Andrea's Citrus Cream Cheese Cookies

 (Photo is from the blog linked at the bottom.)

 I went to a Cookie Exchange on Friday and brought my Mint Chocolate Crackle cookies, which were a big hit, and I discovered my friend Andreas amazing Citrus Cream Cheese Cookies that I can share with you now! They are a soft, dense, and buttery cookie with a nice citrus zing!

Cream Cheese Cookies

1 cup butter
1 sm pkg of Cream Cheese (3oz)
1 cup sugar
1 egg yolk
2.5 cups flour
1 tsp. vanilla

Cream butter and cream cheese . Slowly add sugar beat until fluffy
Beat in egg yolk, add flour and vanilla. Mix Well. Chill dough
For at least 1 hour. Shape into 1 inch balls. Place on greased cookie sheet.
Bake at 325 degrees for 12-15 mins.

Frosting
2 cups powdered sugar
4 tablespoons lemon juice
4 tablespoons of butter
1 grated lemon rind

Cream butter and add sugar slowly add lemon juice and rind.
Spread on warm cookies

Sometime my Aunt would put a cherry on top of the cookies.
 For the ones I made, I used 4 oz cream cheese. However, I really thought they were too soft. If you go the 4 oz route, I would add more flour. Also, for the frosting, I substituted orange juice/zest for lemon. Normally, when I substitute the orange I drizzle chocolate on top or dip half in chocolate - but I ran out of time! 

This recipe is slightly different, and I'd like to try it sometime, too.

Mimi's Pigtail Hat

Mimi's Pigtail Hat (Knit Flat Square Hat)

Photo above is Mimi at 6 months.
Using bulky yarn (about 50 grams) and size 10.5 and size 9 needles

This is the easiest hat ever; it is knit flat and seamed:
Fits 3-12 months with the brim folded up, 12-18m with it folded down.
CO 26st
knit 2 inches of ribbing with the smaller needle (about 8 rows)
Switch to larger needles. Knit 10 inches of stockinette
Switch back to smaller needles. knit 2 inches of ribbing
Bind off, fold in half and seam the sides.
Add tassels, then glory in a flood of compliments!

Here's Mimi at 17 months in a different hat with the same pattern

Last Chance to get 15% off!

All our stuff is being packed up and shipped to Georgia on July 13th! It's coming up waaay too quickly. I had planned to do a yard sale, but really we don't have any big things to sell, mostly baby stuff, and hopefully I can find homes for that stuff before we leave.

Anyway, that means they'll be packing up my shop stock as well! So only two more weeks to get what you want at 15% off using code IHEARTLSG. Free shipping to APO/FPO/PSC addresses!

Sneak Peek!

After a long hiatus I finally got the dye out and dyed some lovely new stuff for the shop! I did a whole bunch of kettle dyed sock yarn and I love it so much I'm tempted to keep it! The new BFL roving is gorgeous as well; not sure what to call this one on the left but I'm loving it! I should have stuff photographed and in the shop sometime next week. Use coupon code IHEARTLSG to get 15% off!







I also started a Daybreak with some Knitpicks Chroma and Palette yarn. How on-trend are those colors? I'm loving it!


I also finished these Grove mittens a while ago and never posted a pic. I love the color! That's Karabella Aurora 8 in Goldenrod

More on Making Friends as Adults

Looks like there's a whole blog dedicated to Women Making Friends as Adults called MWF Seeking BFF!

She's in a similar situation to most of us Military Wives:

I moved to Chicago with my now-husband ... We’ve been here for nearly three years and in that time have made a few friends. Primarily couples, with whom we catch up over dinner  every few months. But on a Sunday morning when I want to grab an omelette over girl talk, I’m at a loss. ...  I’m looking for someone to invite over to watch The Biggest Loser or to text “pedicure in half an hour?” on a Saturday morning. To me, that’s what BFFs are. Not just people who know your innermost secrets, but the ones up for grabbing a bite on a whim because they love being with you just that much, and getting together feels easy and natural rather than a chore you need to pencil in.
So I’m on the hunt for Miss Right. A person who can fill the one void in the otherwise great life I’ve set up in the Windy City. I always thought friendships blossom naturally, like at summer camp and in school. In the grown-up world, apparently this isn’t the case. So I’m taking matters in my own hands.
This blog chronicles my quest.

I think part of the reason it's so hard to make friends as adults is that asking someone to hang out with you feels too much like asking them out on a date, especially if you only know them as That Cool Barista or the Nice Lady at the Yarn Shop and don't want to be creepy and invite them to something while they're working. I know that people make friends at the gym or the park or whatnot, but "Hey, I drink blue Gatorade too!" isn't really the amazing conversation starter you want it to be.

