"Ultimate Oatmeal Cookies"

I have a special treat I want to share with you today!  Yes, yes, I realize these are NOT healthy!  However, they are sure to make you happy!  =P  Moderation is key to any healthy lifestyle choice, and sometimes you need a little splurge!  If you're due for a treat...you've found it!  This is a recipe by "Cooks Illustrated" that, in my opinion, is the best oatmeal cookie recipe.  Make sure you bake a lot!

"Cooks Illustrated" literally approached the concept of oatmeal cookies like a science project and tried all sorts of combinations (various nuts, fruits, light brown sugar vs. dark brown sugar).  Their goal was for their ultimate cookie to have just the right amount of added ingredients and an ideal texture -- crisp around the edges and chewy in the middle.  I'd say they hit the nail on the head!  I encourage you to try them out, and I especially encourage you to follow the recipe exactly and resist the urge to omit the nuts.  I am a huge fan of nuts, but when I bake, I normally leave them out.  In this recipe, the pecans add an amazing flavor and surprise to the cookie.  I'm telling you, these are amazing! 

Happy Baking!
Jessica

Ultimate Oatmeal Cookies

·         1 large egg

·         1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Yields: 16 large cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 ¼ cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• ¾ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon table salt
• 1 ¼ cups rolled oats, old-fashioned
• 1 cup toasted pecans, chopped
• 1 cup dried tart cherries, coarsely chopped
• 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped into chunks (about ¾ cup)
• 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened but still cool (1 ½ sticks)
• 1 1/2 cups dark brown sugar, packed
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1.      Heat oven to 350º

2.      Line large baking sheets with parchment paper

3.      Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl

4.      In second medium bowl, stir together oats, pecans, cherries, and chocolate

5.      In standing mixer, beat butter and sugar at medium speed until no sugar lumps remain, about 1 minute

6.      Scrape down sides of bowl with rubber spatula; add egg and vanilla and beat on medium-low speed until fully incorporated, about 30 seconds

7.      Scrape down bowl; with mixer running at low speed, add flour mixture; mix until just combined, about 30 seconds

8.      With mixer still running on low, gradually add oat/nut mixture; mix until just incorporated

9.      Give dough final stir with rubber spatula to ensure that no flour pockets remain and ingredients are evenly distributed

10.  Divide dough evenly into 16 portions, each about ¼ cup, then roll between palms into balls about 2 inches in diameter, stagger 8 balls on each baking sheet, spacing them about 2 ½ inches apart

11.  Using hands, gently press each dough ball to 1 inch thickness

12.  Bake about 8 minutes (cookies will seem underdone and will appear raw, wet, and shiny in cracks)

13.  Do not overbake

14.  Cool cookies on baking sheets on wire rack 5 minutes using wide metal spatula, transfer cookies to wire rack and cool to room temperature

Additional Tips:

• Do not melt the butter!  This will cause the cookies to be runny.  Simply allow it to soften.
• I personally do not make my cookies quite this large!  However, they do turn out better if you make them a little larger than your average cookie.
• Be very careful not to overbake the cookies.  They will not seem finished, but once they cool, they should come out perfectly.
• These cookies taste best (in my opinion) when they are eaten at room temperature, and not heated up.

Refreshed

I haven't posted in a long time (mostly because I forgot all my login information!), but I'm baaaack! 

I recently caved and submitted to the world of Pinterest.  Can you say "addicted"!?!  I am loving all the amazing ideas, delicious recipes, and inspiration the site has to offer. 

I am happy to report that I am in a pretty sweet spot in life these days and am so thankful for the progress that has been made in the past eighteen months.

Life is good.  God is great. 
Jessica

Things I've Learned Lately

• Stressing and complaining doesn't change anything.  Hard work and dedication does.
• God really does answer prayers.
• God really does yearn to have a personal relationship with me.
• I can find freedom from anxiety when I pray for others.
• Struggles and pain make smiles and laughter so much sweeter.
• I have the best sister a girl could possibly ask for.
• People can surprise you (in good and bad ways)!
• Sometimes it's okay to be selfish.
• I'm happiest when I'm in the company of an encouraging person.
• That this current season in my life has caused me to rediscover Christ and genuinely seek a relationship with Him.  Wow...talk about a transformation!  Every second of pain or hurt has been worth this realization.
• Any amount of future happiness that pulled me away from this relationship with Christ, would not be worth it.  I would rather be struggling and seeking Him, than happy and thinking I can make it without Him (because how meaningful is that?).
• Simple acts of kindness can make an exponential difference in someone's day.
• People will let you down.
• Every day is a new day; a new chance to get it right.
• God is so gracious to me.

