Oatmeal Chocolate Sea Salt Cookies

Oatmeal Chocolate Sea Salt Cookies (Makes 4-5 Dozen)

1 Cup Unsalted Butter, softened
1 Cup Brown Sugar (light or dark)
1/2 Cup Sugar
2 Large Eggs
2 Tsp Vanilla Extract
1 1/2 Cup All Purpose Flour
1 Tsp Baking Soda
1/2 Tsp Salt
3 Cups Old Fashioned Oats
1 9 oz Bag Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips

Sea Salt Flakes (I use Maldon Sea Salt)

** Do NOT use iodized salt on top of the cookies.

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Using a standing or hand mixer, beat together the butter and sugar until creamy and fluffy, about 4 minutes ( I know 4 minutes seems like a long time, but it makes all the difference).
3. Add the eggs, one at a time, and vanilla until thoroughly combined.
4. Stir the flour, baking soda and salt in a separate mixing bowl.
5. Slowly add the flour to the butter/sugar mixture until combined.
6. Stir in oats and chocolate chips mixing well until combined.
7. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto parchment or silpat lined cookie sheet.*
8. Press down each cookie and top with a few flakes of sea salt.
9. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown.
10. Cool and serve.

* You can also bake them in silicone individual muffin tins as I did in the picture for 18-20 minutes.
** After step #8, place sheet tray in the freezer for several hours, remove cookies to labeled zipper bags and freeze for up to 3 months. Bake according to directions in step #9.

Snow in Whoville at the Grinchmas Universal Studios

Playing in Whoville snow at Grinchmas - Universal Studios

Merry Christmas!

Scarlet Snowflakes Christmas

Personalize the christmas season with Christmas photo cards.

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Fall 2010 - 10K Race

Christmas Breakfast Casserole

~This is a Lordeon family traditional favorite and now Pennie Family Tradition! ~ Thanks, Ga-Ga.

Breakfast Casserole (Serves 4-6)

6 Large Eggs, whisked
2/3 Cups Milk
1 Cup Cheese, shredded (you can use Smoked Gouda, Mexican cheese blend, Mozzarella, Cheddar, or Monterey Jack)
1/2 Tsp Salt
5 Slices day-old Whole Wheat Bread, cut into cubes (Trader Joes Parmesan Artisan Bread is best!)
1/2lb sausage, cooked and crumbled into bite-size pieces

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
2. In a bowl whisk the eggs, milk, cheese and salt until thoroughly combined.
3. Lay the cubed bread in the bottom of a greased dish
4. Pour the egg mixture and until just combined (assure a good layering of cheese and sausage)
4. Bake for 40-50 minutes or until the top is golden.
5. Serve.

*Can be doubled and cooked in a 13 x 9 inch dish

Engineer James says "Allll aboard!"

James and Yo Gabba Gabba!

There is a new toddler TV show - Yo Gabba Gabba! And it's all the rage. James got to meet the star, DJ Leon, when he read stories to kids today at the fundraiser Milk & Bookies (donating books to needy kids and schools). Jennifer Garner was there, Raine Wilson and other stars that I SHOULD know but don't. It was such fun!

We are being watched....

It is becoming more apparent that James watches our every move. We often will hide the real remote control or our iPhones behind our back so that James won't know we have them or ask for them. We think we're so much smarter than he.

Today I saw James walking around with his arm behind his back, holding a toy spoon, toy remote, blocks, or little animal... He must think that's how adults walk around - with things hidden behind their back! Uh oh, every move we do is important... Oh heavens. We're in trouble now.

Zip line at Gym Class!

James loved the zip line basket in gym class at MyGym!