Chewy Pumpkin Pie Pudding Toffee Cookies

 

Thanksgiving is one week away!

 

Are you ready?

 

I am!

 

I love Thanksgiving!

 

I love food in general, but Pumpkin Pie is my

favorite EVER!

 

Hold the Whipped Cream please.

 

Odd, maybe, but I want to tastes and savor

every bit of pumpkin and spice, and the

whipped cream just gets I the way.

 

Nothing gets between me and my

pumpkin pie!

 

These cookies are perfect if you are a

pumpkin pie lover.

 

No fork needed!

 

 

 

 

 

They are soft and chewy, and have a

great pumpkin flavor.

 

They get better as they sit.

 

When I first made them, I fell in love.

 

Then next day, we got engaged.

 

Then, on day three...we got married had 2.5 kids and a white picket fence.

 

So....I have to make more!

 

 

 

 

When I found the Pumpkin Pie Pudding in the stores, I

knew I wanted to make cookies, and I went

straight to my best friends Blog and found

this amazing recipe for

Simply the Softest Chocolate Chip Cookies Ever,

make them...they are wonderful!

 

But, I changed it up a little, as just like whipped cream,

I am not a huge fan of chocolate and pumpkin.

 

So I added chocolate toffee chips, they add a little sweetness, creaminess and crunch.

 

Perfection!

 

 

Chewy Pumpkin Pie Pudding Cookies

(adapted from Simply Sweets by Honeybee)

Printable version

 

2 3/4 c flour
1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt
 1 cup unsalted butter {softened} *
1/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla {I used Mexican vanilla}
1 small {3.4 oz} pkg instant pumpkin pie pudding mix
2 eggs
1 {8 oz} pkg Milk Chocolate Toffee bits
 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Combine the flour,baking soda and salt. In the bowl of your mixer add the butter, sugars, vanilla and pudding mix and beat until smooth and creamy. Then beat in the eggs until combined well. Add the flour mixture. Stir in the toffee bits. Drop about 2 inches apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes.

Yield approximately 3 dozen cookies depending on how big you scoop them. I used a #30 scoop {2 tbsp} and got 34 cookies.

 

 

This post might be linked up at the link parties found Here





Turkey Cookies for the "Kids Table"

 

 

 

Thanksgiving is right around the corner.

 

It will be here before you know it.

 

 

Don't tell the retail stores that, they

have skipped right over Thanksgiving, and

went from 4th of July right to Christmas.

 

Halloween and Thanksgiving have been

moved down the holiday food chain,

next year, they will be as popular as

Flag Day and May Day.

 

But...I love me some Thanksgiving!

 

Some of my favorite Thanksgiving memories

revolve around the

Kids Table at Thanksgiving Dinner at my

Grandma's house.

 

Our Kids Table, was banished to a small

room off the kitchen.  No fancy table cloths

no cloth napkins, no center pieces.

 

Just a card table and some "chairs".

I say "chairs" because they were often

times not chairs, but step ladders, wooden spools,

lawn chairs, boxes, whatever we could find.

But we always had fun.

  

 We also did not have

decorated cookies on our plates,

I think they would be so cute

at the kids table. 

 

 

 

And then, just to keep the little

ones busy, add an edible

food marker.

 

 

 

And have them write what they are

thankful for.

 

I made these cookies using a number eight cutter

and a simple leaf cutter.  They are easy to make

require few colors, and sure to be a hit this Thanksgiving.

This post might be linked up at the link parties found Here

Pieces of My Puzzle 11-17-13

Happy Sunday Blog Friends!

This week was much better then last week...as it was my Birthday on Friday!

I took the day off of work, and spent some "me" time.  I sent Mr. Cookie Puzzle off to work, took
Collin to school, and set off for a day all to myself.  I did what ever girl loves doing.

SHOPPING!

Guess what, I don't like shopping!  It sounded like a good idea at the time, but after 4 hours, I was over it.

People annoy me!  Sorry, I don't mean to sound rude and all anti-social, but people just get on my every last nerve.  You know the ones....they stop in the isle to look at stuff and don't move to the side.
They shop with their children, which I know has to be done sometimes, but really lady, it is 1 pm, your child is tired and hungry, they don't want to be at Kohls, TAKE THEM HOME!

Then there are the super rude clerks.  Is it too much to ask for a smile?

At the 3.5 hour mark I was just over it...I ran through the drive thru at McDonalds and came home.

And what did I get?  I came home with three blue shirt and some lip balm.  Exciting right?

