1st Annual Christmas Cookie Bake

To say that the women in my family have an obsession with Christmas would
be saying it lightly. We always rotate who hosts Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner
and it has always seemed like the month of December just goes way too quick.
This year, my FIRST Christmas being back home since I was in high school,
we all decorated per usual, but we decided that we would all host some type of a get together,
more specifically for us Christmas-obsessed women.

Grandma: Christmas Cookies
Me: Christmas Movie night & cocktails
..ok, let's be honest, they will all be involving cocktails..
Aunt Sherry: Santa Wine Bottle Crafting
Mom: Ladies' "Favorite Things" Party
{JUST hosted by girlfriends' Favorite Things party- post coming soon!}

Behold, our Christmas cookie baking chaos:

 

 

 Such a fun day! And as you can see I was getting quite
camera happy snapping some pictures for the family dessert recipe book
..still in the process!

Anyhow my kitchen is still loaded down with treats and we are
LESS THAN 3 MONTHS AWAY FROM THE BIG DAY!!!!
I really didn't think a spring wedding through obviously...
Dieting during the holidays?
Im-frickin-possible.

Happy 13 days before Christmas you little bakers! :)

GOOEY Sugar Cookies- The Trick!

Happy Monday little babiiees!

Someone's foodie photog skills are getting legit. :) 

I am definitely a cookie person and, much like my beginning stages with cupcakes, 

I used to suck at making cookies. 

I used every ingredient.

I followed every direction.

And they still tasted like chocolate chip rocks. 

Until.

Until I found the most perfect recipe with, well, a little trick.

The Recipe?

2 3/4 C All-Purpose Flour

1 Tsp Baking Soda

1/2 Tsp Salt

1 1/4 C Margarine

2 C White Sugar

2 Eggs

2 Tsp Vanilla Extract

Pink Sprinkles for decoration.. Duh. 

1. Preheat over to 350 degrees and in a medium bowl

combine flour, baking soda, and salt, and set aside. 

2. Combine remaining ingredients and beat one egg in at a time.

3. Gradually combine dry ingredients into other bowl. 

4. Roll dough into walnut sized balls and place on greased cookie

pan approximately 2" apart. 

5. Then pop 'em in the oven for 9 minutes.

Yes, nine. 

6. Allow to cool on a wire rack. 

The Trick? 

Sliced bread.

Seriously!

Once the cookies have cooled on the wire rack, 

store them in a cookie jar with a slice of bread.

BOOM!

Works. Every. Time. 

The Reasoning?

Shoot people, I don't know.

This is Corin Bakes not Bill Nye the Science Guy.

All I know is before the bread, cookies? Hard as a freakin' rock.

After the bread? Deeeelish and super gooey!

I would imagine it has something to do

with absorbing moisture (I seriously hate that word)

and some other nonsense but who cares!

Anyway, just had to share that little trick with y'all.

Now I'll be resuming typical Monday night activities.

Which may or may not include these ladies... 

#RHOC

What I'm Loving- Cookie Swap Parties! EEE!

in my most obnoxious Regina's-mom-voice

Happy hump day to my FAVORITE GIRLFRIENDSSSS!

Time to link up for another WILW with __ 

annddd this week it is safe to say I'm obsessing over loving

holiday party decor, more specifically cookie exchange party ideas.

My girlfriends and I did one last year and I am

on the Pinterest-hunt for ideas for this years'.

I *love* the idea of cutesy little boxes

for guests to take their treats home in. 

Whooooo doesn't *love* them some printables??!

I like these chevron printables that guests can cast

their cookie votes on- best tasting, most unique, most creative.

Cute, cute, cute!

HOLY DELICIOUS, right??

I think I will be adding these little babies

to my To Bake list for the swap.

White chocolate covered candy cane Oreos. *Love*

Also *loving* these cookie cutter favors

with a "thank you" and the host's favorite

cookie recipe attached.

Haven't decided if this would be cute for a party

favor or for co-workers!

You'd be a fool if you didn't *love*

this hot chocolate bar idea! Set up a little

area with hot cocoa, some marshmellows,

some sweet little stirrers and if you're feeling 

super cray you could even spike the hot chocolate.

Fiiiiinally, I do *love* a good holiday beverage!

What the heck is any holiday party with a cute cocktail?

Go link up and enjoy this faaaabulous Wednesday! 

Weekend, where did you go?

Does anyone else also feel that our weekends 

should consist of 3 days rather than 2?
All in for a 4-day work week say AYYYEEE?! 

I was planning on a Friday post but I may or may not have had

a mini melt down session due to streeessssss OOPSS.

But anyway welcome back Monday 

anddddd a quick Weekend Update recap with Sami!

Thursday (because I'm still at the point

in my life where the weekend technically starts on Thursday)

we went to the 1st pre-season Magic game.

