happy halloween

happy halloween!

love, the kiddies

nyt chocolate chip cookies

photo by 'to paris and back'

this is by far the best chocolate chip cookie recipe i have ever tried. the key is using the best chocolate. no not nestle tollhouse, i'm saying like 75% bittersweet chocolate. the real bitter stuff that i love. i used to be a fan of milk chocolate, but due to certain circumstances i can't eat it anymore and i actually don't mind because i think dark chocolate is way better. plus it's even better for you.

this is now the only recipe i will use. it requires the use of cake flour and bread flour which makes for a crunchier outer crust, yet a chewier inside. so you basically get the best of both worlds. the other thing that i love about this recipe? the salt content is more than normal. i was a little hesitant about adding more salt than normal, but the salt brings out the stronger almost berry-like flavor of the dark chocolate. i'm craving a batch right now!

you want to know a funny/weird thing i love to do when i make cookies? i love making a huge batch yet only cooking 6 at a time. i can't stand dry, old cookies. they are only good warm. so i will only make them if i am going to eat them immediately! my family can't stand it. i love it.

i really want to buy the bittersweet disks that you can find at whole foods, but i haven't made it over there yet. i think the disks would be much better than chips because you have more chocolate surface area. plus, chocolate chips have a stabilizer in them which gives them their shape even after baking.

NEW YORK TIMES

July 9, 2008

RECIPE

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Adapted from Jacques Torres

Time: 45 minutes (for 1 6-cookie batch), plus at least 24 hours’ chilling

2 cups minus 2 tablespoons

(8 1/2 ounces) cake flour

1 2/3 cups (8 1/2 ounces) bread flour

1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt

2 1/2 sticks (1 1/4 cups) unsalted butter

1 1/4 cups (10 ounces) light brown sugar

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (8 ounces) granulated sugar

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons natural vanilla extract

1 1/4 pounds bittersweet chocolate disks or fèves, at least 60 percent cacao content (see note)

Sea salt.

1. Sift flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Set aside.

2. Using a mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars together until very light, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla. Reduce speed to low, add dry ingredients and mix until just combined, 5 to 10 seconds. Drop chocolate pieces in and incorporate them without breaking them. Press plastic wrap against dough and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours. Dough may be used in batches, and can be refrigerated for up to 72 hours.

3. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat. Set aside.

4. Scoop 6 3 1/2-ounce mounds of dough (the size of generous golf balls) onto baking sheet, making sure to turn horizontally any chocolate pieces that are poking up; it will make for a more attractive cookie. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt and bake until golden brown but still soft, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer sheet to a wire rack for 10 minutes, then slip cookies onto another rack to cool a bit more. Repeat with remaining dough, or reserve dough, refrigerated, for baking remaining batches the next day. Eat warm, with a big napkin.

Yield: 1 1/2 dozen 5-inch cookies.

Note: Disks are sold at Jacques Torres Chocolate; Valrhona fèves, oval-shaped chocolate pieces, are at Whole Foods.

canoodling in the christmas castle

this is the home of a family in our stake that they turned into a b and b. it's 12,000 square feet and goes on for miles.

the dinner table. seated 24.

this mural was hand painted and went up the stairs as you walked in.

are these not the coolest locks you've ever seen? they were on each one of the doors and everyone had an antique key.

this was the venetian room. my favorite.

two pattys.

we did a little gift exchange. patty's white elephant gift was a mini personal flash light. my gift was a little star alarm clock.

good company and good cinnamon rolls!

ugly sweater party

some of the ugly sweaters

patty's playhouse.

when the patty's throw a party...we do it right.

it's all about the baby part II

there's still time.

get your copy here.

http://vixmusic.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=5719802

halloween bash

some of the gang

patty's plethora and my sweet candle holders

true or false the best pumpkin you have ever seen?

san diego boat party

funniest kid to watch dance

pechanga pirate party

the invites to this party were adorable. we received a box and inside was a bottle filled with sand and sea shells....just like what you would find floating in the ocean (message in a bottle).

me. bree. emily.

prez and sis arnold

seriously by far the coolest costume i have ever seen on the left. he looked like he was pulled out of the pirates movie. and that's no mask he's wearing....miss pinson did his make up!

the pinson family that threw the bash.

patty. bree. brig. me.

patty looked so cute in her costume AND she won best female costume (mainly because of my loud voice)

isn't the cake adorable? patty said it was the best cake she had ever eaten.

the souvenir. the mug says "pinson tavern." too cute.

in the bleak midwinter

never had i heard this song until victoria. i have to admit that this is now one of my favorite christmas songs. i recorded this song on the second take. it's raw, unedited, and lacking that extra something because.....it will be perfected for the cd!

i'm definitely not the first one in the world to expose my talent, but for some reason this song is different. i normally can't STAND to hear myself like any normal person, but i want to share it because of the feelings that even I GET when i hear the song. when victoria and i recorded "In the Bleak midwinter", i think i can vouch for her that we both felt something powerful. now, i have recorded and sang with victoria since i was 15 or 16. i have sang tons of songs, and with the exception of "Evening Lullaby," I have never been moved by a song like I have with this one.

i'm giving a little sample for all of you who won't buy the cd because you haven't heard any songs. it may be a little early for christmas songs, but i don't think you'll mind.

visit here:

http://vixchristmasmusic.blogspot.com/

it's all about the baby

check out

http://vixmusic.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=5656868

here you can purchase a christmas cd featuring tons of great artists (one you just might recognize :)

the cd is only $11 and trust me is worth it.

i can't tell you how hard victoria has worked

this lady writes ALL of her songs....let me say that again....ALL of her songs.

Do you know how hard that is?

i find singing all day long extremely exhausting, but imagine sitting at a piano for months writing one song, trying to get the lyrics and melody perfect.

so in need of a christmas present? head over to her website to purchase this dream of victoria's and i promise you, you won't be disappointed.

halloween food labels

'Putrid Pumpkin Pie'

'Catastrophic Caramel Corn'

'Rancid Rootbeer'

i am having the greatest time with this adobe illustrator program. honestly, it's amazing at what this program can do. i took a regular martha stewart halloween label and made it my own. aren't these to die for?!

brain cupcakes

aren't these martha brain cupcakes for halloween to die for? i don't think i could be that creative and think of all those brain names. the only name i could think of to add the mix is....Abby Normal.