Actually, I HAVE to tell you about the lip balm I got.  You know those little balls of lip balm at the check out at Walmart?  Well...they have always intrigued me a little.  What is inside that ball?   Does it work?  What does it smell and taste like?  Well..since I was my birthday, I though caution to the wind and got one!

As soon as I got in my truck, I opened up that little ball of wonder! OMG!  LOVE IT!

Eos Smooth Sphere Lip Balm

Here is the wonder that is inside.

 

It smells AMAZING!  Works to smooth your lips.  Lasts a long time.  Totally addicting!

 

*This is NOT a paid advertisement, this company has no idea who I am, I just love the product*

 

 

Moving on from the exciting birthday of blue shirts, bacon double cheeseburgers and lip balm, what else is exciting this week.

 

 

TV Time.

 

They announced the new cast of VH1's Couple Therapy this week.  Some people that I don't know, and then some of my trash TV blasts from the past. Jon Gosselin, from Jon and Kate plus 8.  This should be interesting.  I am secretly hoping that he will spill even more dirt on his ex-wife Kate, because we all know we don't know all the evil she did to him and their children (hello mommy dearest), but you know she slapped a big ole gag order on him, so I am betting we will get stupid crap about his new relationship...BORING!  And then we get the ever present Love Me, Notice Me, Do me, Farrah Abraham, from the original Teen Mom.  What is crazy, is that she is coming on the show by herself.  Uh, dude, it is called COUPLES Therapy, you are not a couple, why are you on this show.  Don't get me wrong, I can not stop being utterly appalled at all her craziness, but really VH1, COUPLES only please!.

 

Oh...and a show that I can not wait to see, Breaking the Faith, on TLC.  Confession, I have a ever so slight obsession on the FLDS topic.  I have watched many shows, documentaries, new reports, read many books, and I am still appalled at the nightmares and tragedies that go on within this "church".  I have a feeling that this might be a little like Breaking Amish, kinda sorta maybe made up, but I will be watching, I have to, I can not help myself.

 

American Horror Story!  How does this show get better and better each week?  Hank is a witch hunter.  Misty is a witch, but NOT part of the same coven.  Madison is back in the land of the living.  Misty is "growing" Myrtle back to life.  Cordillia is finally "seeing" what Hank really is.  Fiona has cancer.  And OMG...rumor has it that Stevie Nicks is doing a guest spot.  LOVE her!  Fleetwood Mac, BEST BAND EVER!

 

 

Moving from TV to Books.  I finished The House of Hades!  Rick Riordan is the master of the cliffhanger, and this book was no different.  I am DYING thinking I will have to wait a year to find out what is going on with Percy, Annabeth, Jason, Piper, Leo, Hazel, Frank and Nico.  I started The Throne of Fire, the second book in the Kane Chronicles...4 chapters in and I love it!  Collin...well, he is a reading machine, he finished the third book in the Kane Chronicles, The Serpents Shadow, and has moved onto Atlantis Rising by T. A. Barron,  not sure what it is about, but he is loving it so far.  Mr. Cookie Puzzle, his newspaper obsession continues, nothing new there.

 

 

This week on the blog I shared some awesome biscuits,

 

 

Melt in Your Mouth Biscuits

 

and some SciFi cookies

 

 

SciFi Cookies.

 

 

Next week I will have some Thanksgiving cookies...and  yummy Pumpkin Cookie Recipe.

 

Until next time

 

Hugs

 

 

 

 

 



 

SciFi Cookies

Remember when I told you that I had the chance to make
Birthday Cookies last week?

Well....I did....Star Trek cookies!

But before I get to those cookies,
I want to share cookies I made
LAST Year!

For the same birthday boy, well, man actually,
but when you have  birthday, I think you can
be called a boy!

Erica wanted cookies for her Dad's Birthday.

He is all about SciFi.

Not just any SciFi, she wanted the
1950's type of SciFi.

So...I busted out the cutters and did the best that I could.

I made some iconic "alien" cookies,
using an Easter Egg cutter.

 

 

 

 

And some "planets" using a circle.

 

Not sure which planets these are..

but I liked how they looked.

 

And SciFi Cookies are not

complete without that

classic blue rocket.

 

Or a UFO, which I made by using a football cutter combined

with a small circle.

 

 

After all...all aliens need a UFO.

 

 

 

I was happy with how they turned out

to me, these are all

Vintage SciFi, but then again

I am no expert!

 

 

 

 

 

Now...fast forward to this year!