Mommy groups have been a new great way to meet people, and I wish my husband had the same kind of opportunities! I've met a lot of nice people through La Leche League and New Parent Support here, and some of those people have become friends as we've bonded over similar parenting styles and the trials and tribulations of new parenthood. BFFs? Probably not, but good enough company to go shopping with etc.

I don't think I've ever had a best girlfriend quite like what the bloggess I quoted describes, and I'm a fair bit jealous of those who have that kind of relationship, so I'll be taking any advice she can give on finding my BFF, even in Georgia :P

Big News! Moving to Georgia!

I wrote that whole last blog post and forgot to post my big news! We got our next duty assignment, and will (MOST LIKELY) be heading to Robins AFB in August! It wasn't the top of our list, but it was still on the list, so we're pretty happy about it :) We'll be half a day's drive from my mom, and the area is supposed to have beautiful state parks and lakes and great fishing, so J is very happy about that. I'm happy that Macon has a yarn shop with Knit Nights, and that we'll be less than 2 hours from Atlanta, which has great food and great shopping! (IKEA!! H&M!!)

Turkey Burgers and a Pink Tutu

I love summer food; the bright flavors, the fresh herbs, cooking and eating outside! This week I've been celebrating the sun that came with the first of May with the first Gazpacho of the year, fresh green beans with mint, Thai peanut turkey patties, and Mediterranean Quinoa salad.

New Projects

I haven't blogged much this year, as I guess I've been busy with the baby and didn't feel I had much to talk about, besides the daily troubles and joys of new motherhood which has been done a million times by a million people. What I forgot though is that I mostly do this for ME. Not for an audience, not because people might want to make my cookies or knit my patterns or see my spinning. So now I'm trying to look back over the last year, one of  the most amazing and wonderful years of my life, and I have so few journal entries to help me remember! I usually manage to update Facebook a few times a week at least, so I'm going to try and do that here. Write something every day, even if it's only the blandest of Mommy-woes, at least I'll have a record to help jog my memory in a year or two years time when I look back.

We're planning a trip for this weekend and J gave me my Mother's Day present early! I picked it out, so it wasn't a surprise anyway, but it's gorgeous and I love it! I don't have a pic of me in it yet, but here's from the website: It's an Ellevill Zara wrap in Fresh, size 6.

Always playing catch-up

I think I need more schedules and time management in my life. I feel like I get so much more done when I am super busy with all kinds of deadlines and commitments! I used to be so productive and involved and creative in college, when I had no time for anything, and now I'm lucky if I make it to the gym and do the dishes a few times a week. OK, so I can blame it on the baby, but really she's not that much of a time suck compared to other babies, I just get sucked into the internet or a tv show and then I'm comfy and don't feel like putting away laundry or updating the blog. This shouldn't be work; and it's not, really, but it still takes time and effort.

Anyway, Fridays are going to be "Update the Blog" day! Mondays will be "Put away laundry" day but we'll see how that goes; I think the former will be easier to stick to!

In September we had our first Family Vacation. We drove from here in Wiesbaden down to Zurich and then through Italy to the French Riviera the next day. While long, the drive was beautiful (especially Switzerland and the French/Italian coast!) and the baby was very well behaved.

Baby Pic-Spam!

This is the dress I knit for her to come home from the hospital in, but even though I knit it smaller than the smallest size it was still quite wide! It fits her now around the chest, but it's a bit too short for my long Banana Baby!

August in Kaiserslautern! Part Two

My SIL is "deployed" here for 6 months, and we got to hang out with her and go to the Gartenschau, a huge garden/park with playgrounds, a skate park, huge slides, and DINOSAURS! It also has an upper area with kitchen gardens, a chapel made of vines, and a little restaurant with a great view. It was a gorgeous day and we got a great workout!

August in Kaiserslautern! Part One

Joe was gone for all of August, so I went and stayed with some friends an hour away in Kaiserslautern for the month. It was great! So much more fun than staying home alone with the baby! I hate cooking for just myself as well, so I loved having people to cook for, and didn't lose a single pound more of baby-weight :P

Back to Blogging!

Mirabelle plums covering the footbridge


I've naturally been a bit distracted lately...I started this post in July, and here it is September and I'm finishing it.

I realized I didn't even post a picture of the finished Tamarix Quilt I made! (Ravelry link) It took forever and was really boring, but I love the result. It's a little big to use right now, but when we get back to the US and the baby has her own room it will be nice.

Welcome Amelia!

Here she is! Amelia Rose, born May 26th at 9:18am. 7 lbs 4oz, about 21 inches long.




