I Loved the Photo Ops....Vegas Style

The lady singing for our gondola ride was amazing!  What a treat!

I almost bought a few more, but we don't have the space in our house for them.

Chewy Caramel Mystery Cookies and First Attempt at Homemade Sugar Scrub

Chewy Caramel Mystery Cookies

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
• 1 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup caramels (halved...about 20 whole ones)
• 1 cup roughly chopped miniature chocolate candy bars (I used Mr. Goodbar)
• 3/4 cup M&M's (for tops)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and baking soda.  In another large bowl use a mixer to beat butters and sugars until fluffy (about three minutes).  Beat in eggs, scraping down as needed.  With mixer on low, beat in flour mixture in three additions until combined.  Beat in vanilla.  Fold in caramels and candy bars.

2.  Using a 1/3 cup scoop drop dough 2 inches apart.  Bake eight minutes.  Remove from oven; press candies onto cookies, then rotate sheets and bake until golden around the edges and set in centers, about 8 minutes. 

Note:  I goofed and only put in one stick of butter. One stick is the common amount used in many recipes.  The cookies were good, but they would have been better if I had used the second stick of butter.

I made my first Homemade Sugar Scrub for a few special mommas I know.  I ended up making five of them.  I started with this recipe because it was simple, and I didn't have anywhere to buy essential oils.  I am going to place an order for some essential oils, but want to check with my MIL to see what she prefers to use in her soapmaking business.  This recipe was nice because I had all the ingredients on hand.

Now I'm off to put the finishing touches with HH on the Angry Birds party we are throwing at 3:00 today! 

More Las Vegas

These pictures were taken inside The Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas. 

A Grand Day....

I got called to the office after lunch.  One of our assistants came to the room and said that she was here to watch my kids.  I was needed by the principal in the office.  I was freaked out.  I had gotten on the principal's son pretty good earlier in the day, but nothing too big than before.  She said that she had heard he was having a rough day, etc.  I explained to her about it, then she talked about summer school and testing.  I came back into the room with the lights off, and when I turned the lights on my HH was heading the kids in singing "Happy Teacher Appreciation Day to You," and I had a balloon, reese's cups, and card.  He made out how the kids really helped him with it, and they felt so proud.

I made "Cookie Salad" for my kids.  I really was worried about the flavor combination, but it really worked.  I took a picture of one of my kids who had been saying he wouldn't try the dessert all week. 

Cookie Salad

The nuggets are graduating from preschool tomorrow, so I made them "Way to a Man's Heart Cookies."  HH says the title certainly holds.  This was my first experience with the silaplat, and they are awesome!

One of my students asked me to sign her autograph book.  I asked her what page she wanted me to sign, and she pointed to a page with writing at the bottom.  I love what she said about me!

Comfort Food

For church I made Mexican Dorito Casserole.  It got busy quickly at church, and I didn't have time to take a picture. 

(I cooked the chicken in advance, and shredded it last night to help with time.  I did have to overcompensate on soup, tomatoes, and sour cream in order to make up for the dryness of the chicken.)

I also had Barbecued Potato Wedges.  They had a really nice flavor to them, and were not too spicy.  Thanks to HH for cutting the potatoes into small pieces while I finished the casseroles.

Tomorrow, I saved one of the best desserts for last.  I've made my team Orange Dreamscicle Cake!  I am falling in love with zesting citrus fruits!  I wanted to gobble this cake up right out of the oven!

I also got my Pampered Chef products delivered tonight at church.  I can't wait to try out my springfoam pan.  After school gets out I will be attempting my first "real" cheesecake.

Appreciating On....

I made Frozen Lemonade in a Jar for our special area teachers.

I made Blueberry Banana Bread for church tonight (two loaves).  I found out that you just have to ask at the grocery store, and they will sell you the bananas from the back.

(The other one was made in a glass container, and it didn't expand on the sides like the one pictured here did.)

Las Vegas Again

I was your typical tourist taking tons of photos.  The smoke in the casinos as we went through didn't really bother me until the evenings.  Then, it started to get to me.  My eyes would water, and my head started to hurt. 

Monday Night Fare

We had friends over tonight.  They have had a very busy two weeks with family in from out of state, and we've been busy too.  (It pays to proofread...I originally typed 'busty' instead of busy!)  There have been Cinco De Mayo recipes everywhere, and these are two that I wanted to give a whirl. 

Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Soup

Mexican Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

I didn't get a picture of these!  We were cooking them right before our company arrived. 

Butterscotch Marshmallow Bars
(Apparently even my CAT Lilly thinks these are good...as I have her footprint in the first batch to prove it.)

It's teacher appreciation week....how are you appreciating those awesome teachers in your life?  I made the third grade team at my school "Grown-Up Gold Fish Crackers."

I ordered another spice rack today. I'm always on the lookout for things to compliment my cooking, and I have a big cluster of items that I need to be able to see without pulling up twenty different containers.

I have also stepped up in the world of my containers for brown sugar and powdered sugar. 

I made Banana Rice Krispies for the 4th grade teachers tomorrow.  I love how "traditional" they look...then when you bite into them....WOW!  Flavor!

I made Cake Batter Granola Bites for the nuggets at my friend's daycare. 

Off to do some blah chores.  I caught up on the laundry.  Fun times! :)

Max Brenner's Chocolate Restaurant

Within an hour of checking in our hotel, we were at Max Brenner's Chocolate Restaurant. 

Great slogan for the restaurant!

HH had to ask if there was real chocolate flowing through the pipes.  The server said that they tell all the kids that.  :)  Real life Wonka!

I wanted to buy a "hug mug".... but I have a ton of glass mugs.