Week 6:Cookies - Melt In Your Mouth M&M Sugar Cookies
Event - Tracy's birthday
Recipe - http://joyfulmommaskitchen.com/m-sugar-cookies/
Review - I got asked for the recipe for these so I think that's a positive sign! I took these into work for my co-worker Tracy's birthday. People at work will eat about anything you put out, but they seemed to particularly enjoy these. I got in trouble for not bringing more of my weekly cookies in. They were fun to make, too. I liked that they were sugar cookies with M&Ms, a yummy twist. They were a bit crunchy on the outside with a soft and chewy center, just how I like my cookies! These may become a staple cookie in my rotation for parties or events. Fun, pretty, tasty, and it makes a whole lot of good sized cookies for plenty to enjoy.
Week 7:
Cookies - Healthy Oatmeal Banana Raisin Cookies
Event - Glow Run 5k
Recipe - http://www.food.com/recipe/flourless-no-added-sugar-oatmeal-banana-raisin-cookies-505875
Review - These were vegan and gluten free so a different type of recipe for me. I made these "healthy" cookies in celebration of running in the Glow Run 5k with Brian and my co-workers. I was proud of myself for running it - and glad to have Brian running with me to get me through the finish line. These were a tasty treat after. I think I would prefer them for breakfast or something since they weren't too sweet. My mom and Grandma weren't wild about them because they certainly aren't what you think of when you want a cookie. They were kind of a different chewy texture - again different than a typical cookie - but tasty anyway.
Week 8:Cookies - Marshmallow Stuffed Chocolate Cookies
Event - Loretta's birthday
Recipe - http://www.smartschoolhouse.com/easy-cookie-recipes/marshmallow-stuffed-cookies#_a5y_p=3200458
Review - I made these for Loretta's birthday because they were the most chocolate I had in any of my recipes and Loretta loves her chocolate. :) I thought they would also be fun because she knows how much I love s'mores, so they were like a good combination of our favorites. Anyway, they were tasty. They turned out very chocolaty. The marshmallows melted to give it plenty of ooey gooey goodness in the middle. I liked the mini chocolate chips on top for the look but also for the added texture and chocolate. I had to mail them in the July heat so I'm sure they didn't travel beautifully, but successful taste anyway.
Week 9:
Cookies - Red Velvet Thumbprint Cookies
Event - Gretchen's Bachelorette Party
Recipe - http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/red-velvet-thumbprints/dcc9e388-b013-4bf6-b10a-14011180a86c?nicam4=SocialMedia&nichn4=Pinterest&niseg4=BettyCrocker&nicreatID4=Post&crlt.pid=camp.V9q30am9kEMS
Review - These looked very pretty, even though I wasn't particularly talented with the white chocolate filling. I had better luck rolling these in my hand than using the cookie scoop. The red food coloring ran out before I had the full amount in the recipe, but they were still obviously red. Everyone seemed to like these. They certainly look fancier than there were to make which is always a plus if you ask me. I brought these to Manhattan with me to celebrate Gretchen's bachelorette party. I brought them out during our karaoke portion of the night! It was very fun and I enjoyed getting to bake something special to help celebrate. I do think these were best enjoyed within the first few days. The chocolate center with the cookie made for a bit of a difference in texture once the cookie started to crumble a little more. I think an actual frosting bag with a small tip would be easier than a baggie with the corner cut out - I made quite the mess with it and had to clean up a few cookies.Week 10:
Cookies - Strawberry Lemonade Cookies
Event - Mackenzie's birthday
Recipe - http://www.tablespoon.com/recipes/strawberry-lemonade-cookies/c4862722-1e0f-42e7-877c-45e7a37b062c?nicam4=SocialMedia&nichn4=Pinterest&niseg4=Tablespoon&nicreatID4=Post
Review - I think these were Brian's favorite cookie to date. They were tasty for sure. I made these for Kenz for her 7th birthday! I know she likes fruit flavors and thought these looked pretty, too. You can't go wrong with a little glaze on a cookie, either. They reminded me a lot of my mom's lemon cookies since they are made with a cake mix. I was a little worried they could be complicated for me, but they were so incredibly simple. I made sure to put the dough in the fridge in between batches and that seemed to help a lot with the rolling into balls. I like the little bit of powdered sugar on the outside and the simple glaze on top. They were kind of a chewy fluffy texture; not quite as light as my mom's, but a good consistency. I thought it would be fun to experiment with other flavors of cake mixes, but this seems like the best combination. It was so fun to see Kenz get excited about getting birthday cookies and enjoying them. I will be making these again for sure.