Thursday, December 19, 2013

MN Winter Has Begun!


Cici pup walking
 And this might be one of the few years I'll really appreciate it. Now granted, I didn't like the day it was -12, and a high of less than 0.... and the day it was 32 Cici and I enjoyed a LOVELY walk, overall I'd say I'd take being pregnant in the winter over the summer any day.
Pond Across from our House

Beautiful snowy trees

1. It's easier to hide your growing body :) (The I just kind of look like I ate too much cheesecake, not the I'm growing a little baby in me body)
2. When you get overheated you just have to step outside and you feel great!
3. Boots..... so comfy for when your back starts to hurt halfway through the day.
4. Darker nights-makes you not feel as guilty when you go to bed before 9:00pm
5. Darker mornings-makes sleeping in on the weekends a tad bit easier.


Now this is not to say that we are not SO excited to go to NC this weekend to get to spend some time with a 70 day :) But more than anything excited to see my parents! And then at New Years to see all my lovely Suitemates!

Christmas cookie cutouts
 Until then I am just getting through these crazy last days of Pre-winter break week by admiring Christmas lights and enjoying little gifts from students. My favorite so far one group of parents went in together to get me a Sur Le Table gift card! :) I've got a good group this year! One more day left and HOPING the 1-2 inches of snow does not affect my commute more than an hour..... Crossing our fingers!




I'm hoping I don't grow too much over the break so that my kids can't recognize me :) But I am starting to have a LITTLE baby bump. I have gained 10 lbs so I'd hope I do! I'm hoping soon I'll be able to feel it kick, and the beginning of January we find out if it is a little BOY or GIRL :) SO excited to start shopping for little Baby A!

My I think i'm finally showing bump *17 weeks

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Holiday Cooking and Baking

I can't believe it's already the last day of Thanksgiving Break! Boy do breaks fly by!
Thanksgiving morning I baked a bunch of homemade rolls for the big day (they were the hit of Thanksgiving I must say; my nephew had 7!)! I was able to make both gluten free and regular, and the gluten free may be the best gluten free rolls I've ever made! See recipe here: http://www.artofglutenfreebaking.com/2009/11/dinner-rolls-gluten-free-revised-22810/

After making the rolls and a few salads Mark and I headed out to Afton to celebrate with the Aronson clan + Paul and Susan. It was a nice day :) Lots of kids, football, food and a little bit of flurries :) The only thing that would have made it better was a mystery (Only the Gerlach clan will understand that: Thanksgiving circa 1990-2010) Unfortunately even with 17+ people there only 1 picture was taken... and upon taking the picture I realized she spit up... but since it's the only picture I have from Thanksgiving I'll post it any ways....
The day after Thanksgiving Mark and I enjoyed a nice omelet breakfast with leftover fruit salad and enjoyed celebrating the holiday just the 2 of us (2.5 of us?)
Later this weekend I made cookies that just SCREAM Christmas and may be the most unhealthy thing I've ever made, but boy were they good! See recipe below. After enjoying a few cookies Mark and I used a gift card from a student last year and went to our special date night locale McCormick and Schmick's. Unreasonably expensive but extremely good, Mark and I enjoyed some delectable fish and reminisced together the last times we went to McCormick and Schmick's (Like the first time, when Mark was still trying to impress me and our bill topped $100!) It was neat to just have a fancy night out together and remember the things we loved and miss about Kansas City and our Teach for America lives.



We're ending this weekend with Vikings, walk and prepping for the cold week ahead. Supposed to get snow/slushy mix Mon-Wed, and a cold front coming Thursday bringing lows in the negatives... Winter has arrived in MN!


White Chocolate Peppermint Chunk Cookies!
Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter  room temperature (usually I use 1/2 applesauce....this time went for it!)
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 cup white sugar (usually half the sugar too, not this time!)
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cup all purpose flour (I used a GF flour blend)
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/3 cup white chocolate chips (recipe called for 1 cup... I think it'd be too much)
  • 1/3 cup peppermint candy cane, crushed

1. Mix butter and sugar until well combined and creamy. Add egg and vanilla.
2. In separate bowl mix dry ingredients.
3. Add dry to wet. My mixture got pretty thick.
4. Add in candies and chocolate chips (This part was hard because dough was so thick, really had to work the dough!)

5. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
6.  Roll into 1 inch balls and put on baking sheet.
7. Bake 8-10 minutes, flipping 1/2 way.
8. Take cookies out and WAIT! Do not remove cookies for at least 1-3 minutes so they have time to set. If you remove from pan right away they are too gooey and will break apart. Cici hates waiting...
9. Once you've waited, move cookies to wire cooling rack, let cool (we couldn't wait!) And then enjoy!
*Note these are far from healthy but OH soo good :) My recipe made about 30 cookies (even though it originally said it'd make 12!) Too many to eat alone... I have to share with someone.