Friday, November 09, 2007

Packages Plus...

What a fun week of packages for me! My Monkey socks from the Monkey Sock Swap I was in arrived from Beck and I absolutely love them. The colors are perfect and they feel great on my feet.
She also included a beautiful skein of Hand Maiden yarn to knit up my Mona Cookie A sock pattern that she included as well. I haven't tried this yarn yet, so it will be a real treat.








Speaking of treats, there were many that accompanied my socks and yarn. Lots of yummy dark chocolate (some of which is gone now!); monkey key covers; monkey page clips; a handmade paper journal; 3 pair of the work socks that make the famous sock monkeys and a little can of Junk Yard Dog grass for Sumo!
Thanks so much, Beck!



Then today I received my Football Along Swap Package from Kris. Boy did she spoil me as well!!
Look at all this footbally goodness! There are snacks a plenty; cups, napkins and plates for a football party; a baked cookie candle (Yum!); 2 knitting magazines and 3 skeins of wonderful yarn.





Again, Kris included yarn that I don't have in my 'collection' yet! 2 skeins of purple Koigu and a beautiful skein of Fleece Artist Autumn with yellow in it's colorway. (GO VIKINGS!) Good thing I have some knitting time planned this weekend with all this new yarn!!






I spent a good part of the day today cooking. I made a batch of Penne; Chicken Broccoli casserole; White Rolls and Peanut Butter Kiss cookies. I was inspired to make these when I found this bag of UNWRAPPED Hershey Kisses at the store this week. I've been waiting for them to do this for years. It's especially nice now because I don't have kids at home anymore who are anxious to help mom make cookies by unwrapping all the kisses. Thought I would share my cookie recipe with you.








Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies



1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 1/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla
Hershey Kisses, unwrapped

1. In a large bowl, cream together peanut butter, butter, sugars and egg.

2. Stir in flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Blend thoroughly and then stir in vanilla.

3. Roll 1/2 Tbsp of dough into a ball and roll in sugar and place on cookie sheet. Flatten slightly with palm of hand or small glass.

4. Bake 8 to 10 minutes at 350 degrees.

5. Lightly press a Hershey Kiss into the center of the cookie.


Helping me today was my constant companion, Sumo. He sits there with his paw under the rug (something he always does for some reason) and kept me company while I worked in the kitchen. (He was rewarded occasionally with a small piece of chicken.. shhhh, don't tell Steve.) His big reward, however, was the 2 mile walk we took after the cooking was all done!









With the cooking and cleaning done for the weekend, I hope to spend lots of time knitting this weekend. (We also have a few cars we're looking at to replace the one totaled by the deer last weekend). I'll keep you posted!

Until Next Time...

12 comments:

monica said...

All your goodies look wonderful. What great swap partners you had. And yummy, yummy yarn too along with the snacks.
Glad to hear you will have some knitting time this weeked. And, good luck with the car search!!

monica said...

All your goodies look wonderful. What great swap partners you had. And yummy, yummy yarn too along with the snacks.
Glad to hear you will have some knitting time this weeked. And, good luck with the car search!!

Anonymous said...

oooooh, you are a lucky girl!

those unwrapped kisses are dangerous if you're NOT baking, though. i think the only think that snaps me out of mindless chocolate consumption is the guilt over the ever-growing pile of foil wrappers next to me on the couch.

the cookie recipe sounds good... the holidays are coming!!!

Shelley L. MacKenzie said...

Wow...you sure got a lot of awesome goodies!! I'm so jealous!

Those cookies sound delicious!

gilraen said...

What fabulous swaps !!! Great partners too :)

Can I move to your house, the food sounds divine!! I'm going to use more of your recipes....yum yum :D

rohanknitter said...

What wonderful swap goodies and they included such neat yarn!!
Those unwrapped kisses look downright dangerous! (unwrapped kisses -who knew??)
Good luck car shopping!

Marianne said...

All of your swap goodies look terrific. I love the monkey socks; that yarn is gorgeous! Do you know what the yarn is?

You have been a busy girl. All of your cooking sounds wonderful, especially the Penne and the White Rolls! Hershey has gotten sneaky in their old age, selling unwrapped Kisses by the bagful, LOL! Your Peanut Butter Kiss cookies look awesome! I can't wait to try them! Thank you for the recipe. :-)

Good luck in your used car search. We have had done well using carfax. My oldest son joined for a month, so he could run VIN's while looking for cars. Sometimes those carfax reports can be interesting.

Best wishes, Marianne

SwissKnits! said...

What a busy little bee you are!!
Your swap pals were awesome to you! Enjoy all your goodies!!
Have you ever made one of those famous monkey dolls? They are too cute!!
Prayers for a good, safe car!!

Anonymous said...

Nothing better than a clean house and a fridge full or food. Course new yarn and swap packages and pretty great too.

Love the Koigu

Anonymous said...

Only Sumo with his paw under the rug would steal my eyes away from the yarn and cookie pictures!
Awwww.....

ladyoftheloom said...

Sumo could be my Suzie's boyfriend....she likes a blonde with a smile! And chicken.

holly said...

I love your recipes--your kids must've been spoiled by all your good cooking while growing up--can't wait to try some once I get some free time!