Ramblings

I sure haven't posted in a while!  To be honest, things feel a bit stagnant, so I guess I haven't been sure what to post about. 

I went and looked at the studio...it was sooo tiny.  I don't know why, but for some reason when I went inside it, I just felt depressed.  It wasn't exactly what I had in mind, and I just started to worry that I would be so lonely there.  I am still trying to keep an open mind and consider moving down there, I just don't want to rush into it.  Ideally, I would find a great roommate who wanted to live in that area.  That way, I would have some company and less of a financial commitment.  Oh well...time will tell, I guess.

On a happier note, my sister and brother-in-law are pregnant with their second child!  We find out the sex in two weeks!  I am SO excited for this new addition to the family and the joy that I know it will bring.  What will it be...boy or girl!?!

This past weekend was a nice blend of fun activities and down time.  Saturday was Amy's birthday.  I swung by her apartment on my way to the gym and decorated her car with balloons.  ;)  She met me at the gym and we took Step and Centergy together.  Talk about a workout!  We both definitely got our sweat on and earned a Starbucks drink as a reward.  After coffee, we crossed the street to get pedis together.  :)  Later that night I went to the North service at church and hung out with some of the girls afterward.  It was a nice evening full of company of people that I love.  Sunday morning I went to the South service at church.  Jonathan Martin spoke, and his message really touched me.  I spent most of Sunday relaxing until I went to the mall with my mom.  I have been really wanting to get some new boots for fall...so I decided to splurge a little.  I got two pairs of boots that I love...annnnd at a great price!  It was definitely a successful trip.  After the mall, I headed to the Gabbert's house for growth group.  As usual, we enjoyed great food, conversation, and fellowship.  It was a nice way to top off the weekend!

I don't know about you guys, but I have been loving this fall weather!  We have been blessed with crisp, dry days.  Today on my way in to work, I went through the Starbucks drive thru and got a Skinny Caramel Macchiato.  Only 100 calories, and such a treat!  Now, I am at work and feeling anxious for it to be 4pm!  The second half of the day is pretty slow, and I'm feeling eager to get to the gym and workout.  Power class, here I come!

I'm like a little kid in a candy shop!

Wow!  Time sure is flying by.  Sorry I haven't updated in so long!  I have been keep busy. 

 

I have big news: I recently decided that it's time for me to spread my wings and move out.  The idea has been in the back of my head for a while now, but I was always planning to live at home for about a year to save up money and take my time deciding where I wanted to move, if I wanted to rent or buy, etc.  However, with circumstances being how they are, I just feel a need to kind of give myself a little space and maybe start a new adventure during this season of life.  Once I decided that I did want to rent downtown (and not in Gresham or Happy Valley or anywhere inbetween Gresham and Portland), I started researching on Craigslist.  It was a bit overwhelming- Portland is a BIG city!  But I narrowed it down and decided I wanted to live in the Nob Hill district (near NW 23rd).  Well, as luck would have it, my family owns a complex in that area and one of the studios just had a vacancy!  Ideally, I would like to have a one-bedroom.  But, since my family owns the complex, they wouldn't make me sign a contract (most buildings in this area make you sign a twelve month contract).  This way, I can see if I even like living downtown and if I want to stay down there.  If not, I can easily move back or find a new alternative.  If I do like it, but decide I want a one bedroom, I will be able to take my time looking for one that I really like, and not feel rushed.  So, I am going to look at it after work- in just TWO hours!  Ah.  I am excited, but trying not to get my hopes up.  Here's to hopeful new beginnings!

A Weekend of Fun

Well, I had a very busy, lovely weekend!  It was one of those weekends that after your weekend, you need another weekend to recover from it! 

