Popcorn Chocolate Chip Cookies

 Say what?? You're putting popcorn in perfectly good chocolate chip cookies?? Well you have to understand something: my family LOVES popcorn. We try to have popcorn for dinner at least once a week. And when you get the chance to combine popcorn and cookies can you really pass that up? I think not.

You know those flavors that just go together? Peanut butter and jelly, hot tea and honey, apples and caramel. Well it's time to add popcorn and chocolate to this list. Seriously delish. Make them. You can thank me later :)

Popcorn Chocolate Chip Cookies (found here)

2 T Oil

1 T Butter, melted

1/4 C Unpopped Popcorn Kernels

1/4 t Salt

1/2 C Butter, softened

1/2 C Brown Sugar

1/3 C White Sugar

1 Egg

1 t Vanilla

1 1/4 C Flour

1/2 t Baking Powder

1/4 t Salt

1/2 C Chocolate Chips

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Then pop the popcorn. You can do this multiple ways, the easiest being with a popcorn popper. If you don't have one you can pop it in a brown bag in the microwave or in a skillet on the stove. After the popcorn is popped (using the kernels, oil, butter, and 1/4 t salt) set it aside. In a mixer, mix together the butter and sugars. Add the egg and vanilla. Add the flour, baking powder and 1/4 t salt until just combined. Fold in the popcorn. It will seem really uneven at first but keep stirring; the popcorn breaks down. Now fold in the chocolate chips. Drop on greased or covered cookie sheets by the spoonful and bake at 350 for 10-13 minutes. Let them cool for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire cooling rack. Enjoy!

Sunny Stripes

 I wore this to a job meeting yesterday. I just received this skirt from my dear friend, Gabby, and I love it! I was also playing with the tripod angles, so the pictures are funky on purpose! I'm also wearing a thrifted purple shirt, shell earrings that my aunt and uncle got me for my birthday a few years ago, and purple wedges that my grandma gave me.

Cinnamon Bun Scones

 My favorite thing about being home alone (or the first one up) in the morning is making breakfast. When everyone is awake and home there isn't enough space in the kitchen for me to bake. So today I made Cinnamon Bun Scones for breakfast. They were so delicious! Recipe at the bottom, as always.

Cinnamon Bun Scones (found here)
2 C Flour
1 C Oatmeal
1/4 C + 2 T Sugar
1 T Baking Powder
1/4 t Salt
8 T (1 Stick) Butter
3/4 C Milk
1 Egg
1 t Vanilla
2 t Cinnamon

Glaze:
3/4 C Powdered Sugar
1/4 t Vanilla
3-4 t Milk (I used 4, but I like my glaze a little runny)

Heat oven to 425 degrees. In a large bowl mix together the flour, oatmeal (you can use quick or old fashioned), 3/4 C sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut in room temperature butter. The easiest way to do this is with a pastry knife, but if you don't have one you can use two regular knives or a fork. In a small bowl combine the milk, egg, and vanilla. Mix it into the dry mixture until just wet. In another small bowl combine the extra 2 T sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle over the dough and swirl it in. Don't mix it in completely. Drop onto a cookie sheet in 3/4 cupfuls, or you could use an ice cream scoop. Bake at 425 for 11-13 minutes, or until brown around the edges. Cool for 5 minutes and drizzle with glaze. Enjoy!

Just Before the Rain

 I'm feeling pretty productive today :) I got my job applications turned in, my scholarship applications turned in, training finished, and paperwork finished for a training tomorrow! Therefore, I get to have fun and take pictures in the woods :) I'm wearing a new white dress that my friend Gabby (or rather, her mom) gave me. Gabby didn't want it and it just so happens that we're the same size. I'm also wearing a thrifted green jacket and thrifted orange buckle shoes. I finished taking pictures just in time for the rain to start.

Knock you Naked Brownies

First of all, I'd like to thank my friend, Lindsay, for introducing me to these brownies. They are incredible.

This is what they look like finished. Not beautiful, but incredibly delicious.

I made them for the Easter Vigil party. They are caramely, chocolatey, nutty goodness.

This is the first layer.

You have to melt the caramel candies in a double boiler until it's smooth like this.

Knock You Naked Brownies

1 Box German Chocolate Cake Mix

1 C Chopped Pecans

1/3 C Evaporated Milk

1/2 C Evaporated Milk (additional)

1/2 C Butter, melted

60 Caramel Candies

1/3 C Chocolate Chips

1/4 C Powdered Sugar (optional)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x9 pan. Mix together the cake mix (not prepared, just the powdery mix), pecans, 1/3 C evaporated milk, and butter. The mix will be very thick. Press half the mixture into the pan and bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes. While it's baking melt the caramels and 1/2 C evaporated milk in a double boiler until smooth. Pour it over the cake when it comes out. Make sure to pour it over a spatula or something because if you pour it directly onto the cake it will make a hole in your cake. Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the caramel. Press the remaining cake mix into a square slightly smaller than 9x9. Use a spatula to flip the cake mix onto the caramel covered cake. It's ok if you can't get it all at once, you can piece it together. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar once cool, if desired. Enjoy!

Red, White, and Blue

 Isn't he adorable? My sister and I like to change his bandanna based on holidays, so today it's red, white, and blue. He's very excited because we're having our Memorial Day picnic today, which means he gets to play with kids all day!

 This is what I'm wearing to the picnic. I actually just recently wore this skirt as a dress, but I changed it up a little by wearing a blue shirt over it instead of a red scarf/vest.

I hope you all have a relaxing Memorial Day with your family!

Sunday Sunshine

I got a compliment on almost every piece of this outfit, so I figure it must be worth a post :)

 I'm wearing my men's refashion skirt, a thrifted top, black tights, thrifted yellow shoes, black treble clef earrings (a gift from my friend, Lindsay), and a black and gray headband from Claires.

A little Les Mis-esque windy hair going on here...