tuesday eats..chocolate chip lava cookies

it is a whirlwind around here but there is always time to try a new treat. these cookies are so good and so rich. i dare you to try them!

 

the photo and recipe are from kevin and amanda. she walks you through the entire process. i think i actually loved them a little more the next day just eaten from the counter. i also think that the next time i will try baking them in a mini muffin tin. i may just be able to control myself a little more then. but, then again, i am also thinking maybe chocolate chocolate chip cookie dough and peanut butter..ummm!

how sweet it is to be loved

v day love and cookies

this year a and i decided to stitch a little love into each valentine. we added denium hearts to colorful paper....some for the boys and some for the girls.

a worked very hard on the lettering. somehow she has already gotten to the stage of embellishing her handwriting with little circles on the ends of her letters.

 

the next day we added candy cane hearts and heart bracelets to the cards.



of course, we also had to have some sweets to enjoy ourselves so, we made some peanut butter cookies with dove dark chocolate hearts in the middle.

 it is best to taste them when they are all chewy and melty.

this little guy has a thing for just the chocolate hearts! i {heart} my babes!

peanut butter cookies

1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
About 1/3 cup sugar for rolling
1 package Dove dark chocolate hearts
Cream butter, peanut butter, and sugars. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in dry ingredients. Roll dough into 1" balls and roll in sugar if desired. Place on lightly greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 for about 9 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately press a chocolate into the center. Let sit for about 3 minutes, then carefully remove to cooling racks to cool.

summer bakin'

i am not talking about laying in the sun and getting the all-coveted tan. (please read this post about sunscreen causing cancer!)  but, cookies. crispy but gooey cookies.

stack them up...anyway you like. i love cookies especially homemade and fresh from the oven. so does this little guy!

my kids are big helpers in the kitchen (and out! ava couldn't even wait to get her new kitchen into the house.

 they even love to help clean-up. i am not quite sure but, i don't think we could get wetter outside in a rainstorm.

once we are all cleaned up and have enjoyed a few or a few too many, i like to save a few in the freezer to make ice cream sandwich cookies. i absoluetly love double chocolate coconut cookies. you can get this recipe from martha stewart. i put 2 of these cookies together with sliced bananas and either frozen yogurt or vanilla bean ice cream and we enjoy them after a hard day's play.