Sunday, August 25, 2013

Monster Cookie Dough Dip

Ok, back to cooking! I saw this recipe on Pinterest a while back and squirreled it away. I've seen a lot of variations of a cookie dough that you can eat without worries of getting sick, i.e. no eggs. I have to confess that I'm not much of cookie dough eater. I know, shock! It's never really appealed to me...just give me the cookies, they are hot. Hmmm, maybe it's a temperature thing? Nonetheless, this dip sounded like fun.


Monster Cookie Dough Dip

  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened (I used 1/3 less fat, have to at least try...)
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 3 T brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 t vanilla
  • 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 cups old fashioned oats
  • 2 packages plain M&Ms (the size you get at the checkout)
  • 1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
  1. With a hand mixer, beat cream cheese, butter and PB until smooth
  2. Add in powdered sugar, brown sugar, flour and vanilla
  3. Stir in by hand the oats. Start with 1 1/2 cups then add more as you like for a thicker dip. Remember that the dip will get firmer once it goes in the fridge. I used 2 cups.
  4. Stir in M&Ms and chocolate chips
  5. Store in fridge until serving. Serve with pretzels, graham crackers or apple slices.
Beware, this dip makes a lot!! I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it all...I'm going to try freezing some, will let you know in the future. I also am going to give some away and perhaps take it to work, i.e. the evaporation station. 

I took this dip to a house party where we played Cards Against Humanity. If you are not aware of this game, it's like Apples to Apples only for adults...hilarious. Here's an example of a particularly good round:


Good times...

Last few weeks, part 3

Ok, this is the last installment of what's been going on the last month. I promise to try to be better about posting more on the blog...I guess that's a halfway-through-the-year resolution... (?)

This post is about my new job...or rather my new office. I'm still not 100% sure what I will be doing in my new job but one has to get excited about your own space!







Basically, I have space to see patients and their families...so happy!! On to week 2!!

Last few weeks, part 2

Another part of my vacation time was being a bridesmaid in my step-sister's wedding. My sister had the honor of being the matron of honor and enlisted my help with the bridal shower. We had the shower the day before the wedding because our family and her friends were spread all over the country...we thought it would just be easier that way.

A few years ago we went to a bridal shower that had a "traditions" theme and thought it was a very good idea. Basically, instead of random kitchen equipment or sexy panties, you give a gift that has meaning to you and your family so that the new couple can use it to make a tradition with their family. My gift was an ice cream maker with the idea that our family makes ice cream every 4th of July. My sister gave grilling equipment because her and her husband grill basically everything, get it?

Her colors were wine and gold, the wedding invites had mason jars on them, so my sister and I made these as decorations and party favors...



We wrapped mason jars with coordinating ribbon and put a chalk sticker for names...what a time saver!! I think if you had the time, painting chalk board paint on the jars would be cheaper. The stickers were very easy tho (but I'm not sure of the wash-ability...). The lips and mustaches were part of a game - we asked the bride and groom the same questions. The game was to say only one of the answers and the guests were to decide who said what. This game seemed to be particularly tricky for us as the couple had MANY answers that were the same...a testament to their compatibility but not so great for a game...if I were to do this in the future, I would asked different questions to the bride and groom and play it off that I asked the same questions...yes, I would cheat!!!


For these jars we used 2 ribbons and filled with rose petals. I think they turned out really nice.
 

Here's the overall look of the place...I think we did a great job!!


Another view. The cards on the back of the chairs were a game called "Who has the groom?"


Here's what the cards look like. I drew out the suit jackets on black paper and cut them out. The heads are from magazines. I got this idea from Pinterest, of course, but they had the celeb's name on them. This is the bride's shower and we are looking for her future husband, so I put her married name on all of them...also, these were greeting cards, so we had the guests write well wishes or advice on the inside. The groom's pic was from Facebook.


Here's another view of the decorations. We really were not sure what we were going to get in terms of the space, but it turned out wonderfully!! A big thanks to the mother of the bride (i.e. my step-mom), my sister and the friends and family that helped make this event such a big success.

Last few weeks, part 1

It's been a while since my last post, but there has been good reason - my life has been completely turned up on it's head. First I finished my second pharmacy residency in oncology, moved an hour away, went on the vacation of a lifetime, was in my step-sister's wedding and started my new job...all within about 4 weeks. Yikes!!

So, for this post, I'm going to share pics of my new place. This is mainly for my family's sake because they wanted to see it but I'm somewhat embarrassed about the GIGANTIC mess that moving makes. So, here's the disclaimer...THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS....


Kitchen. Notice the awesome teal wall tile. Most of my appliances are red, so I think it works.


Other part of kitchen. Thinking about putting a shelf above that window for nick nacks.


Front room. Eventually, there will be pictures on the walls...


Still front room. This was the room I was hoping to put the desk in...the desk had other plans.


So here is where the desk has landed...in the hallway. As you can see there is another doorway so it's not totally in the way, just mostly. I'm thinking a GIANT urn or something so it's an art piece and not a total failure in my measuring skills...


Middle room. Another epic fail...my larger couch didn't fit and so all I'm left with is the loveseat. New couch and curtains in my future...and a TV.


Bathroom. Notice the peach scarf as a curtain.


Soon-to-be craft/sewing room. Right now a coat closet.


Guest room. Bedding and curtains soon.


Master. Also in need of curtains...currently using blankets, very classy.


The place is an old house so it has cool details like these lamps in each bedroom. So there, family, here is my place. Hopefully by the time you get out to visiting, it won't look like this!!