 

Last week to be exact.

 

Again, Erica wanted cookies for her dad's birthday.

 

This year, she requested Star Trek.

 

Now, about all I know about Star Trek is

the "Live Long and Prosper" phrase, so

I needed a little help with these cookies.

 

Thankfully, a quick Google search took me to

the ever talented Sweet Adventure of Sugarbelle.

 

I found This tutorial, and using a star and circle

cookie cutter, I was able to make

Star Trek Cookies.

 

 

 

 

Until next time

 

 

Live long and Prosper!

 

 

 



Melt in Your Mouth Biscuits

 

I have a confession to make.

 

I am addicted to bread.

 

When I go to a restaurant, the first thing I go for is bread.

 

If given a choice, I will choose bread over meat or vegetables.

 

In fact, I will choose bread over sweets most times too.

 

This odd eating is not my fault at all.

 

No...the fault all sits on the shoulders of my

8th grade Home Economics Teacher.

 

She taught me all those year about how to make biscuits.

 

Not just any biscuit,

MELT IN YOUR MOUTH BISCUITS!

 

 

Do they still teach Home Economics anymore?

 

It was a required class when I was in junior high.

 

I was blessed with a wonderful teacher.

 

She taught us how to sew.

 

We made animal shaped pillows.

 

I still have mine,

it is a bright green octopus.

 

Odd choice looking back now, but I think I was

going through a phase in life where I was obsessed with all

things green...so  I chose the green octopus.

 

She also taught us how to care for a baby.

 

This lesson involved carrying around a

five pound bag a flour, which was the baby, and keep

a log of when we "fed" it, when it "slept", who cared for

our "baby" while we were busy.

 

Teen Mom 80's style!

 

Once we mastered sewing and child care,

we moved onto cooking and baking.

 

And this is where my eating habit took a turn,

 

She taught us this recipe.

 

And she made us make it over

and over again, until we were master

biscuit makers.

 

While I may not know how to make

a macaron, or Crème Brule, I can make a mean biscuit!

 

These are quick to make, and never fail me.

 

They are perfect for breakfast with gravy,

or a Pot Roast Dinner.



Melt in Your Mouth Biscuits

Printable Version

Ingredients

 

2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon cream of tarter

2 Tablespoon granulated sugar

4 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 cup shortening

2/3 cup milk

1 egg,  beaten

 

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425.  Sift together dry ingredients. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles course meal.  Slow mix in milk and egg, stirring just until combined.  Turn mixture onto a floured surface.  Knead dough five times.  Pat into a  1/2 inch thick disk.  Cut with round cutter or glass.  Place 1 inch apart onto  greased baking sheet.  Bake 10-15 minutes or until golden brown.

 

 

** Yields 8-12 biscuits depending on the size cutter you use.

***If you have an aversion to shortening, you can substitute butter. 

 

 

 

This post might be linked up at the link parties found Here

 

Pieces of my Puzzle 11-10-13

Sorry today's post is a little late, usually, I get them done Saturday, to post first thing Sunday morning, but, well...life happened.

So...let's just jump right in.  This week, has been crazy, exciting, fun and exhausting.  Nothing big really happen, but it just seemed like this week I had trouble get my act together.

Does that ever happen to you?

It seems to happen to me at least once a month.

I woke up Wednesday morning, and felt like I had been hit by a truck, I showered and tried to get ready for work, but it was just not happening.  Luckily, I have amazing bosses, and I stayed home.  I took Collin to school, and came home and slept from 8:30-2:15.  I think I just go go go all the time, and sometimes my body just says "ENOUGH" and I crash.  I woke up feeling so much better.

I had opportunity to make some birthday cookies this week.  I will share them later this week.  They were simple and fun.  Fun fact, the birthday boy, well, man actually, I mad cookies for him last year for his birthday, and never posted them, no pictures on Facebook, Instagram or my blog. So, later this week, I will share last years cookies, as well as this years.

Collin started his job on Tuesday!  He LOVES it.  He is only working a few days a week, for a few hours each day, but it is great start, and has been a positive experience.  Things are moving forward with his plans for life after school.  He is a senior this year, how time flies.

This week, I managed to watch some crazy shows on TV.  Let's talk shall we.

Real Housewives of Atlanta....OMG...they do not disappoint...those ladies KNOW how to bring the drama!  Exciting season for sure!

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.  I am curious as to see how this season unfolds.  Lisa is my favorite, and I get the impression that she is going to get the "villain" edit this year.  I am 18 times of over Kyle. Time for the Richard sisters to exit stage left.

