Since I’ve Been Gone from Blogging….

WOW! So I have been MIA for a while. It is almost one year since I’ve posted a bite. Not that anyone is reading this, but maybe one day! It would probably help if I told someone other than my husband that I have a baking blog! I did actually sort of tell two of my girlfriends when we were in Las Vegas this past March. I didn’t tell them the name and they have husbands and children and lives, so they probably didn’t get home and search this out!

I started this awhile back because I enjoy writing, being in the kitchen making delicious food using my mom’s recipes and/or creating my own, and because it is fun! When I started, I wanted to share some of the amazing experiences I had teaching in a lot of different schools, my adjusting from small town to city life, as well as post many of the things I bake or make. I don’t always take the time to take pictures of my process as I am working. A lot has happened since I began this a few years ago. Even when I started this in March of 2013, I was telling about a time that dated to 2008. I was using my journals and scrapbooks to help me tell my stories. Here are some of the things that have happened Since I’ve Been Gone from Blogging…

One of the biggest things was Lawyerboy, also known as Chad, graduated from Hamline Law School. He was in the top ten percent of his class. Halfway through his schooling, he began working at a boutique law firm in Wayzata part-time. A few months after graduating, he started full-time. It is only him and his senior attorney, George. George is a brilliant man with years of experience as a lawyer and he is well-traveled. His wife Emily is a delight and we enjoy having them in our lives. We spent two weeks in Europe celebrating graduating from law school! It was a special trip and we were in ten countries during those two weeks!

I got into the swing of things and mostly only taught at Hope for most of 2009 to 2013. I did many long-term teaching positions there when teachers went on their maternity leaves. I taught after-school and summer school starting in 2010. I enjoyed the staff and students as much as I did the first time I was there in 2008. I quit working at Target in January of 2010 in order to teach after-school. I really enjoyed working at Target, but the late hours and early mornings were too much. It was nice when Lawyerboy was able to start working part-time in the middle of law school.

We thought about moving back to North Dakota, but decided to keep living in the twin cities area. We built a home in the summer of 2013 in Delano, Minnesota. It is west of the cities. Lawyerboy still works in Wayzata. We wanted to be close to the city, but live someplace that has a country feel. The west side made sense beings it is closer to our roots.

I found a full-time teaching position. I work at another Hmong school in Minneapolis. They have been building a new school and we start there in a couple of weeks! It is in Brooklyn Park. I have about a 45 minute drive. Last year I taught first graders. I am looping with my class and will teach them again as second graders. I am looking forward to seeing them!!!

I still bake and cook all the time! I have a much bigger kitchen than the one in my apartment when I started this! I wanted to get back into blogging and I have decided to start sharing the things I am mixing up in the kitchen and pair it with a story that is happening in my life now or maybe a fun story about something that has happened in the past, instead of continuing from 2009. I, like a lot of people in the world, have people ask me what I make for meals and how do I make things taste so good! My answer is always the same. Sugar, butter, love, and I learned from one of the best… my mom.

Now with Instagram, a lot of people post their final pictures on their account and then followers can go to their site and see the recipes. I was not into social media. I still do not have Facebook. However, I did start an Instagram account. Last summer, I sold my home-baked goods at the Delano Farmer’s Market once a week. It was fun, but it was a guessing game. There would be days my pies would be gone in five minutes and days I’d bring one home. Not that that was really a bad thing! Chad and I had fun getting to eat them!

I am about to make The Quad cookie. I think it is safe to say that this is my sister, Micky, and my husbands favorite cookie. (They often copy each other!) In 2012, George offered for Chad and I to go stay at his property on Lake Vermilion. We went for four days in June and it was amazing! It is peaceful, gorgeous, and relaxing. In 2013, Micky came with us in June. We had pretty cool weather. It was still a great time, but George offered that we go again in August. Chad and I went for five days. The weather was beyond perfect and it was one of my all time favorite getaways! In 2014 we went up twice again. Chad and I went for four days and in August Micky came for a few days and even brought our dad! It was a blast!

Now to this year! Chad and I went for four days a couple of weekends ago. It was nice, but pretty windy. Once again, we had an amazing time despite the weather. Now we are getting ready for our long stay. We plan to leave on Friday afternoon when Lawyerboy gets home from doing lawyerly things! I have been packing and getting some things lined up. I baked a quick bread the other day and placed it in the freezer to bring along to have as part of our breakfast some of the days. I am going to make The Quadruple Chocolate Cookie today. They are sumptuous warm out-of-the-oven, but they taste great right from the freezer, especially on a hot day. They are also easy to make…. Enjoy!

The Quad Cookie

Preheat Oven: 350 degrees – Bake Time: 15 minutes – Prep Time: 10 minutes – Makes 20 to 24 cookies

2 1/2 sticks butter, softened

2 cups sugar

2 eggs, room temperature

3 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups flour

2/3 cup cocoa powder

1 1 /2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

3/4 cup milk chocolate chips

1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. I use a large mixing bowl and spoon. Some bakers use mixers, but I feel most cookies are best when made this way. Cream the softened butter and sugar together. Add the two room temperature eggs next. (It is fine if they aren’t. There are bigger things to worry about!) Also, add the three teaspoons of vanilla. Then really mix this well. Add the flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir slowly. Then add the cocoa powder. Stir slowly again until combined. Now add the three types of chips. Put about a half cup or so of the white chocolate chips on reserve nearby. Use an ice cream scoop or two spoons to drop your cookies onto a baking sheet. I stagger them and get eight on a sheet. Use the reserved white chips and place four to five on each cookie. This way the white POPS and you get more chocolate! Bake for 15 minutes, turning halfway through. Once you pull them out of the oven, let them rest on the baking sheet before you remove them. This helps them to complete the baking process and not break apart when you remove them. I get anywhere from 20 to 24 cookies. Sometimes I make them even bigger than these! You can make them smaller. You just might need to adjust your baking time to a minute or two less! They are yummy right out of the oven and can easily be frozen. Try not to eat the dough!