HippieDog

Family......

Is it already the weekend? I guess I've been a blog slacker :)

We had such a great Easter weekend.

Lots of turkey dinner, wreath making, flowers, dogs, speckled cookies, egg making, adventures and basketball.

Most of all spending time with Family.

Have a great weekend!

 

Peanut Butter Speckled Cookies

Today we went to Grandma's place for an Easter egg hunt.

This is the first Easter egg hunt we've ever been to. It was really cute and well organized I have to say.

Showing off his assortment of wonderful candy eggs.

I barely snuck this recipe in for Easter. These cookie lovers are really yummy! If you eat them while they are still warm, it's chocolate meets peanut butter heaven.

Good grief.......

Peanut Butter Speckled Cookies

2 1/4 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup Crisco shortening
1/2 cup butter
1 cup creamy peanut butter
2 eggs
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 package milk chocolate speckled eggs

In mixing bowl, sift together flour, soda and salt. Set aside.

In large mixing bowl, combine sugars, butter, shortening and peanut butter until smooth and creamy. Gradually add eggs and vanilla. Mix until combined.

Stir in chocolate eggs.

Drop on cookie sheet or baking stone with cookie scoop or 1 TB mixture.

Bake 350 degrees for 12 minutes or until cookie just starts to brown. Let cool on cookie sheet or stone for 4 minutes and transfer to wire rack to cool.

I like to reserve a few eggs for each cookie and press them on each cookie right out of the oven. This way they are inside and out :)

Happy Easter!

 

Jelly Bird Marshmallow Treats

Just an easy sweet treat that everyone loves.

Jelly Bird Marshmallow Treats

1/4 cup butter
4 cups miniature marshmallows
5 cups Rice Krispy cereal
food coloring
jelly bird speckled eggs

In large pot, melt butter on low-medium heat. Add marshmallows, stirring constantly just until melted.

Add cereal and food coloring. Stir just until combined.

Pour in buttered 9 x 13 pan. Smooth cereal mix evenly and top each row with jelly bird eggs.

Cool and cut in squares.

**We like to double this recipe for really gooey large bars. You can also add flavored marshmallow treats, chocolate chips and even peanut butter.

 

a day in the city.........

We celebrated St. Patrick's Day in Ogden's Downtown Historical 25th Street.

We stopped at the Union Station Museum to check out the old trains. Jake just loves trains and so does his grandpa in Seattle :)

Then we headed across the street to check out the city.

We went antiquing. I can't come out of an antique shop empty handed. I found some itty bitty plastic doll hangers and Dan found an old vintage Saturday Evening Post Merrie Christmas sign. This will look great in our downstairs bathroom. It has that old time vintage feel.

Then we headed a few blocks over to Iggy's Sports Bar Grill. I'm in love with their food and atmosphere.

My favorite is their Chicken Teriyaki. I know, not too traditional with the Irish theme....but that's why there's always dessert.

I made Shamrock Shakes for dessert with Irish Flags :)

Shamrock Shakes

Pistachio and Almond Ice Cream
milk
whipped cream
mint cookies or oreo cookies, crushed
Irish flags

Add ice cream and milk to blender. Whip until smooth and creamy. I like my shakes thick and Dan likes to be able to drink his from a straw. Just add as much or little milk to get the right consistency.

Pour in mugs and save room for whipped cream and crushed cookies.

Top with flags and we hope you had yourself a Very Merrie St. Patrick's Day!

 

St. Urho's Day.....

Wearing Purple?

The legend says St. Urho chased the grasshoppers out of ancient Finland, thus saving the grape crop and the jobs of Finnish vineyard workers. He did this by uttering the phrase: "Heinäsirkka, heinäsirkka, mene täältä hiiteen" (roughly translated: "Grasshopper, grasshopper, go to Hell!"). His feast is celebrated by wearing the colors Royal Purple and Nile Green. St. Urho is nearly always represented with grapes and grasshoppers as part of the picture.

We love celebrating St. Urho Day :) We wore our purple proud and ate Grasshopper Parfaits and purple grapes.......grasshopper....grasshopper......

Grasshopper Cookie Parfaits

1 box chocolate instant pudding, prepared
1 8 ounce cool whip
10-15 grasshopper cookies, crushed
green food coloring

Add a few drops of green food coloring to your coolwhip and stir.

Layer parfait cups with cookie crumbs, coolwhip, pudding and repeat layers ending with cookie crumbs.

Refrigerate for a few hours and serve to people wearing purple.

Happy St. Urho's Day!