Chocolate Carmel Cookies

My husband is home from Afghanistan and I couldn't be happier. One thing that makes me happiest is baking. I went on hiatus while he was gone as I really didn't see a reason to do so if he wasn't here to enjoy my cooking. The first thing that I baked for him were these chocolate caramel cookies. I had such an enjoyable time making them ( and picking at the cookie dough). Here is the recipe which can easily be halved.



Ingredients:

1 C butter

1 C sugar

1 C br sugar

2 large eggs

2 1/4 C flour

3/4 C cocoa

1 tsp baking soda

2 tsp vanilla

1 C chopped pecans

1 TB sugar

1 9 oz Rollos

Beat butter at med speed till creamy. Gradually add sugars, beating well. Add eggs beating well after each egg. Combine flour, cocoa, soda, add to butter mixture Mix well Sir in vanilla and 1/2 C chopped pecans. Cover dough and refrigerate 1 hr.

Combine remaining 1/2 C pecans and 1 TB sugar, set aside Gently press 1 TB cookie dough around 1 candy forming a ball dip 1 side of cookie in pecan mix. Place pecan side up, 2" apart on ungreased cookie sheet Bake at 275 for 8 minutes. They will look soft. Let cool 1 minute on cookie sheet.

Remove to wire rack to cool.

Care Package

Two weeks ago I sent my first care package to Matt... he should be getting it soon! Yes, that is a bottle of Cholula. I hope it makes it one piece.

I am going to try and send chocolate chip cookies to him tomorrow and see how they do... I have been testing out some new recipes and I think I found the perfect one.

Homemade cards... the one furthest to the left is the wine label from a lovely bottle of wine that Frank the jeweler from Aspen gave us.

The second one is a map Matt drew me when I first stayed in Tacoma instructing me on how to get to the water.

The third is just a cute card....



One of my homemade envelopes these were fun to make.



Ahh cookie dough! The best part of making chocolate chip cookies! The only problem is that I eat too much of it and then can't have any of the baked cookies because my stomach hurts.

Parent's new home

My parent's new house... view from the back deck... so pretty

Deogie Bear

Since I moved from CB and am waiting for Matt to come home I am living in my parent's basement ( no joke) and have quite a few spider friends. Since I don't like killing any living things, I am participating in the spider relocation program. I let this guy out only to have him crawl back into the house. Geez...

DeogieBear

Anyone that knows me, knows how much I LOVE my dog. I don't even think of him as a dog to be honest. I think of him as a small, black, furry, LIFE FORCE. He is so sweet. He follows me everywhere I go but not in an annoying way. More like, I move some where, look down and there he is kind of way. He is my best animal friend.

Once Matt gets back and we have a yard we will get some chickens to keep Deo company. I hope they all cuddle together. That or he might eat them... we shall see.

Prayer

I wrote this in one of my journals before going to bed the other night.

Funny thing is, I woke up to an email from Matt the next morning saying he could feel people's prayers working (without him knowing I could feel them too).

Fasting

While Matt is at war, I am doing the Orthodox fast in his honor, but also because I tend to turn to food to comfort me.

Something that rang true for me in a recent conversation with Matt is that he told me we should not be slaves to our bodies, our bodies should be slaves to us.

In doing something like a fast, it is not only an important way to focus on prayer for Matthew but also to remind myself that my soul has power over my physical body.

Here are the fasting rules.

The hardest part for me will be my salmon and feta salads with olive oil that I have for lunch. OH, and not having wine. :)

Orthodox Christians are to keep a strict fast every Wednesday and Friday.

The following foods are avoided:

Meat, including poultry, and any meat products such as lard and meat broth.

Fish (meaning fish with backbones; shellfish are permitted).

Eggs and dairy products (milk, butter, cheese, etc.)

Olive oil.

Wine and other alcoholic drink.

So if I get hungry or crave something that I can't have, I am going to pray for Matthew. I have a feeling I will be praying a lot!

Honored

I am so honored to have been given a necklace ( originally worn as a pin) that has been passed down for three generations. Matthew's grandmother wore it when his grandfather went to war, Becca wore it for Matt's last two deployments and now I get to wear it for his last deployment. Every time I feel it on my neck ( I wear it every day) I am reminded of him and all of the men and women out there who are fighting for our great country.