I’m making a post just to rave about these cookies that I made yesterday. I sort of combined a few recipes I’d seen. They turned out amazing! I’ll definitely make them again just the same!
Espresso Toffee Cookies
-1 stick of butter, softened
-3/4 cup brown sugar
-3/4 cup white sugar
-2 eggs, room temperature
-2 teaspoons vanilla extract
-2 1/4 cups flour
-1 teaspoon baking soda
-1/2 teaspoon salt
-1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
-1 cup toffee bits
-1 cup espresso chips
Preheat the oven to 350. Put parchment on two sheet pans.
In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, or in a separate bowl, beat softened butter for a minute until it is creamy. Add both sugars, cream together until light and fluffy. Add eggs one a time, beating to combine. Add the vanilla extract, scraping down the sides of the bowl after mixing.
Add the flour mixture in and mix until combined. Mix in the toffee and espresso chips.
Drop by rounded tablespoons onto sheet pans. Bake for 9-11 minutes, until the edges are just turning golden.
So we’re 8 days in to the new year and every day something insane is happening! Trump was still trying to say that the election was “stolen”, even though there was literally no proof. There was a big protest at the Capitol building on Wednesday, because Congress was voting once and for all to declare Biden the president. A bunch of dumb ass Trump supporters literally broke into the building. They stormed in with their Trump flags and busted up windows and doors, and the senators and aides and all the workers literally had to hunker down in closets. The police basically let them in. It was outrageous. The morons weren’t even wearing masks (Covid is literally surging everywhere and as usual Trump supporters think it’s still fake news) so they are being identified and arrested. Congress eventually reconvened and Biden was declared the president.
Covid is still surging around the US. There is a new strain from England that everyone is worried about, apparently it is a stronger strain than what we’ve been used to. On the upside, King county has been getting better and the numbers have been going down since Christmas. Two vaccines have been approved, and healthcare workers and elderly in assisted living homes around the country have started being vaccinated. It looks like everyday people like Joe and myself will be able to get the vaccine around April, hopefully sooner. Kids under 16 aren’t eligible for the vaccine, but we’re hoping that by summer most adults will be vaccinated and life will start to go back to normal.
Going back to Christmas, we had a great time at home! We drove around and saw lots of Christmas lights. We listened to Christmas music. Joe didn’t have to work, and we spent a lot of time being lazy. The kids and I made rugelach cookies, half nutella filled and half cinnamon raspberry. They were so fun to make and we all loved them! We’ll definitely make them next year! Recipe- https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/rugelach.html
Cindy and Rick were able to fly in on the 23rd. The kids were so happy to see them. It was nice to be able to show Rick around our house! I made a gingerbread yule log that actually turned out beautifully and was so tasty! Recipe- https://smittenkitchen.com/2020/12/gingerbread-yule-log/
The kids were so excited on Christmas Eve. I made cookies and we all decorated them together, even Pops! I made our annual Christmas tree pizza (it turned out a little like a blob this year, but it tasted good). Virginia read The Night Before Christmas to everyone before bed. The kids went to bed and Santa got to work! The living room looked great and we were all excited for the morning!
We made a deal with the kids that they could wake us up at 6:30. Of course they woke up before that, and spent about an hour hanging out with Rick and Cindy before we all came into the living room together. We started with our stockings, and then our Santa gifts! Luke was so excited about his Pokemon cards and binder to organize them. Virginia loved her Lego Friends water park set. Joe got me a subscription to Youtube TV, after over 2 years of not having cable I can watch the Food Network and HGTV again! Joe was happy with his weight set. For breakfast I made us sausage pinwheels and heated up a cinnamon roll Kringle. The adults had mimosas and the kids had sparkling apple juice. Even with our early start, we didn’t finish opening gifts until after 10! We spent the rest of the day facetiming with family, and playing with our new toys! Joe made a tri tip for dinner, and I made mashed potatoes, roasted broccoli, and homemade rolls. The rolls turned out great!
Rick and Cindy left early Sunday morning to get back to TN. Gracie, Matt, and Ella had spent Christmas at his parents house in Georgia. They just moved into a townhouse down the road from Rick and Cindy to have a little bit more space before the baby arrives. Rick and Cindy had to get back to help them move in. We spent the rest of break just hanging out.
We decided to get more serious about looking for a puppy, so we’re having a fence built! The guys are doing a great job, it will be done on Monday. The more we look into getting a dog, the more excited I get! I’ve been doing research on puppy potty training, obedience lessons, and making lists of things to buy! We’re hoping to bring a puppy home late spring. The kids won’t know until we have a specific puppy lined up, they will be so excited!
Rachel's Red Kitchen 