I omitted the walnuts because (a) I’ve never been a nut in your cookies kind of girl and (b) J is allergic. But, besides that I stuck straight to the recipe and they were perfect.

Oh! And I baked them for 11 1/2 minutes instead of the 10 minutes they suggest. But that may vary depending on each persons oven. I found they are best when you take them out just when they’re slightly golden brown on the edges.

Crispy/crunchy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. Just how I like my cookies. Divine.

Recipe here.

Ultimate comfort food,… Especially on another rainy day like today.

Yum.

Add in some homemade blueberry muffins, fresh out of the oven, and it’s complete.

Blueberry muffin recipe here.

Pumpkin patch cupcakes!

I’m not sure if these are a common thing,…but I specifically remember, when I was about 9 or 10 years old, one of my mom’s friends bringing over a tray of these during the fall season. They must have made an impact on me, because after all these years, I still remember them and for the past few years have made them each fall season. I thought they were so fun, cute, and unique…definitely something a child would love to eat (that is, if they like coconut!).

Ruby and I made them a week or so ago. We had fun and kept it simple. The ingredients: a box of cake mix, a container of icing, 1/2 of a bag of coconut flakes, green food coloring, and candy pumpkins.

Bake your cupcakes. While they are cooling, mix a few drops of green dye in with the coconut flakes. Add more coloring until you’ve reached the consistency you like to make the “grass”. Throw your icing on, then dip the top of the cupcake in the coconut and top off the cake with a candy pumpkin.

Such a sweet little treat!

a pretty amazing treat.

And fairly simple,….just wanted to share since our family enjoyed them. I made two 9×13 trays in one week. We shared them with friends and neighbors,…and of course we ate a few or more . A perfect way to use up all those apples you’ve picked at the orchard this fall season.

Here’s the recipe via Betty Crocker… Caramel Apple Bars.

Enjoy!

A perfectly cool and healthy treat for this warm summer weather.

Couscous chopped salad,….left over couscous from the night before mixed with chopped up vine-ripened cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, kalamata olives, grilled chicken, and a handful of feta cheese, seasoned with a bit of kosher salt and freshly ground pepper.

A nice light lunch on this warm sunny day.

For me, make it 2 scoops and add some salted caramel in the mix…

But for Ruby,…her special request,… a “pink” brownie.

Some pink sprinkles were added,…such joy from one little girl for her dainty “pink” brownie.

I love little girls!

Delicious Cocoa Brownie recipe by Alton Brown. Check it out,…my opinon?? They were even better the NEXT day!

Of course there were cupcakes for the birthday girl…

We ordered Ruby’s cupcakes from the same local bakery we used for Ruby’s first birthday. Delicious cupcakes, great price, and simply cute.

And then there were the appetizers and kid friendly snacks… I’m sad I didn’t get a photo of the table fully filled with food, but this photo will have to do (thanks for snapping it, Candice!!).

For the kids there were fruit kabobs,…

watermelon butterflies (cut out by my lovely husband with a butterfly cookie cutter!),

butterfly cream cheese sugar cookies (best EVER recipe for sugar cookies,…handed down to me by my mother in law), and an assortment of goldfish crackers, honeywheat pretzel sticks, cheese sticks, pigs in a blanket, and juice boxes (all not pictured). I arranged the cocktails cups for the kids with the pretzels and goldfish, like last year, in little cupcake liners.

For the adults, we had a mixture of appetizers…simple to make, but still delicious!

Pioneer Woman’s jalapeno bacon poppers,… SO GOOD!

Pioneer Woman’s crab dip served with warm toasty bread and pita chips,…

An antipasto platter,…

and a raspberry lemonade punch for ALL!

YUM!

Fun to set the table.

Fun to make place cards for each guest (excuse the two napkins at Grandma’s place, I was trying to figure out where to place them and I’m completely indecisive…)

Fun to create special place mats for the little girls…

Fun to see the cousins together.

Fun to cook and fun to eat!