Recipe Time Again

Once more from my blogging friend at Controlled Chaos

Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 8oz cream cheese blocks, softened to room temp
2 cups butter, at room temp
1½ cups sugar
1½ cups brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
5 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (or milk choc. or peanut butter, or mix of)

Preheat oven to 375°. Grease cookie sheets and set aside. Combine cream cheese, butter, and sugars in large bowl. Blend in eggs and vanilla. Add dry ingredients and mix well. Add chips. We used half semi sweet and half peanut butter.

Bake 15 - 18 minutes or until the edges are slightly brown.

Makes 4 - 5 dozen.

I've had a couple of unopened packages of cream cheese in the fridge for a while (for cheesecake) but I may turn them into cookies tomorrow while the girls are at school.

Might cheat with self-rising flour. I have good luck using it in most cookies. If you do that, skip the salt and baking powder.

It would be an easy recipe to halve (or even double if you're so inclined).

I included the link to her blog (rather than just that post) because, in addition to being a great cook, she's crafty and has written a post on the construction of birdhouses. She makes it sound so simple. Martha Stewart, move over.

Our birthday party turned into a madhouse. Just as I was setting up the table and thinking that for once I had everything under control, Ray phoned to tell me they were releasing him from the hospital. Out I went to hurry up and wait while they processed the paperwork. By the time I returned with him, it was an hour past our originally scheduled time, the girls hadn't had dinner (which was cooked and waiting for them when we had to leave), and the guests (neighbors) had arrived.

Oh well. As I am fond of saying, life is uncertain, eat dessert first. In all the confusion, I forgot to take pictures. By the time I remembered, it was a little too late. I think they eventually ate a little dinner and I was so glad they had Grandpa home to join in the singing.

Our bowling party went off as scheduled - almost. They had to make a last minute change to a different bowling alley and a couple of our friends missed the email and showed up at the other one. At least there are only two, close together, and one phone call straightened it out. The thirteen of us bumbling amateurs had a wonderful time. We discovered that the gutters can be blocked if requested so maybe next time we'll do that for the kids (although I could use some gutter blocking myself). It's great fun when we're all at about the same level and can cheer each other on. Once upon a time I could average about 110/130 in league bowling but that was way back in the 70's. Didn't even break 100 last night but I had one strike, two spares, and a lot of fun.

The girls were a riot. Rochelle managed to throw one ball backwards. Warning. Never stand behind someone approaching the foul line. It's easy for a hand to slip. By the second game, we noticed that there was a "ramp" for the ball for little kids or kids like Elcie and set it up for her. Rebecca positioned the ramp for each turn, Rochelle brought the bowling ball to the ramp. Great sisterly teamwork. I figure we can do a combination with her of actual "bowling" on one game and the ramp on the other if she wants. (See previous paragraph on gutter blocking too).

Went for fish and chips later and today I'm just hanging out and taking it easy. Ray is still asleep, making up the hour we lost in the switch to Daylight Savings Time. Speaking of which, I hope none of your computers suffered from the change. Mine and the cable were both fine. I set the kitchen clock and my alarm. Later on I'll catch up with all the others.

Thanks for the comments. I think I've answered the most recent ones and I'm slowly getting around to your blogs. The internet has been behaving for the most part but Blogger has had some hiccoughs. Nothing new there.

Hope you've been enjoying the weekend. Our weather is lovely and springlike still and expected to warm to the 80's next week. The girls are in shorts and sleeveless tops. Not me just yet.

Take care everyone.

Happy 14th to our Elcie!! - Update

Here's our beautiful girl all dolled up for school.

Their mom was here early to do their hair and clothes and I finally have both camera and software functioning at the same time.

That's Tasha (their mom) with the girls. Great picture except I don't know what was biting Rebecca. Perhaps because it was someone else's birthday? Rochelle looks so much like her mom that when I see them from the back or in dim light it's hard to figure out which one I'm talking to.

No, I don't leave my garbage on the front porch. Those are plastic bags for recycle that I keep forgetting to put in the car. The market takes them back.

She has totally blossomed this year. I can't believe this is the same child who first came to live with us almost 13 years ago. She was this tiny cherub with so many challenges. We didn't know if she'd ever walk unaided. She does. Later, when the learning problems surfaced, we weren't sure how far she'd get with school. She's doing algebra, working almost to grade level (with resources of course), and will start high school in August.

She's an amazing kid who never stops trying. She gets discouraged sometimes but never for long. She's jumping up and down wanting high school to start tomorrow. Patience is not her long suit.

Just look at that smile. Happy, happy birthday Elcie. We love you so much.

We'll probably have her cake and ice cream today. Tomorrow, we'll all go bowling with a group of my friends and I might get her out for lunch sometime over the weekend. The first time Elcie tried to bowl, she made a strike on her very first ball. I wrote about it a few months back and said everyone in the alley was cheering. Here's this kid, balanced on one crutch, handlng herself and that bowling ball.

Ray has been back in hospital since last Sunday. He seems to be feeling better and I have a feeling they may send him home today. Carol remains about the same. She had a brief hospital stay over Sunday and Monday.

We tried to have Elcie's annual i.e.p. meeting (for those who don't know that's an Individual Education Program for kids with special needs). The school's computer went down and lost all her info and then two of the participants had to cancel last minute. Those of us who attended just chatted off the record and then rescheduled for Monday when the representative from Golden Valley High School and Elcie's advocate can make it. The middle school teachers, her P.E. teacher and I didn't want to make any decisions without the additional input.

Rebecca was out yesterday with a sore throat and no voice. She's feeling better today.

I still haven't figured out what's wrong with my "router" but at least I have the net and I can stop throwing rocks at Comcast who was completely innocent this time. The girls will survive without their computer until I can get someone who knows what they're doing over here.

This day is getting away from me quickly and I should go be useful. Thanks for the comments (I'm still trying to catch up on reading and responding so please bear with me), have a great weekend (nice weather here - might hit 80° F), and take care everyone.

Update: For any who don't know which girl is which, Rochelle is the smiling one, Rebecca looks sad, and Elcie is in the chair. If you didn't know where the blog name comes from it's their names: ROChelle, REBecca, ELcie (rocrebel granny). Also, I'm something of a Rebel. They're in the same order on the sidebar.