Romantic getaway.......or is it?

To celebrate our anniversary we decided a trip to the beach would be perfect. Quiet drive, sleeping-in, late night dinners and late night........well, you know. So this afternoon I spent time packing bags, all my books and lots of treats. I even had time to clean out my car for that little extra specialness. Justin managed to pull a short day, leaving us plenty of time to make it before dark. 


As we pulled away I was thankful for this privilege. Thankful for my anniversary. Thankful to do what only this couple would do.






Take our whole family.

Yes folks, we even took the dog. 


Yes folks, that is my mother.


Yes folks. Yes folks. Yes folks.


It seems like a crazy idea, but actually it's been really wonderful. We're staying in our families beach house and I really haven't seen the two munchkins(the two in the back seat) all day. The second level in the house is enough to make them feel like they came to the beach on their own. 


With that said, we've been playing the new game "Kinect" sharing laughs and munching on yummy treats.(more on that in a minute) And just some good ole family time. Oh don't worry, Justin and I will be dinning for two tomorrow evening and maybe even sneak in a movie.


But not every anniversary gets a Caribbean cruise, a couples getaway, or even a dinner for two. Sometimes "you get what you get and you don't throw a fit". It's a good thing, because I didn't buy Justin a fancy watch or even a new pair of jeans. I went with the old saying......."The way to a man's heart is through his stomach". 

Alright, I just wanted a shot at my new mixer. 

Cookies........Kitchen -Sink -Cookies

These aren't just any cookie. These are amazing! Their chewy, their crispy, their soft, their gooey. Their Justin's favorite cookie; their the perfect gift; their the way to his heart.

The process

Cream butter, sugars, and vanilla.

Add eggs, one at a time, and mix.

Add flour, baking powder, soda, and salt

I like this rice cereal the best for this cookie.

Add cereal and oats.

Add chocolate.

Add more chocolate.

Put a big scoop of the goods on baking sheet.

Bake until perfect and irresistible.

Kitchen sink cookies(inspired by bff)


Ingredients


1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups old fashion oats
2 cups rice cereal( I like to use organic Koala crisp)
1 1/2 cups mini marshmallows
1 cup milk chocolate/peanut butter chips
1 cup bittersweet quality chocolate bar, broken in pieces


Directions


Preheat oven 350


Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.


In a large mixing bowl, cream softened butter and melted butter with both sugars and vanilla. Add eggs and combine. Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; blend well. Mix in oats, and cereal. By hand, stir marshmallows, chocolate/peanut butter chips and chocolate bar.


For each cookie, use a ice cream scooper and level off the mixture. Place on the baking sheet, spacing about 2-3 inches apart.(I can only fit about 6 cookies on a large sheet)


Bake, for 10-12 minutes or until set all over. You should see crisp edges and some marshmallow leaking out; but lite in color and still soft in the middle. Slide the parchment paper off the cookie sheet, let cool a few minutes and transfer to cooling rack. Makes about 2 1/2 dozen large size cookies.


Note: you could use a smaller size scoop for more cookies.

If cookies, two five year old girls, my mother and my dog don't say romantic,


I don't know what does.