Monday cookies... on Wednesney???

Hi everyone...

Today's post is two days late, I know.  I apologize in the best way possible, with warm and delicious carrot cake cookies.

Last week, after reading blog after blog of fall recipes, I was craving fall treats like a mad woman. But since out here it is still on the summery side, I though I'd make carrot cake, or a sightly faster and less messy version of carrot cake.

Today's cookie starts off like any Monday cookie, with a batch of sugar cookie dough. Then we add all the carrot cake basics, mix it all well and into the oven it goes. Out comes a warm little cluster of carrot cake. My son is at that stage were he helps mommy with everything, measuring ingredients, playing with the butter, and yes, playing with the dough, so we make little 1" dough balls. He likes his cookies bite sized, perfect for his little hands and mouth. Having said that, if it were up to me, i'd make giant freeform cookies, with brown crisp edges and soft comforting center. However you choose to shape you cookies, they sure are delicious.

Recipe - makes a dozen cookies

1 cup sugar cookie dough, at room temperature

1/3 cup grated carrots

1/4 cup chopped walnuts

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp maple sugar

1/8 tsp grated lemon/orange zest

- Place all ingredients in a large bowl, and mix with a wooden spoon just until combined.

- Shape cookies into 1" balls and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment or a silpat mat.

- bake at 325 F, for 8 min, or until slightly brown around the edge.

I've been visiting various sites and blogs looking for ideas for my sons room, and I hope to the post ready for all of you soon. I've also been working on all those baby blankets and as soon as I get a chance, I'll photograph them and share the pictures with you. Hopefully soon!!!!

Thank you for stopping by. I hope you bake a batch of this delicious cookies to brighten up your day!

ciao ciao natalia           

once upon a time II

Good morning to you...

 Today I want to share with you a few more pictures of my son's room as I start to put things away, measure for new curtains, and prepare the space for a wonderful little boy.

This hand painted night stand is one of the most precious things in his room. It was once in a little girl's nursery, mine. I though about painting it for a little while, and then I decided it just looked better the way it is. 

A little detail on the chandelier, I think this one will go in my bedroom for now.

My mom brought this little blue box from a trip to Paris while I was still pregnant. The mobile has been hanging in my son's bedroom even since. Until today that is.

College Fund Piggy is what we call him!!!

all photos by me - please use wisely

I've been visiting blog after blog looking for fabulous ideas for the room, I'll be posting them soon.

Thanks for stopping by today, come back soon!!!

                            ciao ciao, natalia

monday maple pecan sugar cookies

Good Monday morning to everyone!!!

Today I would like to share with you these easy cookies I made for my son last week. He loves eating the pecan mixture as much as the dough, and even though its hard for him to wait so long, he love the cookies too. Its as simple as lightly toasting and finely chopping pecans. Once they have cooled, toss them with one my all time favorite ingredients for cookie making, maple sugar.

Make 1" sugar cookie dough balls and roll them in the mixture until evenly coated. Place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment or a Silpat mat and flatten out slightly.

Bake at 325f for 8-12 minutes, depending on your oven. Wait for them to cool, if you can, and enjoy a great week!!!

If you get a chance, hide a few of these cookies and enjoy when you need to sweeten up your day!! 

  

Thank you for stopping by, have a great week everyone!!!

ciao ciao natalia

welcome home baby boy

Good morning everyone!!!

 I was up late last night trying to finish this wonderful little boy's blanket. My friend asked me some time ago for a receiving blanket to bring her baby home. And even though it seems like she told me she was pregnant last week, the truth is she is almost due!!! So I used every little spare second I could find, and here is the result. I hope you like it!!!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend !! Come back soon!

                                                       ciao ciao, natalia

Once upon a time..

... a mommy and a daddy set out to make the dreamiest of places

 for a tiny little baby that was soon to come.

Not knowing whether the magical room would be filled with 

dolls and tea parties or dragons and knights,

they decided to make everything gray and white.

And so the baby came, and quickly grew

and found for every little object in his room

a brand new use.

Once filled with diapers and wipes

the chest now hold his growing collection of cars.

Porcelain gifts from dear friends, 

had to be put away!!

He has grown so much

he can reach almost anything on his own.

Old silver rattles and cups, now sleep on a toy barn.

After all, an elephant is an animal to play with,

not a decoration.

Peanuts the elephant, came from the far away land of FAO Schwartz.

Even Oscar the Grouch had to find a new home. 

A trash can is no place for friend,

 but it is good enough for a game of basketball.

After thousands of naps and hours of play,

the time has come to give this little boy a brand new space.

A space to accommodate his new toys and his growing needs.

I wish I could keep  his room like this forever, but times change

and so must we.

                           

                                                                             ciao ciao, natalia

All photos by me, please let me know if you would like to use them... Thank you!

this is me

Ciao care!!!

 Today I want to share with you a wonderful blog I stumbled upon while practicing my Italian. Her name is Raffa and she blogs over at Il blog de Raffaella e le sue storie. A little over two weeks ago, she posted a very simple request, to send her or post a self-portrait, with or without yourself in the picture, and explain why this image represents you.

And so this is my official entry. 

I am a stay-at-home mom rediscovering the world with my two year old son. He has the most precious hands I have ever seen, and even the stickiest mess seems photo worthy to me. I took this picture a month ago while he was sitting on my lap enjoying a beach-side snack. And he taught me how to eat a granola bar "alla S." First you open and discard the wrapper, if the trash can happens to be next to you, great, otherwise yell "mamaaaaaa". Take the bar it both hands and squish it into a ball. Then you cry over the crumbs that have fallen on the sand and mom won't let you eat, only to realize 3.8 seconds later that you have your hands full of a yummy little snack, ready to be eaten!!! This are the little details that make my days inexplicably happy. Mi piacerebbe tantissimo scrivere tutto questo in Italiano, ma ho paura di sbagliare!! Ho dimenticato troppo!

To everyone else out there, now that you know the guidelines head on over to Raffa's blog and enter your picture. Deadline is September 30, so you still have time. Be sure to check out her blog to see other submissions!!!

                                                                                                              





                                                                                                     ciao ciao, natalia

sugar cookie monday

Hello everyone... so nice of you to stop by!!

Hope you had a wonderful weekend, and now to start the week off right, how about some sweet peanut butter and chocolate cookies?? As you might have noticed, there is a bit of recurring theme here. Since I usually have sugar cookie dough in my refrigerator, I like to start the week with home-baked goodness. And judging by the little sneaky hand in the picture above, my son does too.

These cookies start by baking about 1tsp. of cookie dough on  a mini muffin tin. As soon as they are done baking, poke the center of each cookie with the back of a wood spoon to make an indentation.

As soon as you do this, and while the cookies are still warm, drop 1 or 2 chocolate chips (I like Guirardelli, but use what you like) into each cookie and watch as they melt so deliciously! But wait there is more...

 

...when they are cool to the touch, place the cookies on a cooling rack and wait for them to cool completely. Using a spoon or a piping bag, fill the cookies with creamy peanut butter. To finish, place one more chocolate chip on top of the creamy peanut butter and, ENJOY!! 

I sure hope this sets the tone for a wonderful week!!

                               Thank you for stopping by, have a great day!

                                                                             ciao ciao, natalia

For a simple sugar cookie recipe, click here