"Winter Riverside"

Hannah has been taking an art class every week.  She had the opportunity to enter a community art contest for art to be displayed in the new City Hall building in Cedar Park, and she won!  We went to the grand opening and saw her beautiful painting displayed.  We also attended the formal dedication ceremony and open house.  There were "light refreshments" which turned out to be basically a buffet dinner with cake for dessert.  We then got a tour of the new facility.  It was fascinating, and we got a lot of free stuff!

I'm so proud of Hannah as she finds and develops her talents.  She's growing so fast, and I can't believe she's going to be eleven this summer.  Good grief, the time goes quickly!

All the kids standing in front of part of the art wall.  Hannah's was down on the end, so you can't see it in this photo.

Hockey!

 Hannah won tickets to see the Texas Stars play last weekend.  We loved it!  The events center is about 15 minutes from our home, so it was close.  Most of the stuff in Austin takes about 45 minutes to get to, so this was very convenient.  The venue is new and very nice, and they did a great job of making the game family-friendly and fun.  The Texas Stars are part of the AHL.  I don't know what that means, but they weren't super good.

Their puck-handling skills resulted in a lot of slapshots around the end of the ice--hit it and wait for it to come out the other side.  Not impressive.  But there were a couple of gloves-off fights in the last period and some great goals.  And the goalies for both teams were surprisingly good.  At least I thought so.

The kids liked the Mighty Fine Burger blimp that traveled around the arena.  There were cheerleaders and  lots of prizes (we didn't win any).  The sense of community was great, and I loved being out in it.  We need to do more of this type of thing.

Vanishing Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

My sister informed me that my post yesterday should have included a cookie recipe.  So here you go:

Vanishing Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
(from Quaker)


1/2 cup (1 stick) plus 6 tablespoons butter, softened
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
3 cups oats (quick, old-fashioned, uncooked)
1 cup raisins

1.  Heat oven to 350 degrees.  In large bowl, beat butter and sugars on medium speed of electric mixer until creamy.
2.  Add eggs and vanilla; beat well.
3.  Add combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt; mix well.
4.  Add oats and raisins; mix well.
5.  Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.
6.  Bake 8-10 minutes or until light golden brown.  Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets; remove to wire rack.

Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

Cookie Baking Tips

Years ago, my friend Karoleana and I decided to be super-neighborly at Christmas time and we baked several different types of cookies to give away.  I look back now, and I am embarrassed by what went on those plates.  All with the best intentions, of course.  Since that time, I have learned a few secrets about cookies.  There is nothing more satisfying than a chewy, warm, well-baked cookie.  Or a dozen.  (Not that I would know.)


This is what I have learned through much trial and error:  Cookies are difficult to master.  If you don't believe me, think of all the BAD cookies you have received from visiting/home teachers over the years.  And while the recipes differ, the basic techniques for success do not.


The best tips--from America's Test Kitchen:


1.  Preheat the oven.  Many baked goods rely on an immediate blast of high heat in order rise and develop the proper exterior.


2.  Prepare your pans.  I always use parchment paper on my cookie sheets.  It keeps the cookies from getting too brown on the bottom, and they never stick.  Also, I use heavy aluminum baking sheets.  They seem to cook more evenly.


3.  Choose the correct measuring cups.  Using the wrong type of measuring cup will result in inaccurate measures and failed recipes.  Liquids must be measured in liquid measures (glass or plastic cups with pour spouts and handles) and dry ingredients must be measured in dry measures (handled cups with straight edges so ingredients can be leveled off). 


4.  Use butter softened to the correct temperature.  If the recipe calls for softened butter, as most do, use softened butter.  Still-chilled or cold butter can result in flat, drab-looking cookies, because not enough air will be whipped in the butter when it is creamed with sugar.


4.  Scrape down the mixing bowl and beaters.  Use a rubber spatula to periodically scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl and beaters to be sure that all of the ingredients are evenly incorporated.


5.  Rotate your baking sheets.  Switch your baking sheets from top to bottom and rotate from front to back, about halfway through the baking time.  This will help ensure that your cookies are evenly baked.


6.  Don't over-cook them!  Remove the cookies from the oven BEFORE they are browned. I always take them out when the tops are no longer shiny, but still puffed up.  Most cookies look barely set when, in fact, they are ready to come out of the oven.  I leave them on the cookie sheets for a couple of minutes to cool, and they flatten out a bit, but are still chewy. Then move them to a cooling rack.


Hopefully, these tips will keep you from having embarrassing cookie moments!  

My Sister's Wedding

(Dear Nancy--you were a delight and a comfort to my sister.  Thanks for being with us!)

Because my sister loves me, and wanted all my children to be there, she planned her wedding to be in Austin.  She found a lovely (free) outdoor chapel in the Hill Country, and then we got to work with all the other details.

The hills are so green right now because we've been blessed with so much rain this spring, and the wildflowers were all out in abundance.  The chapel sits on the edge of a precipice.  This is the view from the far corner:

While my dad walked my sister to meet her waiting groom, Hannah played the violin--perfectly.  It was just the right touch for a simple, outdoor wedding.

Ellie was the flower girl/ring holder.  We took a chance giving her such a big job, but the chaplain gently coached her through her responsibilities, and she stood seriously near her aunt the whole time.

We were all seated behind them, so I didn't see much of her face.

 PDA--outside the chapel.  AWWW.

Behind them is the bell tower.  They got to ring the bells at the end of the ceremony to announce their marriage to the world.  A sweet tradition here at this chapel.

And all of us with the happy couple.

I have to mention--family flew in for this from all sides of the country.

This group:  from Boston, St. Louis, Seattle, and Vancouver.

Seattle

Rexburg and San Antonio

and San Francisco.

Yup, we love us a big family party!

Congratulations, you two!  We love you and wish you the best!