Recipes Week 3?

Turns out I'm not that good at this new recipe a week thing either. I mean, I cook new ones all the time, but I don't seem to blog about them.

Ugh. Just UGH!

Anyway, here's one for cookies that I thought turned out pretty good.

Gooey Chocolate Cookies

1 pkg. (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 pkg (18-1/4oz) chocolate cake mix

In large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Add cake mix and mix well (dough will be sticky). Cover and refrigerate for two hours.

Roll rounded tablespoonfuls of dough into balls. Place two inches apart on ungreased baking sheets (or roll up and put in a big ziploc bag and stick in the freezer). Bake at 350 degrees for 9-11 minutes (longer is starting from frozen dough) or until tops are cracked. Cook for 2 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.

I added walnuts and these dudes were soft and yummy.

Go forth and bake!

Notable

A couple notable things happened last week. Wednesday morning dawned and I was packed and ready to go. First to Dallas for a work luncheon, then for a Southwest Airlines flight out of Dallas Love Field to Houston's Hobby. After a shuttle to the hotel and a terrible nights sleep (excitement mixed with anxiety mixed with a strange bed and the lack of my husband to keep me warm) Thursday morning had me on another shuttle. This time to Texas Direct Auto to picked up my new (to me) car.

It's a 2010 Chevy HHR LT with just under 12,000 miles. It has ALL the fun toys. After driving my pickup, which I do still love, for the last 7 years I am excited to have something that makes traveling a little less expensive and that is easier to get around in!

By Thursday afternoon I was cruising to Galveston, sun roof open, ready for some fresh seafood. I hit the beach for a while. In the slightly modified words of Charlie Robison

I heard the ocean singing and I sang along

while I danced over the water to some old forgotten song...

For your viewing pleasure (again maybe? I can't remember)

I grabbed a bite to each at the distinguished and lovely Gaido's which has been serving fresh, Gulf seafood for 100 hundred years. I choose the house salad, Watkin's Bisque and Sapporito Shrimp, if you were wondering. I didn't eat half of it and mourned leaving it and not being able to finish. It was scrumptious. Seriously.

After supper, I drove down the Sea Wall Boulevard (it may have another name, I don't know). I took a picture with my Blackberry's camera, of me, that I actually like:


After that, I did a little shopping at GNC and Sally's Beauty Supply since I hadn't planned this little excursion to Galveston and was planning on being home.

The next day, I drove MY NEW CAR home! I love it, Y'all.

Chocolate-Sour Cream Frosting.

It's Valentine's Day. Happy Valentine's day by the way. My advice to you is to make cupcakes today. Plain yellow cupcakes will be fine because you also should put on this frosting.

Chocolate-Sour Cream Frosting

1 12oz package of semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup of butter
1 cup of sour cream
4 cups of powdered sugar (this is what the recipes call for, I use HALF)


In large saucepan melt chocolate chips and butter over low heat, stirring frequently. Cool for 5 minutes. Stir in sour cream. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating until smooth.

YUMMMY!

Also, it keeps in the fridge for about a week so you can make cupcakes on Saturday too! ;-)

It's a need, not a want

We really need some tool storage. Really. I can never find anything I want. Ever. Hammer? No idea. Phillips screwdriver? I don't have a clue. Drill? Nope. Nothing. Never. Nada.

Do you think I can talk KB into this:

'cause this is the one I want.

Uhhh

KB's Arms look better

'nuff said.