After a lovely day of walking in the fields, doing yoga, and cooking dinner with friends, my water broke at 3am, 3 days past my due date. Amelia was born 6 hours later!
We went to the hospital at 4:30, and I was only 1cm dilated. By 8:30 I was ready to push! Hard and fast, no drugs, no interventions, no complications, no tearing! I gave birth kneeling on my yoga mat. Hubs and the midwife were awesome!
She got 10/10 on her Apgar test, and we spent the next 48 hours getting to know each other and learning to breastfeed in the hospital. German Healthcare FTW!

Lemon Blueberry Loaf Cake

So, a while ago I found this recipe online for a Lemon-Blueberry Loaf cake, wrote it down, and have never again been able to find the same one online but it is a FABULOUS recipe! I've made it 4 times for small events and I never have leftovers!

Almost Time!

Blogging has obviously not been a priority this year.


The baby could arrive any day now! Official estimated due date is May 23rd, and first babies are often late, so we'll see. I'm not in much of a rush, as I have actually been sleeping better lately, but I'm still anxious to meet her, and to get my body back!

Baby Stuff

Blogging has not been my strong suit lately! Looks like I have not made a post in over a month. Sorry!

At the end of January J and I were able to go back to Baltimore for a week, and my friend threw me a baby shower! It was totally an unexpected gesture, and I loved getting to spend some time with a large group of my friends all at once, and received lovely, thoughtful, presents! Here's a link to the whole Flickr set, and some highlights below:
The loot! I was blown away! A handmade quilt, hand-designed onesies, thoughtfully chosen clothes and books and toys; everything was perfect!

More Cookies, and a bump shot!

I shared these at my knitting group this week and they were a big hit! One woman said they were the best No-Bakes she'd ever had! Most recipes are pretty similar to mine, but the key is the cooking time, you really have to pay attention! These cookies are really more of a candy, as they have no flour. They are also gluten-free, but make sure your recipient can eat Oats.

Recap-ing the Holidays, mostly in pictures

November and December were very busy months! One of the special education aids at the middle school hurt his knee, so I took over for him for a few weeks. I don't often work every day, and it was a little stressful at first because being a full-time aid is hard work and the kids' schedules are confusing, but I got the schedule down just in time to give it back up to the real aid in December :P What was really great though was getting to spend lots of time with the other teachers. I really love the school community here! Two of the other special ed teachers are also pregnant and due in January and February, so I expect I will be subbing a fair amount in the coming weeks too.

Cookie Recipes too good not to share!

I thought I had blogged these recipes before, but can't seem to find an entry with them, nor can I find the one exact recipe online so I thought I'd write it up here!

Mint Chocolate Crackles
They melt in your mouth! You can also make these without the mint for a plain chocolate crackle cookie.


Ingredients:

2c flour
1c unsweetened cocoa powder
2c white sugar
2tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2c vegetable oil
4 eggs
1tsp vanilla extract
1tsp peppermint extract
1/2c confectioners sugar for rolling cookies in

In a medium bowl, mix together the cocoa, sugar, and oil. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla and mint. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt, then stir into the cocoa mixture in batches. Cover the dough and chill for at least 2 hours.

Preheat the oven for 350F degrees. Line cookies sheets with parchment paper. Roll dough into one inch balls, then coat with confectioners sugar before placing on the prepared cookies sheets.

Bake 10-12 minutes. Remove from the sheet immediately and cool on a wire rack (If they sit too long on the sheet they will spread).

Another favorite of mine that are good year-round are Earl Grey Tea Cookies! These little shortbread cookies have real tea leaves in them and have a very unique flavor. You could try a differently perfumed black tea such as peach or vanilla for a different effect. (Not my picture) Recipe from Real Simple Magazine, as I'm too lazy to re-type mine (it's the same).


Ingredients:
* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1/2 cup granulated sugar
* 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
* 2 tablespoons Earl Grey tea leaves, from approximately 6 tea bags
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
* 1 tablespoon orange zest (optional)
* 1 cup unsalted butter, cut into pieces


1. Heat oven to 375°F. Pulse together all the dry ingredients in a food processor until the tea leaves are pulverized. Add the vanilla, 1 teaspoon water, and the butter. Pulse together until a dough is formed.

2. Divide the dough in half. Place each half on a sheet of plastic wrap and roll into a 12-inch log, about 2 inches in diameter. Wrap and chill for 30 minutes.

3. Slice each log into disks, 1/3 inch thick. Place on parchment- or foil-lined baking sheets, 2 inches apart.

4. Bake until the edges are JUST brown, about 12 minutes. Let cool on sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks.

For a change, I'm going to try rolling the dough out in sheets before chilling and using my new teapot cookie cutter on them!