Have you seen Secret Princes on TLC?  How did I miss this show last season.  Love it!  I seems pretty staged to me, but I love the idea.  Princes/Royalty for around the world come to America, and go undercover as common people looking for love.  The idea is to have women fall in love with them for THEM, not their title and money.  This year they are in Austin Texas.  I about died in the first episode when they went to a bar, and decided to dress as "Americans", complete with khaki shorts, Hawaiian Shirts, sun visors, and fanny packs!  Please tell me that this is not how they see Americans, and this was one of those "staged" scenes I talked about earlier.

Another show on TLC is  Extreme Cheapskates!  OMG....these people are 18 times of WACKADOODLE!  Really, I am all about saving money, being frugal, and making the most of what you have, but REALLY, I think this show should be called "I am a FREAK"  I watched a few episodes that featured a couple who share a shower, toothbrushes, dental floss, and Q-Tips!  Have you bought dental floss before?  It is like 99 cents!  That is just sick and crazy!  This same crazy couple wanted to share a coffin!  Like, whoever dies first gets buried, then when the other one dies, they will did up the first one, open up the coffin, and toss the second one in.  EWWWWWW!  Another man, he turns off the power to the house at 9pm!  I mean he actually goes to the breaker box and turns off the power to the whole house!  CRAZY!  Check out this show sometime, it will make you feel like a total normal person.

As far as what we have been reading lately, Collin is still on The Serpent's Shadow, and I am almost finished with The House of Hades.  Mr. Cookie Puzzle...he is a newspaper reader.  I mean he reads two newspapers, everyday, from cover to cover.  I glance at the paper, read the BIG NEWS story, sales, all that jazz, but Mr. Cookie Puzzle...he reads it all.  I think that is wonderful, but it gets a little annoying when I am playing on Facebook or watching TV, and he want me to come read an article about what is going on in Bolivia!  Really...how does that effect me?

So...what is coming up next?  I made some Thanksgiving cookies this weekend.  Collin has been asking for them for a week, and he was so excited when he woke up Saturday, and he found out I was making cookies just for him.  As always, they are simple cookies...but they were fun.

I also plan on posting a recipe that I have been using since I was in 8th grade..like 8 gazillion years ago. 

Last week on the blog...I made Biscotti, if you missed it, check it out...it is so easy to make, tastes yummy, and with the holiday's coming up, it is great hostess gift!

Cranberry White Chocolate Biscotti

 

 

Until next time....

 

 

Hugs!

 

 

Cranberry White Chocolate Biscotti

 

It is that time again!

 

Time for a monthly Inspiration Challenge

Hosted by

Melissa of Simply Sweets by Honeybee

and 

Stephanie of Ellie's Bites Decorated Cookies 

This month's challenge

was

Lazy Sunday Morning.

OK...that sounds like fun....I like Sunday's and I am all about the Lazy.

I decided to make 

Cranberry White Chocolate Biscotti

 

It would be a pretty big stretch for me to say that my Sunday Mornings are lazy.

While I do get to sleep later then normal, I am sure some people 

would not call 7am LATE.

It is late for me, as I am usually up by 5 am.

I help with the audio/video at church,

and have to be there by 9:15, so I don't have time to be lazy.

But I do try to have a quick, special little something

for breakfast to enjoy with my coffee, while doing a little 

blog reading before church.

Biscotti, is a real treat, and surprisingly, easy to make.

Make sure you check out the creations that

Stephanie and Melissa made.

Also, Melissa is hosing a link party, where you can 

link up all your Lazy Sunday Morning recipes, crafts and ideas.

Cranberry White Chocolate Biscotti    

Printable Version 

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

4 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3  cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

3/4 cup dried cranberries

3/4 white chocolate chips

Directions

1.  Preheat oven to 350

2. In the bowl of a stand mixer combine butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

3. Add eggs, one at a time, combing well after each egg.

4. Add Vanilla, mix to combine

5. Combine Flour, Salt and Baking Powder, gradually combine with the wet ingredients, mix until well combined.

6. Gently stir in cranberries and white chocolate chips.

7.  Transfer dough onto a well floured surface.  Divide into 3 sections.

8.  Using well floured hands, shape each section into a rectangle approximately 10 inch x 2 inch. 

9. Transfer rectangle unto baking sheet, lined  with a silpat or parchment    paper.

10. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until lightly browned.

