Halloween Twenty Fourteen

November 1, 2014 ~ Crystle ~ 1 Comment

Margot will likely leave Alaska thinking Halloween is always spent with loads of winter clothes layered underneath an oversized costume, and that the sugary yield is always to be forfeited over to her greedy, salivating parents. Alaskan toddlers; they have it rough!

Nevertheless, Margot headed out the door for her first participatory Halloween celebration dressed head to toe in Patagonia gear, and a giraffe suit. I almost cried when I saw her waddle down the driveway, shuffling through the snow in her clunky snow boots, while holding her daddy’s hand. She’s just growing so fast, I really wanted to treasure the moment.

I stayed behind to hand out candy, and hang out with Woody. It was about 12F out, and I was feeling pretty partial to my comfortably heated sitting room downstairs. Woody can’t speak, but I’m sure he’d agree with me.

We were later joined by the Smith family. Their son Gavyn, just two months younger than Margot, is the apple of her eye. She’s been having a blast at play dates with him since the spring, and we mothers joke that they’re young betrothed sweethearts. They hug, and they share contagious giggles that echo off the walls of our cozy homes. Very few things bring more delight than watching them play together.

After this Halloween, I’m convinced I need to keep a big box of costumes on hand for regular play time. Kids in costumes are the greatest!

We (mostly Isaac and I) binged on candy tonight, and will likely feel a gnarly sugar hangover for the next few days (as we continue the Halloween binge – Ha!) since we have lots of leftover candy this year. I’m still trying to figure out if that’s a problem.

Valentine’s Day Peanut Butter Cookies

February 10, 2014 ~ Crystle ~ 2 Comments

Growing up, Valentine’s Day was one of my favorite holidays. I loved the cards, the crafts, the candies and the parties. I still do, and I hope to make this holiday just as special for my kids growing up.

This time last year, I was heavily pregnant with Margot, and our cupboards were rather bare (it’s funny how chores take a back seat when you’re 8 months preggy). I felt compelled to bake a Valentine’s Day treat for my husband so he’d have something nice to come home to — so I gathered a few pantry staples and made these peanut butter cookies shaped like hearts. I’m sharing the recipe and how-to tips on shaping your cookies just in case any of you find yourself scrambling for a last minute Valentine’s Day treat. These cookies are made a little less sweet, making them great for dipping in (chocolate) milk, or sandwiching with nutella, for those of you with a sweet tooth.

Follow the instructions posted below to make your cookie dough. When that’s complete, line your baking sheets with parchment paper, and roll out the dough into 1 1/4″ balls and line them up, 12 cookies per baking sheet.

Take the flat end of a fork and part the top of the cookie, pressing each side outward to form the top of the heart. Pinch the bottom of the cookie to form the bottom of the heart.

Use the prong end of the fork to flatten the cookie down a bit, creating the signature peanut butter cookie criss-cross.

Once your cookies are shaped, sprinkle with granulated sugar and bake for 6-9 minutes at 375F.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Peanut Butter Cookies for Valentine's Day 095A7215

Valentine’s Day Peanut Butter Cookies

Recipe Type: Dessert

Author: Crystle

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 8 mins

Total time: 18 mins

Serves: 36

Festive Valentine’s Day Peanut Butter Cookies, made light with whole wheat pastry flour, light sugar and other pantry staples.

Ingredients

1 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 large egg
1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour (or all-purpose flour)
1 tsp baking soda

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375F
Beat sugar, peanut butter, butter, vanilla and egg on med speed until creamy.
Blend in flour and baking soda on low speed until well blended.
Shape dough into 1 1/4″ balls. Using flat end of fork, part and spread the top of the ball open to form the top of the heart. Pinch the bottom of the ball to form the bottom of the heart. Flatten each half into criss-cross pattern with prong end of the fork.
Bake 6-9 minutes or until set. Cool on cookie sheet 2 mins, remove to wire racks to cool.

Happy Holidays!

November 23, 2012December 9, 2012 ~ Crystle ~ 16 Comments

Hello Friends and Family,

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! We gobbled ’til we waddled with fellow military families in our neighborhood. It’s great having my husband’s co-workers as neighbors, let me tell you. It’s also really nice to meet other military wives who know the stresses and demands of our lifestyle.

Now that Thanksgiving is over, we are 100% geared up for Christmas. We wasted no time in picking up a Christmas tree and decorating it. I took a few photos of the occasion, since it’s a first for us. Last year, on December 23 Isaac and I were busy eloping in downtown OKC. It left little time for us to set up decor for a proper Christmas.

This year, we’re in our brand new home, and expecting our first child (due March 8th). With all those big events behind us, and on the horizon, it was only natural that we go all out on Holiday this year.