Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Real Simple's Irresistible Chocolate Chip Cookies...

I've been majorly craving chocolate recently so I decided to once again attempt to find the perfect chocolate chip cookies... the recipe is from Real Simple.

Ingredients: 

2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
kosher salt
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips

Directions: (I've decided it might be easier to list them and then show pictures)

1) Heat oven to 375*F.
2) Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
3) With an electric mixer on medium-high, beat the butter, sugars, and vanilla for 3 minutes. Add the egg and beat until combined. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and the baking soda. Reduce mixer speed to low and slowly add the flour mixture to the egg mixture until combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.
4) Scoop the dough into tablespoon-size mounds and place on the prepared baking sheets, 2 inches apart. Bake until lightly browned at the edges, 12 to 15 minutes.
5) Cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes. Transfer cookies to wire racks and cool completely.

All the ingredients.

Combined flour, salt and baking soda.

Butter, sugars and vanilla mixed together for 3 minutes.

Slowly add flour.

Stir in chocolate chips.

"Tablespoon" size mounds on parchment paper lined baking sheets.

Cookies cooling.

Shot number 2.

I thought these cookies turned out pretty well. Frank said they were the best I've made yet, but I'm not sure about that. The only change I would make next time would be to maybe bake them at 340*-350* for a little bit longer, because the bottom of my first batched was a little brown. The second batch at 340* turned out perfectly!

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Fall TV...

All I can say is thank goodness for DVR! With all the advertising for new fall tv shows I had a list of about 10 shows I wanted to add to my fall line-up. Luckily I have only added about 5...seriously DVR is awesome. So I spread them out and watch during dinner or on the weekend, and I don't feel like all I do is watch TV as of now. I have already dedicated one post to The Vampire Diaries...still obsessed. I decided to share with y'all the other shows I'm currently loving.

1) Revenge- I think it's great. I have no idea where it's going but it's so dramatic and over the top and I love it.





2) Hart of Dixie- I was a little unsure about this show but since I love Rachel Bilson I knew I had to give it a shot. It's now one of my favorites. It's not overly serious and it makes me happy...I love the cast. I mean Rachel Bilson, guy from Friday Night Lights and Jaime King. LOVE.







3) Pan Am- I have only watched the first episode and I was a little confused with all of the government stuff. However I think it has a lot of potential! I wish flying was still so glamorous! Plus loving the fact that Christina Ricci is on the show! She was one of my fav actresses when I was younger- Now & Then, Casper, The Addams Family, etc.


Here are all the things I have DVR'ed...I am obviously way behind on watching these and need to catch up. Yes my life looks pathetic but I love anything that has to do with stories...books, movies, tv, song lyrics, etc.

Monday: Gossip Girl, The Lying Game (thank goodness this is a summer series!), Hart of Dixie, The Playboy Club (haven't started this yet)
Tuesday: 90210 and during the summer Pretty Little Liars
Wednesday: Modern Family, Up All Night (I've seen it once looks pretty funny- love Will Arnett), Revenge
Thursday: The Vampire Diaries
Sunday: Pan-Am, How to Make it in America

Yes typing it all out gives me a little anxiety. 

Coco Osteria...

On Saturday night Frank and I went to Coco Osteria for the first time. It was amazing...so delicious! It was so quaint and cozy, with an awesome atmosphere. I highly recommend checking this place out! They have a bank menu for all of you bankers...


I even branched out and got something that resembled this instead of bolognese. It was so yummy! Unfortunately I trusted Graham enough to leave it at his house late night and he ate it! (This picture is from urbanspoon.com but mine looked very similar!) 

I like this...

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Lucy's First Visit to the Hospital...

So yesterday my mom and I decided it was imperative that we take Lucy to see my dad at the hospital. I mean for the first few days Lucy didn't really notice my dad was gone but since Lucy, like the rest of us, is a daddy's girl she was starting to get "stressed." How do I know this? Because Carole wanted me to take her to the vet on Saturday because she was acting funny...the vet said she was running a low fever and it was all probably due to the fact that John was in the hospital. So Lucy got to be reunited with him yesterday...and of course I documented it.
Lou was in a hurry so I couldn't capture this very clearly...walking through the parking deck.

Almost there...

Walking in... She was a hit at the hospital, people loved her.

Lucy's first elevator ride!!

Carole let her loose and she ran immediately to John, who was shocked she was there.

They were both so happy.

Then Lou jumped onto his lap.

And stayed there... 

It was a big day for Lou and John! 

The Vampire Diaries...

Since I have been in Greensboro for most of the past week I have had the chance to become truly OBSESSED with The Vampire Diaries. The first few episodes I watched gave me nightmares about people being murdered so I was pretty sure I was going to have to give up the show. However, I was determined to see what the big deal was about this show and therefore stuck with it. And now I understand. I love it. I'm so disappointed to be caught up to the current season. Before I go any further here is my favorite scene so far... obviously I'm way too big of a hopeless romantic.



I really think I have a problem because I'm so obsessed with this show. Everyday things are starting to remind me of it...there has been more than one occasion where I have been positive I've been compelled. And visiting my dad in the hospital and looking at his IV bags...all I was thinking is wow those look like the bags of blood they steal from the hospital. PROBLEM. Mimi sent out an email last night to her bridesmaids and mistakenly put my blog address as "www.katesnider.bloodspot.com." She knows nothing about my current obsession with The Vampire Diaries...my first thought was I wonder if that's already taken. I'm still trying to convince Kelley to watch it, even though she insists that she's not into vampires. I told her I'm not either I just love The Vampire Diaries and Twilight....that doesn't mean anything.

I just can't bring myself to show a picture of Elena and Stephan, I love him but he's just not right for her. 

I love these two.

Tyler and Caroline.

Stephan and Damon...what lookers.


Lastly I love the Vampire Diaries because I love the fact that Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder are a real life couple...



AHHH Love them!

Friday, September 16, 2011

Here's How I Feel About This Weekend...

I unfortunately won't be making the Dirty Dancing Festival, which may not be a bad thing because it's supposed to rain. Instead I will be in Raleigh helping dear ALEW celebrate her birthday early!!