Wookiee Cookies

Our Eli (8 years old) is a HUGE Star Wars fan, so for Christmas one of his grandmothers gave him a Star Wars cookbook.  Today I helped him with his first recipe, Wookiee Cookies.  We had so much fun and I have to say the recipe is really, really good.  Our entire family thinks it is better than the Toll House recipe.  (Sorry Nestle!)  The cookies are DELICIOUS and turn out nicely.  My regular chocolate chip cookies are often flat but these are nice and sturdy, and Chewiee!  (haha!!)  If you have a Star Wars fan in the house they will love making these, and if you don't, just change the name because this is a super yummy cookie recipe!

WOOKIEE COOKIES

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Put the flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in a mixing bowl.  Stir with wooden spoon until well mixed.  Set aside.
Put the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar in another mixing bowl.  Using the electric mixer set on high speed, beat together until well blended and creamy.  Beat in the eggs and vanilla.  Add the flour mixture and stir with the wooden spoon until blended. 
Stir in the chocolate chips.
Scoop up a rounded tablespoonful of the dough and drop onto a baking sheet.  Bake until golden brown, about 10 minutes.  Place on cooling racks, let cool completely.
Makes about 3 dozen cookies

Great Poem For Young Children

I want to share a poem I read to our younger children this morning during our Bible time.  We loved it and it opened up some great discussion.  I'm thinking of trying to read a poem each night to the children right before dinner for the entire month of January.  I'm going to start working on finding 31 great poems.  If you have young children you will enjoy reading this poem to them. 

What Shall We Children Bring?

The wise may bring their learning,
The rich may bring their gold;
And some may bring their greatness, 
And glories new and old; 
We too would bring our treasures
To offer to the King.
We have no wealth nor wisdom; 
What shall we children bring?

We'll bring Him hearts that love Him, 
We'll bring Him thankful praise,
And young souls meekly striving
To walk in holy ways.
And these shall be the treasures
We offer to the King,
And these are gifts that even
The poorest child may bring.

We'll bring the little duties,
We have to do each day,
We'll try our best to please Him
At home, at school, at play.
And better are these treasures
To offer to our King,
Than richest gifts without them,
Yet these a child may bring.

(Pathway Publishers,  BUILDING OUR LIVES)

Celebrate Winter!

  I read this today and liked it, "I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year."  -Charles Dickens  We don't have to quit doing special things just because Christmas is over.  There are lots of great ideas for bringing coziness and warmth to your family all winter long!

There really is a lot more to winter than just Christmas.  I personally love the winter comfort foods and the delicious aroma of cinnamon, ginger and cloves filling the kitchen.  I love reading to the kids, and sipping cocoa, and baking cookies.  Our family loves playing games and staying up late watching a good movie with our quilts and pillows.  Winter brings hearty foods for cold days and cheerful dishes that celebrate hearth and home.

I've been putting together a list of ideas to help ease the post-Christmas let-down.  I hope you will enjoy the delights of winter with your family! 
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*For a colorful snow fort fill a spray bottle with water and a couple of drops of food coloring and decorate the walls of your fort with red, green or blue!

*Make your favorite hot chocolate extra special.  Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream.  Then top with whipped cream and dust with cocoa powder.  Add a cinnamon stick and sprinkle some chocolate curls on top.  YUMMY!

*Write a long letter to a friend you haven't seen in awhile or write a love letter to your husband and surprise him.

*Wake your family to the smell of coffee and sizzling bacon, build a snowman together, take a nap, make a pot of homemade soup.

*Curl up under a quilt and enjoy reading a good book to your children.

*Build a fire in the fireplace to enjoy all day!

*Take a tray of cookies, or homemade bread to an elderly neighbor, or a friend that needs cheering.  Stay to visit awhile.

*Fill a bowl with whole nutmegs and a nutmeg grater.  Guests will love fresh nutmeg in their coffee.  Offer different types of chocolate as coffee toppings...bittersweet, semi-sweet, milk and white chocolate.  Set out a bowl of whipped cream and a shaker of sugar for them to try also. 

*Top your coffee with spicy whipped cream.  Whip 1/2 cup whipping cream with 2 tablespoons powdered sugar and 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon, add a dash of nutmeg.

*Make sure you are prepared for a winter's snowstorm...stock your pantry with cocoa and mini marshmallows.

*Go ice skating!

*Invite someone who lives alone to dinner. 

*Pop a big bowl of popcorn, snuggle under a quilt and enjoy a movie with your family.

*Gather your family together for some quiet time.  Play board games or have a picnic in front of the fireplace.

*Make snowflakes with paper and glitter.  

*Have a clothing and old toy round up with your family.  Donate gently used and outgrown items.