Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies!!!

I have made a ton of chocolate chip cookies recipes, and this is the one that has been placed in the family cookbook. I have made this recipe many times and it turns out great every time. I usually cut the recipe in half when making for my family.



Ingredients

1 ¼ c. sugar
1 ¼ c. brown sugar
2 eggs
1 Tbs. baking soda
4 cups flour
1 tsp salt
3 sticks butter
1 Tbs. vanilla
2 12 ounce package of chocolate chips
Raisins or nuts if your heart desires (about 1 cup)


Procedure

· This recipe makes about 3 to 4 dozen cookies.

1. Prior to making the cookies, leave the butter out to soften a bit
2. Preheat the oven to 350 and place the sugar, brown sugar, softened butter, eggs,and vanilla in a large bowl and mix with a hand mixer on medium speed until combined and smooth.
3. Add the flour, salt, and baking soda to the mixture and combine.
4. Use a spoon or your hands and form a thick dough. Make sure it in not sticky, if it is, add more flour.
5. Add the chocolate chips, as many as you want. Add raisins, nuts, or any other toppings as you wish.
6. Buttering the cookie sheet is not necessary. Take some dough into your hands and roll into small balls. Don’t make them to big because you will end up with giant cookies. Place the balls on the cookie sheet. If you want the cookies a bit flatter, flatten them by pressing your hand down on the top.
7. Place the cookies into the oven for about 15 minutes, take them out and transfer them to a cookie sheet to cool.
~Made By Mika~

Painting Pots is Fun

Yes, it really is fun... I think this is a hibiscus flower but it was never really suppose to be...just sorta happened that way. That's the fun part! You sit down not knowing what to paint and magic happens!! The best part about this craft is that it is really cheap and can be done anytime!

By the way, this is Emily... I'm the creative art person in the family, Anna on the other hand enjoys to crochet...and I am not making fun of her, I like her crochet's...especially if they are something fashionable for me to wear! Did anyone notice the twilight books in the background =]

Things I needed to paint this pot!
1. a pot (what a surprise)...I got this pot for $1.20 at Michael's....if you didn't know, Michael's is my all time favorite store in the world =]
2. acrylic paints...most people will tell you that you need special pottery paints, you don't (see #3)
3. clear pottery paint, yes all you need is this one tube, it is pointless to buy pottery colors of paints you already have at home, I just put two coats of this clear paint over my dry paint, works just as well. FWI, if you don't put this on and go to water whatever is planted inside, the paint will get wet an may come off, so I recommend it.

Yes it is a Painted Pineapple

I (Mika) believe that everything has more than one purpose in life. For example, pineapple. It has a greater calling in this world than just pina coladas and fruit baskets. It has the ability to be crafted into a fabulous work of art suitable for a centerpiece for any occasion.
Things You Need:
1. A pineapple (obviously)...i recommend one that is nicely shaped with healthy leaves that aren't broken or bend out of shape.
2. various acrylic paints in metallic colors and paintbrushes
3. gold or sparkly spray paint
4. some old newspapers you can use to paint on and spray
Procedure
1. simply grab the paints and go, use any colors or designs you want on your pineapple
2. after it drys, take it into a well ventilated area and spray paint the leaves. I also spray a bit of paint on the surface, but don't overload or it will completely cover the paint!


Here's a close up!












Just some of the paints I use. $1-$2 dollars at Michael's, totally recommended!











And here is a centerpiece!