chocolate sandwich cookies

These are one of my favorites! I can ONLY make these if I'm making them to take to them to someone outside of my house. They are way too addicting to stay around here. You may have seen this recipe before as OREO cookies. I added the cocoa...if you can add more chocolate, why not?

I've had a couple of requests for the recipe so I told them I would post it.

Here it is:

Cookies:

2 devils food cake mixes

1 1/2 cup shortening(yes, the stuff that is going to kill us all one day)

4 eggs

Combine all three ingredients well. I like to use my pampered chef 2 tbsp ice cream scoop to make nice size cookies. Bake at 350 for about 12 minutes. Be careful not to bake too long. They are not very good crispy.(Personal opinion!!)

Filling:

1- 8 oz package cream cheese

1/4 cup butter

2 3/4 cup powdered sugar

1/3 cup cocoa powder

1 tsp vanilla

Mix all ingredients until smooth.

Put two cookies together will cream in the middle. Again, I use the pampered chef 2 tbsp ice cream scoop to put the filling inside.

These are really yummy if stored in the refrigerator!!

If you like the black and white chipper from Paradise Bakery, forget about the filling and just add white chocolate chips to the cookie dough. Yum!

400 miles

run feet run!

this is my gear that helps me get through the run.

Hooray! I'm half way there! Yesterday I hit my 400th mile for the year. It felt a little energizing to know that I was going to hit the half way point for my yearly goal. And I really needed some extra "energizing" since the sun really seems to be zapping it all lately. I've not been able to get myself out of bed before 6:30 to go running and by then the sun is already getting hot. Todd and I are trying to decide on a half marathon...any suggestions?

I love the routine of running! Somehow it helps me clear my head and keep my body feeling well. I still can't believe I can actually say that. Who am I and what did they do with Liz?

i must admit...

... I like having a dog. Now let me make it clear....I don't like just any dog and it's taken me a
while to get use to this idea of a dog in my house...in my living space. But she has such a calming affect in my house. All of the children adore her.... ...and I kind of like cuddling with her to. Todd snapped this picture of me sleeping with Missy next to me on Sunday. I was so tired. The kids, Todd, and I were all playing around on the floor. I grabbed a pillow, Missy curled up with me and we both went to sleep. This little guy is 1/4 of the reason we have this dog. How cute is a little boy with a dog?

flower craft

The girls and I made this cute little bouquet of flowers to give to people as a "thank you". They all chose someone that they really appreciated(there were too many to choose from of course) and gave them this bouquet.

Here is how to make this cute little flower craft with the kiddos...

You'll need:

1 empty toilet paper tube

1 piece of construction paper

glue

tissue paper

1 foam flower for each flower

1 pipe cleaner for each flower

paper towels

Cut the piece of construction paper to fit around the tube and glue down. Cut flowers of different shapes and sizes out of tissue paper. Layer 3 tissue paper flowers and 1 foam flower on top. Poke the pipe cleaner through all of the layers and twist the end. Lay the paper towels on the table and double over to be the same length as the tube. Put the stem of one flower in the paper towel and begin rolling. Continue to add flowers as you roll the paper towel. The rolled up paper towel with flowers in it should be just big enough to fit snugly inside the tube.

pepperoni pizza pasta

This EASY pasta/pizza recipe is an absolute favorite around here and it's so easy to throw together. Really...I wouldn't even call it a recipe...

1 box rigatoni noodles (cooked)

1 jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce

mozzarella cheese (as much as you want)

pepperoni (as much as you want)

Cook the noodles. Layer the noodles, the sauce, the cheese, the pepperoni. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Yum! Tonight I served it with green beans and cut up vegetables(carrots, green peppers, broccoli) with Ranch to dip them in unfortunately. Charlie just sucks the ranch right off of the broccoli and carrots. I'm just hopeful that one day he'll actually eat the vegetable!

chicken fettucini alfredo

This is one of those meals that can be prepared pretty fast. Gotta love it!

1 pound chicken tender/filets

1/2 cup butter

1 or 2 garlic cloves(minced)

1 tbsp lemon pepper

1 tsp ground cumin seed

1/2 tsp oregano

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 medium onion (sliced)

1 medium red pepper (sliced)

1 medium green pepper (sliced)

12 oz fettucini noodles (cooked according to package)

1 cup alfredo sauce

parmesan cheese to top servings

Put butter and next 5 ingredients in a pan on medium heat. Add chicken and brown on each side until cooked through. Add vegetables and saute. (I kind of like to take the chicken out and saute the vegetables then put the chicken back in) Add sauce. Add cooked noodles. Serve with parmesan cheese on top.

no I'm not kidding...

he flooded the upstairs bathroom again. I was working on a craft downstairs with the girls. It's not terribly unusual for Charlie to play in the playroom by himself. Brenna left the room and when she came back she said, "Mom, Charlie flooded the bathroom again". Oh my, that little stinker. The bathroom is now locked!