11. Cool for 5 minutes.  Transfer onto cutting board.  Using a serrated knife, cut diagonally into 1 in slices.

12.  Transfer slices back to baking sheet, and bake an additional 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

13. Remove to wire rack to cool.  May be drizzled with additional white chocolate.  Store in airtight container for 1 week.

Inspired by Taste of Home

This post might be linked up at the link parties found Here

 

Pieces of My Puzzle 11-3-13

Happy Sunday!

 

 

Sorry I missed last week,

life happens, and a blog post

last Sunday just could not happen.

 

So let's just jump right into it.

 

 

Since we were last together, stuff has happened...like lots of stuff.

 

Kim and Kanye got engaged!  Does anyone care?

 

Prince George got baptized.  What a cutie pie...and his uncle Harry...HOT HOT HOT!

 

Real Housewives of Atlanta and Beverly Hill is back this week, as is Vanderpump Rules.

Very excited to have all these shows back!

 

American Horror Story...get's better every week.  Who is the new Supreme?  Where did Kyle go? What the heck is going on with Hank?  Spalding...wackadoodle butler king!  And..can we please see more of the Counsel...love them all!

 

No Halloween episode of The Big Bang Theory..what the heck is up with that?  Boo!

 

Have you seen Houston Beauty on the OWN network?  OMG...Beauty School DRAMA!  Add this who to your guilty pleasure list.  Mia/Ryan...way funny!

 

 

So...Collin finished reading The House of Hades, and LOVED it...I am about a third of the way into it, and this is the best book yet. LOVE it...can not put it down...in fact...it is really cut into my Candy

Crushing time...it is that good.

 

Big exciting news with Collin, Tuesday, he starts his first job!  This is something that has been a goal of ours since last year, we have tried several programs, but Collin just did not "click" with them, and finally, this one, he LOVES..he is so excited about it.  Please say a little prayer for us, this is a HUGE step in his transition plan.  This is a job that he can keep after graduation, learn many new skills, improve is social skills, and grow friendships, all of this is important to his development.  He filled out the job application by himself, went on an interview, and an orientation, and did not need the support of his Para.  I will confess, that when the teacher sent me a text saying that Collin got the job, I cried, I sat in my truck, in the Macy's Parking lot, as I was on my lunch hour, and cried.  Happy tears, as Collin achieved one of his goals, and sad tears, as this means he is growing up, and becoming independent.

 

 

Ok...now onto food stuff.  Is anyone doing Thanksgiving...or is blog land taking us straight to Christmas?

 

Before either Thanksgiving or Christmas....I did a few Halloween goodies.

 

 

Count Chocula Bark

 

 

Halloween Magic Bars

 

 

Butterfinger Eyeballs

 

Chocolate Eyeball Pretzels

 

Halloween Painting Cookies

 

 

Coming this week...

 

well....

 

You will have to come back to see!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Halloween Treats

I hope everyone had a happy and safe Halloween.

 

Now, I know this post is one day too late, but

I have a really good excuse.

 

 

Collin's Halloween Party at

his school is today, as in the day after

Halloween, so in reality, this post it

right on time.

 

Score for me!

 

 

Collin's Special Services class celebrate

all holidays, and I am honored

to always send treats.

 

So...what went to school with him this morning?

 

 

Butterfinger Eye Balls!

 

They are crazy easy, really yummy, and super gross looking!

 

You can find the recipe Here

I did use Royal Icing eyeballs instead of raisin, because

well, I wanted to.

 

 

I also made some chocolate covered pretzels.

 

 

I dipped mini pretzel rods in Bright Green

Wilton Candy Melts, then Collin added lots

of mini royal icing eyes!

 

And...since I am the official "Cookie Lady" of the

class, I sent cookies too!

 

These the kids can paint, for an activity, and then

eat them as a treat!  Win Win!

 

 

I made these cookies using the great tutorial

from Montreal Confections found Here,

 

 

If you follow me on Facebook, you know that

I had a very hard time finding Collin's

Halloween Costume this year.

 

It was sold out online, and only available in local

store, and all my stores were sold out.

 

So I did what every blogger does,

I asked on my Facebook Page for help!

 

And, my dear friend Teresa, who is a co-worker,

found one in Huntsville Alabama.

 

Great, but  I am in Central Missouri!

 

No problem, Teresa called her nephew, who lives

near Huntsville, he went and got it, and he

shipped it to me.

 

WOW!  Thank you Teresa, and her nephew.

 

Collin loved it!

 

 

 

This post might be linked up at the link parties found Here