abigail wanted pink and purple but definitely could have halved or even quartered the recipe.
I think I love this recipe so much because it #1 was so simple and #2 smells soo good!
All you need is:
1 cup flour
1 cup warm water
2 tbsp salt
2 tbsp cream of tarter
2 tbsp cooking oil
1 3oz package of Jell-o

Mix together all ingredients in a small saucepan.  Cook over medium heat stirring continuously.  You will know when you are done because you won't be able to stir anymore.  It will actually look like playdoh.  After it's done put it on a floured silpat mat or a floured cutting board.  Let it cool completely.
It took me about 30 minutes.  Knead it with some additional flour until its no longer sticky.  You will need to store this in the fridge in an airtight container.  It will last a couple of weeks with daily use before you need to make some more.
It was so fun for us I hope it's fun for you too!

Mix in saucepan:

It will start to thicken:

This is the batch of grape Jell-o:

Both grape and fruit punch batches:

How much one batch made:

Pirate Party Cupcakes

I had a friend ask me to make cupcakes for her son's 3rd birthday party.  These were so much fun to make and went so cute with her decorations!  I also made some homemade marshmallows in shark shapes for her to give out as favors.

Beach and waves cupcakes:

Shark Marshmallow Favors:

Beach cupcakes were so easy and fun to make! I made my own frosting spread it over the cupcake and then just dipped them in graham cracker crumbs.  I made some fondant starfish to put on them just for some extra decoration.  In the ocean cupcakes I added some shark fins also made from fondant.  I am so excited with how they turned out!

Best Chocolate Chip Cookies Ever!

I can't even explain how much I love chocolate chip cookies. Just give me a glass of milk to drink along with it and man I am there! This recipe makes the most perfect chocolate chip cookie! I had the kids helping make them yesterday so we made some of them with caramel and some with chocolate but left most of them non filled:)
Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 stick plus 6 tbsp unsalted room temp butter
1 3/4 cups packed light brown sugar
2 eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/2 tsp baking soda
8oz chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325.
Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
Cream butter and sugar together, cream till light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time. Scrape any unmixed ingredients off the side between each egg. Turn down the mixer and add the vanilla. Add the flour, salt, and baking soda and mix well until smooth. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop 12 equal amounts of cookie dough on each cookie sheet. Bake in preheated oven for about 10 minutes. Let cookies cool before transferring to a wire rack.

Yield: about 3 1/2 dozen