Surprises

No, we didn't buy a keyboard, but I was surprised on Sunday when the choir director in our ward found me after Church and handed this to me. She wants me to accompany the choir on a song for the Christmas program but I told her I didn't have a piano to practice on (and you need a code to get into the Church, so I can't just borrow someone's key). Yay for having a piano to play for the next little bit, even if it is just a small keyboard.



Don't you LOVE getting surprise packages in the mail? It's seriously the best thing ever. Steve's mom sent us these extra BYU football shirts they ordered along with some early Halloween candy.



Okay, this is only exciting to me, but I got some speech materials in the mail that I forgot I ordered! I am especially excited about the books which will help me with doing therapy in the classroom.



On Wednesday night I only got 4 hours of sleep because I was doing IEP progress reports to go out with report cards. When I came home from work on Thursday evening I found this: the perfect nap set up. I can tell you right now I hopped straight in bed, I was so tired after a night of progress reports and a day of meetings and kids. Steve and I don't really get to see each other on Thursdays so this was really thoughtful of him. He even stayed up late with me the night before.

Jammin'

For 2 months we have had an untouched jar of store bought strawberry jam in our fridge so we figured it was finally time to try making freezer jam. And guess what? It was just as easy as everyone says it is. We will never buy jam again.


Boiling the pectin.


Stirring it all together.



The finished product the next day. I love my husband :) (I'm not being sarcastic, I really do)

Peanut Blossoms

My mom makes great cookies. They are always soft and delicious. One of my favorites are some peanut butter cookies with Hershey's kisses on top that won the 9th Pillsbury bake-off in 1957. I'll post the recipe below, but you can also find it at this link on Pillbury's website. For the past few years or so I have really stunk at making cookies. They have been anything but soft and delicious (although I do have the sweetest husband who eats them everytime and never complains). Tonight I FINALLY made a good batch! I swear I once knew how to make good cokies, but somehow my abilities have completely disappeared. What are your tips for making good cookies? Here are the things I've learned:

• If your cookies spread out make sure the dough is not too warm. I put mine in the fridge for a few minutes before putting the cookies on the pan.
• Also try to use a cool pan. I have been using one pan when I make cookies and it was so hot it melted the dough and made the cookies spread out even before I put them in the oven.
• Shortening is better than butter if you're trying to keep the cookies from spreading out. If you do use butter and you're trying to soften it, don't melt it! Use real butter or at least "real" margarine. The "healthy" margarine does not work well in cookies.
• If you like soft, chewy cookies, set the timer for 1-2 minutes less than it says in the recipe. It stinks to open up the oven and see that the cookies are already crispy even though you put them in for the minimum amount!

Peanut Blossoms

INGREDIENTS
1 3/4 cups Pillsbury BEST® All Purpose Flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
Sugar
48 Hershey's® Kisses® milk chocolates, unwrapped

DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 375°F. In large bowl, combine flour, 1/2 cup sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, salt, shortening, peanut butter, milk, vanilla and egg; mix with electric mixer on low speed until stiff dough forms.
2. Shape dough into 1-inch balls; roll in sugar. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
3. Bake at 375°F. for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Immediately top each cookie with 1 milk chocolate candy, pressing down firmly so cookie cracks around edge; remove from cookie sheets.