BEST Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars Ever!

Serves 8
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups mixed milk and semisweet chocolate chips (about 9 ounces)

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
4. Add egg and vanilla, mixing until they are fully incorporated.
5. Add flour mixture, and beat until just combined.
6. Stir in chocolate chips.
7. Transfer dough to a 9x9 glass pan, and press to flatten, covering the bottom of the pan. Bake until the edges are brown and top is golden, 40 to 45 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool, 15 to 20 minutes. Cut into bars. Serve each with a large glass of ice cold milk.

Jello Cake

Here is my grandmas recipe, this is my dad’s and hubbys FAVORITE cake in the whole world it’s similar to a soda pop cake.

1 box white cake mix (or a from scratch white cake)
1 box strawberry Jello
1 Box Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix
1 Tub of Cool Whip

Bake cake. Make Jello but DO not refridgerate or let set. Poke holes all over cake with large serving fork or wooden spoon. Spoon liquid Jello mix all over cake maybe half the jello liquid. Place cake in fridge for at least a couple hours until cake is cooled. Make instant Pudding, mix in half the tub of cool whip, spread on top of cake and put back into fridge. Keep in fridge until ready to serve. Refridergate leftovers – if there are any!! It’s the yummiest summer cake ever!! The Best! Pictures to come soon!

M&M Valentine Day Cookies

These cookies are d-lish! Great to make for any holiday, since the M&M company usually put out colors that coordinate with every oliday. Hope you enjoy them! Hope each and everyone one of you have an AWESOME day!

1 Cup softened butter
1 Cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 Cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 Tablespoon real vanilla extract
2 1/2 Cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 bag regular M&M's

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a stand or electric mixer, beat the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla until well combined.  In a large bowl, mix the flour, baking soda and salt.  Add to wet ingredients.  Mix until just combined.  With a medium cookie scoop, scoop dough onto a silpat or parchment lined baking sheet about 1 1/2 inches apart.  Bake for 9-11 minutes or until slightly golden on outside edges. Lightly press M&M's into cookie .. let cool for 5 minutes on baking sheet then transfer to cooling rack to finish cooling.

approx 3 dozen cookies

Local Farmers Markets

I am a HUGE fan of Farmers Markets, they support local growers, the produce is so fresh straight from the ground .. plus it's usually cheaper than the grocery store!

Here are some links to some local Farmers Markets..

Los Angeles Area: http://www.farmernet.com/

Bakersfield Area: http://kernfarmersmarkets.com/

Central Coast: http://www.slocountyfarmers.org/

Quick & Easy Chicken Marinade

As a new mom (or a seasoned mom) we are always looking for ways to make dinner easier, but I don't like to trade healthy for easy. So take a few boneless skinless chicken breasts and marinate them (marinade recipe below) for at least 2 hours then BBQ them. Then you will have chicken already cooked for a few extra lunches, dinners, or a snack (chicken salad, fill a pita with some chicken and veggies, add to pasta the options are endless)!


(5-6 boneless skinless chicken breasts)
4 tablespoons of BBQ Sauce
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons of yellow mustard

Wisk all ingredents together, marinate for at least 2 hours in a ziplock bag.. then BBQ!

Sales in your E-mail

As we all know being a new mom (or veteran mom for that matter) keeps all of us very busy so what better than a personal shopper for FREE! Set up an account at http://www.shopittome.com/ and choose your favorite brands and clothing size. The site will search the Web for steals and e-mail you daily with the finds. Why didn't anyone think of this sooner!