Viva Las Vegas!

Pastor's Wives, we are a unique breed.  I was able to go to Leading and Loving It ReTreat with 550 of these ladies.  I stayed with a lady from my Connect Live group, and got to spend time with others that I've know virtually.  One of the biggest parts of the conference that was most meaningful to me was having spiritual truths that I tell others all the time poured into me. I already registered for next year's retreat which will be held in Nashville, Tennessee! Here are a few pictures….

Joy the Baker

I got Joy the Baker's new cookbook "Homemade Decadence," and made her Cinnamon Sugar Muffins with Salted Caramel Frosting.

We had a missions meeting, and I made this:

Peanut Butter Pound Cake

Halloween and Cookbooks Galore

Gooey Monster Eye Cookies

Halloween 2014
Ever thankful for a husband who was a theater major in undergrad, so he never hesitates to dress up.  We have dressed up for all six years that we have known one another.

Neiman Marcus Chocolate Chip Cookies
I made a "test" batch of these and sent them to a girl who is away at college from our church.  I did a test batch, because I knew I wanted to overnight cookies to my dad for his birthday.  I wanted to make sure they passed the test, and boy do they ever!

Christmas Comes Early

HH subscribes to his late father's philosophy.  "You can be surprised, or you can get what you like."  These are the cookbooks that I picked out for Christmas.  HH said to go ahead and order them.

We Made it to Friday!

I've been leading the ladies through the James Bible study by Beth Moore.  I am really enjoying it.

Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting These were made for a special friend who teaches Sunday School at our church.

Peanut Butter Butterscotch Bars

Cream Cheese Brownie Cookies

Had a Great Weekend

So our best friends in ministry moved next door to us in August.  We had intentions of lots of time together, then school and ministry got in the way.  We haven't gotten together once just to hang out.  Tonight that changes.  We are having them and their five kids over for a kid approved meal, spaghetti and garlic toast.  I wanted to do something different for dessert, since I couldn't really experiment on the main course. Red Velvet Sheet Cake with Cookies and Cream Frosting

To come out of my four day weekend, I have a twelve hour workday.  I'm bringing cookies to the meeting that I have to go to. Mexican Hot Chocolate Shortbread Cookies

Trying New Things in Baking

I can't believe that we are almost finished the first quarter.  We had conferences two nights this past week, but I am in the middle of a four day weekend, and loving it.  
This post represents a back log of recipes I've been meaning to post.  
Chocolate Pinwheels

Lemon Velvet Cake

Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Cookies

White Chicken Chili

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies

My students loved how these cookies melt in your mouth!

Cinnamon Sugar Popovers 

This is my first time making popovers.  They were a bit under cooked, but overall I was pleased to try something new.  I will be making more popover recipes.

Kids Make Me Laugh

A Funny Kid Saying....

This Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday the sixth grade went on a camping trip.  I am NOT a camper.  The fifth grade teacher told me she would love to go, so our principal allowed us to change places.  I had the privilege of teaching and baking for her class.

Chocolate Chip Scones

Orange-Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Cookies Cinnamon Divinity Cookies

Pumpkin Oatmeal Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

What I'm Reading...

From the Craving Grace Book

Cocoa Bottom Pecan Banana Bars
Not too sweet, just right!

Crock Pot Potatoes Forgot to snap a picture of these, but the kids at church loved this dish.

4th Place in the Baked Goods Category

It's Rodeo and Fair weekend.  Which means that I entered the baked goods competition.  I have not been able to enter for the past two years because I was out of town.   I took the extras of all the cookies with me to school for Open House Night. Doubletree Hotel Copycat Chocolate Chip Cookies Every year, HH and I stay at the Doubletree when he has his Mayo Clinic appointments.  I LOVE their cookies.  I will keep it confidential just how many of them I've had.  (You can get them 24 hours a day, all warm and fresh.)  This recipe NAILS it when it comes to their cookies!

Amish Sugar Cookies These are the cookies that I got 4th place for!  We have a family in church who is from Pennsylvania, and they said my cookies were very close to Amish cookies.

Banana Pudding Chewy Crinkle Cookies

School Year 14

I can't believe I started my fourteenth year of teaching!  I hope to get a picture of my class soon.  
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Brookies

No Bake Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

Carmelitas 

If you only can bake one thing...bake these precious Carmelitas!  I didn't get to snap a picture, but they were GONE in a heartbeat.

Sioux Falls Photo Shoot

HH humored me again and we had our photos taken earlier this month in Sioux Falls.  We didn't take a lot of family photographs growing up, and that is something I've wanted to be different in our relationship.  

These are the preview photos, and I should be getting the final CD soon.