Oreo Cheesecake Cookies

Every year I'm invited to the best cookie swap. My cousin's friend hosts and, in order to get invited, you have to be a serious --and creative -- baker.    The first year I made heath oatmeal cookies and while they were good, they were not as unique or delicious as the other cookies there. The following year I stepped up my game and compiled a bunch of recipes and came up with Pistachio Cookies (I'll post that recipe tomorrow). They were a huge hit and I won BEST COOKIE! I was so excited! Last year I did a peanut butter, pretzel, chocolate chip cookie and did not win. This year, I'm determined to win again, so I worked my tushie off and did my compilation thing again. And, voila! We have the best Oreo Cheesecake Cookies ever. Oreo Cheesecake Cookies

• 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup flour
• 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips
• 1 cup Oreo cookie crumbs (the finer the crumbs, the better)

1. Heat the oven to 375 degrees and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. In a large bowl, beat the butter, and cream cheese until they are smooth. Slowly add the sugar and continue beating until the mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla, and then add the flour and mix on low. Mix in the chocolate chips. (Batter will be a little sticky still, but that's ok.)

3. Scoop the dough into 1-inch balls. (I used a medium cookie scoop from Bed Bath & Beyond). Drop the dough balls into a bowl of oreo cookie crumbs and roll to coat. Arrange the dough balls  an inch apart on the prepared baking sheets.

4. Bake the cookies for 10 minutes, until the edges just start to brown and the tops are set. Cool for a minute or two on the sheets, then transfer the cookies to wire racks and cool completely.

They are delish! The swap is tomorrow and I hope I win!

Holiday Traditions

I'm big on traditions. It makes me so happy when we create these memories year after year. It makes me feel grounded and connected to my past. It makes me feel like I'm giving something special to the future of my family. Many of my family's traditions revolve around food. As a little girl I remember eating ice box cake every Christmas.  I remember leaving milk and cookies out for Santa and usually getting a note back from Santa. I remember that, in our house, Santa wrapped the presents with special paper. I remember not being allowed to get up before 6 am to see what Santa brought. I'm continuing some of my family traditions with Gia and we're starting our own.  Every year we go see the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. 

Gia's face as she saw the tree for the first time.

Me & Gia in front of the tree

   Gia's Christmas dress is from Nordstrom. 

      And this year, we started another tradition: decorating Gingerbread houses. Gia calls it The Christmas House (which I think is adorable) and she had so much fun decorating the house. She probably had even more fun eating the candy that was supposed to go on the house, but that's ok. Whatever makes her happy.  

Gia and Daddy decorating

 

The finished product

What are your favorite holiday traditions?

 

MOTY Right Here

So, I have all these awesome recipe and tips 'n tricks posts planned, but they'll have to just wait another day or two to be posted. Why, you ask?  Because this little tidbit just couldn't wait.  Gia has been really struggling with sleep lately. I think she's overwhelmed with all the holiday stuff (lights! presents! Santa! chocolate! cookies!).  Developmentally, she's learning something new (potty training) and that has always messed up her sleep. Until she masters the new skill, she won't sleep so well, even though she really needs it.  So, to say nap time and bed time have been a bit of a struggle these past few weeks would be an understatement. Gia associates brushing her teeth with going to sleep because that's part of our bedtime routine. The other day she was doing everything she could to not take a nap and she asked to brush her teeth. I said ok and I set her up with her toothbrush and little kid toothpaste (aka candy in a tube). While she was brushing I went into her room, which is across the hall, to set up her humidifier. Not two seconds later I was back in the bathroom. And I there was Gia, with her toothbrush in the toilet bowl.  I was horrified.    I gasped so loudly I think my neighbors heard me. Gia looked at me and started to cry. I told her it was ok, and then I grabbed the toothbrush and promptly threw it away. I explained to Gia that it was NOT ok to put your toothbrush in the toilet because it's SO dirty. I may also have said the word 'gross' a million times because now Gia says everything is 'gross'. She definitely understood the problem, as evidenced by her solemnly repeating "No toothbrush in the toilet. It's dirty!" and then willingly drinking the cup of water I handed to her.  Mother of the Year right here, I tell ya. After the incident I consulted Dr. Google, where I learned that it wasn't really a big deal and that many kids have done this. If the bowl was flushed recently (which it had been) and if there wasn't any toilet bowl cleaner in there (there wasn't) she'd likely be fine. Well, she was fine...till last night. That's when the diarrhea started. Fun times with a potty training 2 year old. We haven't left the house because I'm afraid she won't be able to hold it. Poor kid. As soon as the pediatrician opened this morning, I called and told the nurse of our woes. And guess what the nurse did? She laughed! And then she apologized for laughing. I told her it was ok, and that I was laughing too. Because I am. Now I am, anyway. So, once again, stay tuned for the end of this story. I wonder if the doc will recommend an antibiotic or just the BRAT diet. Wait with me, and see...