Halloween Month (aka October)

I am happy that it is finally October.  So many great things happen this month - the season changes, the fall harvest, soups and stews for dinner, pumpkin recipes, the spiced pumpkin latte at Starbucks, pumpkin patches, costumes, candy, Halloween.  But this year there is something even more special about this month.  Baby Julian is due any day now!!

I keep waiting on his arrival as patiently as I can.  Though it is disheartening that a friend of mine was due a week after me and already had her baby.  Either Julian is not fully "cooked" yet, or he's just having way too much fun in there, at my expense of course.  Either way I am feeling jipped that he's not out yet!  Could it be that he will actually show up on his due date of 10/10?  That wouldn't be so bad - a nice date I must say.

The good news is that I am fully feeling things that are signs of labor coming on any day now.  Backaches, headaches, cramps (oh yeah for the cramps) and even some contractions.  I am a frequent visitor of the bathroom at least 5 to 6 times a night, and probably only get about 4 hours of sleep due to discomfort.  

When I go out to the store for a walk people stare at me (more gawking than staring at this point) and sometimes smile.  Lots of them like to strike up conversation about when I'm due.  Others look scared to be in my presence.  My mom says it's because I make them nervous!  

Hopefully the next time I post a blog I will have a new baby to gush about.

Neiman Marcus Cookies

There are apparently many versions of this story about a woman who was charged an absorbent amount of money for a cookie recipe from Neiman Marcus. I frankly don't care which version is true, all I know is that I have heard from friends who have tried the recipe and say it is amazing!!

So here it is in all it's glory. Hope you enjoy!

NEIMAN-MARCUS COOKIES
2 cups butter
24 oz. chocolate chips
4 cups flour
2 cups brown sugar
2 tsp. soda
1 tsp. salt
2 cups sugar
1 8 oz. Hershey Bar (grated)
5 cups blended oatmeal
4 eggs
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. vanilla
3 cups chopped nuts (your choice)

• Measure oatmeal, and blend in a blender to a fine powder.
• Cream the butter and both sugars.
• Add eggs and vanilla, mix together with flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder, and soda.
• Add chocolate chips, Hershey Bar, and nuts.
• Roll into balls, and place two inches apart on a cookie sheet.
• Bake for 10 minutes at 375 degrees.
• Makes 112 cookies.

PS - I just googled "neiman marcus cookies" and the first listing was the Neiman Marcus website giving out the recipe. It was a little different, so here it it too!!

Ingredients

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened 1 cup light brown sugar 3 tablespoons granulated sugar 1 large egg 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1-3/4 cups all purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1-1/2 teaspoons instant espresso coffee powder 1-1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips Directions 1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Cream the butter with the sugars using an electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy (approximately 30 seconds) 2. Beat in the egg and the vanilla extract for another 30 seconds. 3. In a mixing bowl, sift together the dry ingredients and beat into the butter mixture at low speed for about 15 seconds. Stir in the espresso coffee powder and chocolate chips. 4. Using a 1 ounce scoop or a 2 tablespoon measure, drop cookie dough onto a greased cookie sheet about 3 inches apart. Gently press down on the dough with the back of a spoon to spread out into a 2 inch circle. Bake for about 20 minutes or until nicely browned around the edges. Bake a little longer for a crispier cookie. Yield: 2 dozen cookies

Noah's 2nd Birthday (the party)

We had Noah's 2nd birthday party at Vasona Park in Los Gatos on the 15th. The weeks leading up to his party day were absolutely gorgeous. Perfect sunny, warm days. Then on Monday the 10th, I started to watch the news for the weather reports. Beautiful days in the forecast, but rain on Saturday. Why would the weather Gods do this to me?! I was irate! I moaned and complained and cried on every drive home that week, begging for the weather people to be wrong. Friday rolled around and the reports stayed consistent - showers all day. I scrambled making calls to alternative venues - they were all booked. I felt like a miserable failure of a birthday party planner.

Saturday morning was pretty enough, the sun was out, but it was cold. Leo and I decided that our family and friends could just stick it out for a couple hours. Thank goodness we only had to brave a few minutes of rain, then a few more minutes of hail. All and all the party was great. The kids played until they were tired, everyone ate until they could eat no more. And I have been redeemed as the party planner I know myself to be.