Oh, Monster Cookie, how can I bake you?

Oh, Monster Cookie, how can I bake you? Let me count the ways . . .

I can bake you with M&Ms, chocolate chips or
I can bake you with peanut butter M&Ms, or
I can bake you with pecans and dried cranberries,
Or how about with macadamia nuts, coconut and maybe some white chocolate chips

How do you make your Monster Cookies?

Next time I will leave out the chocolate chips and add more coconut and pecans.  The chocolate chips are too sweet for me.

When you bake them do you keep them the size of other cookies or do you monster size them?

We like to make ours large, sometimes they are as big as a plate!  Why else would you call them Monster Cookies????

Monster Cookies

1 lb butter, softened
4 cups sugar
2 lb brown sugar
12 eggs
1 Tbsp light corn syrup
2 Tbsp vanilla
8 tsp baking soda
16 -18 cups oatmeal
3 lbs peanut butter
7 oz shredded coconut
1 medium bag M&Ms
1 medium bag peanut butter M&Ms
1 lb chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine butter and sugars.  Mix until well combined and light and fluffy.  Add eggs one at a time, mixing in between.  Ad corn syrup, vanilla , and baking soda.  Mix well.  If you are using a stand mixer you will want to transfer the mix at this time to a very LARGE BOWL or I have even used a stock pot.  Add oatmeal and coconut. Stir and then add M&Ms and chocolate chips.  At this point I find it is easier to use my hands to mix, the bonus is silky smooth hands.

Using a large teaspoon or ice cream scoop onto cookie sheets.  BAKE at 350 for 12 -15 minutes.

NOTE:  We only make a dozen or so at a time and keep the cookie dough in the fridge until we are ready for another fresh batch of cookies.  Also, these cookies are gluten free.

Today, I am linking up to I'm Lovin' It and Friday Favorites!

Before I Eat . . .

I just had to share this once I saw it,  you can't help but laugh out loud.  I love Anita Renfroe!  Enjoy!!!

Cake and more Cake

This Sunday we celebrated my husband's grandpa's 92nd birthday.  His request was a Lady Baltimore cake.  This recipe was somewhat of a challenge to find and make, but I did it.

 The older generation seemed to be in heaven.  I sent pieces home with some of them, including the birthday boy.  We decided not to scare him with 92 candles and only put 10 on, he didn't need any help with blowing the candles out, even though A was standing by waiting to assist.

If you are interested in a recipe for Lady Baltimore, I suggest you venture over to Epicurious.  I was a little intimidated by the frosting, it seemed like it took an hour to whip until cool, but it worked and as I have said before those that tried it loved it.  It is not one of my favorites, but I enjoyed making it for the birthday boy.

On Sunday, I made a second cake for my kiddos and my hubby liked it so much I made it for our hunters' first meal.  Sunday we named it Dave's Yellow Cake but last night when I made it again I entitled it Dave's Mistake Cake.  When I was preparing to make it the first time I sent him to the grocery store for a yellow cake mix and he came home with a lemon mix.  It was yellow and to him that is all that mattered, well it made the cake even more enticing than the yellow mix, so we are keeping it.  Here are some pictures and then I will share the recipe.

Dave's Mistake Cake

1 lemon cake mix
4 eggs, seperated
1 1/3 cup orange juice
1/4 tsp cream of tartar
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 cups whipping cream, chilled
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 quart strawberries, sliced

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line 2, 9-in pans with aluminum foil, leaving extra to use later to lift cake out of pans. Grease pans.

Mix orange juice, egg yolks, and cake mix.  Beat on medium speed for 4 minutes.  Pour into pans.

In a large bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar on high speed until soft peaks form.  Gradually add one cup of sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.  Gently spread meringue over cake batter and bake for 35-40 minutes.  Meringue should be golden brown.  Cool completely.

To assemble:  lift edges of aluminum foil to remove cakes from pans, gently pull foil away from cakes.  Whip whipping cream, 1/4 sugar, and vanilla until stiff peaks form.  Place one cake on a plate with meringue side up, spread 1/2 of whipped cream on top of meringue. Layer strawberries on top of whipped cream, then place second cake on top and repeat with whipped cream and strawberries.  Enjoy!!!

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Today, I am linking up to I'm Lovin' It over at Tidy Mom.  Please head on over and show everyone some love.  Also, check out Friday Favorites on Simply Sweet Home.

Easter Memories

Easter is one of my favorite holidays. Spring brings such a feeling of joy and newness after the long hard winter. Grass is turning green, tulips are poking their heads up, birds are singing and we take time to celebrate our risen King. Easter is a glorious time of year.

We begin our celebration by dying eggs, this year we went crazy and sprinkled them with glitter!! And of course we used some for deviled eggs on Sunday. Sandy at Reluctant Entertainer has a fool proof method for boiling eggs, I know, I tried it. We joke that I can do anything in the kitchen except boil eggs and fry bacon. Well, now I can boil eggs and as for the bacon, I'll just keep sticking it in the oven and if it needs to be fried, I will have Dave do it. He likes to feel needed!!!

As you can see, we didn't fair too well on the whole picture thing. No one wanted to behave, if anyone knows the trick to getting your child to smile naturally, I would love to hear about it.

We also had the customary egg hunt after lunch. Dad and Grandpa always get very creative with where they hide the eggs. We missed the cousins this year, but we still had a great time. Almost every Easter is spent at my in-laws. They have a beautiful home in the canyons. And every year, well at least the last few years, we all get the flu!!! I am not kidding. This year no one was sick, thank goodness, but the last few years it ran through the family. Last year I was sick for two weeks! This is one tradition we hope is over!!

We are blessed to live near Dave's grandparents, both sets and a few of his aunts and uncles. I love that our children know their great grandparents. They enjoy spending time with them and of course the greats love it too.

Well, since this is my baking blog I should share with you about our meal. I only needed to do one thing this year and that was green bean casserole, a family favorite. My oldest doesn't like gravy, can you believe it, so he uses green bean casserole for his 'gravy' - crazy boy!! We weren't able to get together for Christmas this year because of the storm, so we did turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, green bean casserole, rolls, deviled eggs (which I made as well), homemade cranberry sauce, chocolate cream pie, pecan pie, and cream puffs. Everyone has their traditional meal, in my family Easter meant ham, but you know, it really doesn't matter. Making food that people love because you love them, that is the important thing. Spending time together with family and friends around the table that is the best thing about holidays and any other day of the year.

Today I am linking up to Home is . . . over on Reluctant Entertainer hop on over and see what others are sharing about their Easter memories.