Fa La La La La La La La La

Its been fun living so close to Steve and Amanda (lets make these last 6 months count!!!!) So one friday night we decided to go sit on Santa's lap and go on a carriage ride at The Riverwoods Mall in Provo. It was great fun! So this Santa was suppose to be AMAZING, well, his costume and set up was awesome, as far as his personality goes he was wah wah! Notice the picture below of grace talking to him and he is looking at the camera with a blank stare. Oh well, the kids had a blast! Emma wants a puppy

My cute girls!

Grace wants makeup

Four cute kiddos

Best buds

Gettig ready to ride on the carriage

After we rode the carriage we walked over to a fun arcade place and let the kids play some fun games! Ok, us parents picked a few as well!!

Thanks for the fun night welsh fam!! We love you guys~!

Fun Summer times

This summer was fantastic! living with mom and dad was great fun, and filled with lots of cousin time. My kids loved every second of it! Here is grace and amelia on the swings...

Maggie's first time in the swing

One day we went on a hike in Centerville with Lindsay and amanda at the end of the hike was a waterfall... the kids LOVED it!

You would think that Grace had just fallen in or was getting attacked or something, no no, she had moss on her shoe! love that girl!

Emma thought she could climb anything!

Christmas Recipes

Okay, I really need to post some pictures of our last few months, but in lieu of real pictures I am posting the recipes for two Christmas treats that I have recently tried that were delicious. They are bar treats so they are  very easy to make in large batches and distribute to neighbors...you can thank me later!
First, Sugar Cookie Bars, who would have thought. I made them just as suggested and used the frosting they recommend as well. They are a delicious sugar cookie and save you the time of cutting out and frosting dozens of tiny cookies to distribute. I made 3 double batches. You can cook a double batch in a jelly roll pan and get about 30-40 cookie bars per pan. Delicious!

Sugar Cookie Bars (Cooking Classy)

Cookies: 
2-1/2 cups bread flour (or all-purpose flour is fine)

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

1 egg

1-1/2 Tbsp. sour cream

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Frosting:

1/2 cup butter, softened

4 cups powdered sugar

1/4 cup half and half

1 tsp. vanilla

Pinch of salt

Several drops of food coloring (optional)

Directions:

COOKIES: Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.

In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
3.     In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. (The longer you beat it, the fluffier your cookies will be.)

Add egg and combine well.

Add sour cream and vanilla and mix until completely blended.

Slowly add the flour mixture and stir until well combined.

Gently press the batter into the greased baking dish and spread out with hands. (If you butter your hands, this will help with the stickiness.)

Bake 17-20 minutes, or until edges become lightly golden.

Set aside to cool completely.

FROSTING: In a medium bowl, cream together butter, powdered sugar, and half and half until light and fluffy.

Stir in vanilla and salt, combine well.

Add food coloring until desired color.

Frost your cooled cookie bars evenly.

Cut into squares and serve.  

 

Next, Peppermint Bark Brownies:

Make any recipe brownies you want and cook. Melt white chocolate chips in the microwave (I tried sprinkling them over the top and putting them in the oven to melt...it does not work. White chips are not really white chocolate!) Once melted then spread over brownies and then sprinkle with crushed candy canes. 

Alternate version: Melt 1.5 cups semi sweet chocolate chips on brownies after they finish cooking (sprinkle and return to oven for a few minutes then take out and spread). Allow chocolate layer to set up for a few hours, then do white chocolate chips and peppermint layers. Also very tasty.