I am less than thrilled for this season.

I blame you, Dwight Howard.

I am also a little annoyed that I paid $90 for your pink jersey

that was fun for all of ONE season. 

Friday night consisted of cleaning and a well-overdue

night in watching movies. Going out was not an option after the Friday that I had :/

Saturday! Tailgating! Surprised??

I'm running out of game day outfits so I literally bought a little black
UCF dress last minute. I plan on recreating it.

I think yes. 

Sunday was another boat day. Probably the last for a while. 
I curse Florida for lacking an actual FALL or WINTER- but I must say
I don't hate still being able to jump in the water in mid-October :)

And of course we brought Jake.

He was well-behaved until Morgan & the boys started catchin fish.
Then it was back to him attempting to launch himself overboard. 
This is when we took advantage of the fact that he has handles. 

Little Bubbbyyyy! :) 
He looks a little sad, yess?? 

Before you go! I had to share these awesome little cookies
from Bridget over at Bake at 350!

Bride of Frankenstein how cuuuuttteeee are theseeee??!
She is extremely talented and has an amazing skill set for cookie details. 

On another fun October note, my Bunco Fundraiser is this Thursday!
That means I only have 3 days to figure out how to actually play.
hashtag callgrandma.

Wednesday October 24th I'll be starting an obnoxious
"Countdown to Halloween" baking session. 
There are just way too many things on Pinterest that I neeeeed to try!

The Best Dang Chocolate Chip Cookies

Happy Housewarming to Chris & Tiffany!

We spent this past Saturday back home in Ocala for Chris & Tiff's

ENGAGEMENT/HOUSEWARMING PARTY.

They closed on their new home a few weeks after

he proposed, so a joint party seemed logical.

I decided to whip up a batch of a good old fashioned
Chocolate Chip Cookies!

I don't think I've given you a cookie recipe 
so I'll start you with something classic :)

I loooovvee the New York Times
recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookies!
The recipe first ran back in 2008 and I'm convinced
that they are the most fabulous cookies ever.

The ingredients are pretty much the same as most CC cookie recipes- 
its the dough refrigeration that makes the huge difference.
As David Leite described, 
refrigeration allows for the dough and other ingredients to fully absorb
the liquid, resulting in a drier dough which bakes to a better consistency.
Fun fact for the day!
48 hours IS a long time to wait 
for Chocolate Chip cookies-
but well worth the wait. 

Okay, okay here's the recipe..
1 2/3 c Cake Flour
1 2/3 Bread Flour 
1 1/4 tsp Baking Soda
1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
1 1/2 tsp coarse salt
1 1/4 c Unsalted Butter
1 1/4 c Packed Light Brown Sugar
8 oz Granulated Sugar
2 Large Eggs
2 tsp Vanilla Extract
20 oz Bittersweet Chocolate Chips

1. Sift together dry ingredients. Set aside.
2. Combine butter and sugars with electric mixer for about 5 minutes.
Mix in eggs, one at a time. Add vanilla. Reduce speed to low and
add dry ingredients and mix until well incorporated. Stir in CCs. 
3. Place dough in airtight container and refrigerate for 24-36 hours.
4. Preheat over to 350 degrees.
5. Bake 18-20 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Let cool.

Throw these sweet little treats in a cute cookie jar,
tie a pretty bow around the top and you're all set with a
DELICIOUS 
housewarming gift! 

But I didn't stop there... 
I clearly have a thing for framed monograms
with embellishments. 
Literally, I have made them for almost all of my girlfriends.

I bought a distressed looking frame, the "V",
burlap and the burlap rose from Michael's. 
Looks sooo cute in their new home :)

Deep Fried Oreos

Oh. Yes. I did. 

Well, this post is clearly Paula Deen inspired :)

I'm not much for frying things because there's

just something about dodging hot grease popping out

of a frying pan that is so not pleasant.

In fact, the only reason I decided to actually make

these was because I had the support of Bryan's mom.

Here is what you will need:

2 Qts Vegetable Oil for frying

1 Lg Egg

1c Milk

2 tsp Vegetable Oil

1c Pancake Mix

1 Package Oreos

1. Heat oil in deep fryer to 350 degrees

2. Whisk together egg, milk and 2 tsp of vegetable oil. Stir in pancake mix

until no lumps remain. 

3. Dip cookies in batter one at a time and carefully place into oil.

4. Fry only 4-5 at one time for for about a minute, turning each over after 30 seconds.

5. Drain on paper towel-covered plate.

6. Top with powdered sugar.

SO GOOD...

...But SO BAD for you. 

Make sure you don't over fry them. An extra 15 seconds

in the frying pan is all it takes for them to taste like a chunk of coal. 

Enjoy!

XOXOCORIN