Friday night I went out to Hillsboro with Alexa to go to a party at Annie and Roland's house.  Their house was packed and I hardly knew anyone, but it was still fun.  I had a great time hanging out with Lex and Annie.  Alexa left on Saturday to head north up to Seattle.  I am a bit bummed that she's not staying around Gresham, but I am so excited for her and the plans in her future!  I'm thinking I'll have to make a trip up there soon!  :)  Needless to say, Friday was a late night...I crawled into bed at about 2am.

Saturday morning I woke up, had some breakfast, and decided to go to the gym and take Centergy.  I haven't taken this class in a long time, but I really love it.  It is a class that utilizes yoga and pilates techniques for a great full-body strength training exercise.  It incorporates a lot of balance, stretching, and abdominal strength.  I would recommend this class to nearly anyone.  It just feels so great.  After class I went to the store and bought an extra large muffin pan.  It makes bigger muffins, not more of them.  With my new lemon blueberry muffin craze, I have been wanting to make them bigger!  Mmm mm.  I went home and showered and then met up with my dear friend, Amy.  We had a great time catching up over steaming cups of coffee at Starbucks.  I rushed home, baked my super-sized muffins, threw some stuff in a bag, and headed out the door to meet up with Brittany and Marin.

The three of us girls had plans to drive out to the hoppin' town of Mosier, OR to spend time with Cora.  I have to say, the drive out toward The Dalles is SO unbelieveably gorgeous!  We got to Cora's around 6:30pm and she already had dinner made (she was a fantastic hostess all weekend!).  She'd prepared salmon cakes which we put atop a bed of lettuce.  I have never had salmon cakes before - they were delicious!  The whole weekend consisted of a lot of eating and drinking, laughter, and great conversations. 

On Sunday, the girls stretched me to be slightly crafty when we made lavender sachets.  Cora already had dried lavender which she'd gotten from the landscaping outside her condo and she had cute patterned fabric squares that were already pre-cut.  All we had to do was form the squares into whatever shape we wanted and do a little sewing, then stuff them with lavender.  It was such a simple craft and we had so much fun making them.  These girls inspired me to be a little more artistic and creative.  The weekend was full of fresh, orchard-grown grapes, beautiful blooming flowers, the scent of lavender...it was all just so relaxing and spa-esque!  Being out in that part of Oregon, surrounded by such stunning nature inspired me to want to live more simply and utilize the beauty around me. 

That evening, we reluctantly packed up our things and headed back home.  I had to quickly get in my car and head to Growth Group.  It was encouraging hanging out with everyone and spending time in the Word, but I found myself being quieter than usual.  I felt lost in my own thoughts and distracted by some of my emotions.  Our church is doing a series called "The Art of Marriage" so as you can probably imagine, it is sometimes difficult for me.  Nonetheless, God is teaching me and I know my heart is responding. 

Every morning brings forth challenges for me, and I am so incredibly thankful for the amazing, caring friends God has blessed me with.  These girls have given me so much support during this season of my life.  I have learned more and more to value these friendships and to take the time to tend to them.   

So here we are...Monday!  The start of a new week.  This is Day One of my nutrition plan and I am so excited to be doing it again.  After work (we're having a slow day, so I'm blogging from the department!), I am going straight to the gym to take Power with Britt.  That class is a KILLER workout.  Last week when I took it, I was sore until Saturday.  Hmm...I think that shows that my poor muscles need to be lifting more!  =P  After I get my sweat on, I'll be heading straight to Greg and Jenn's to babysit my sweet little nephew, Tate, while they go to Growth Group.  Talk about a busy, yet fulfilling day!

Well, I think that's enough for now!

Jessica Marie

Confessions of an Emotional Eater

Well, this Monday marks the one month finish line for the nutrition goals I set for myself.  Buuut, I have to be honest with you guys, and mostly with myself: I did not feel that I was successful in completing this task.  =/  The first two weeks, I did great!  This shows me that I can in fact do this, and that it's not impossible.  But, the final two weeks were more difficult for me.  I have thought about this, and think there are several reasons why.  First of all, I don't like to tell people I'm on some sort of strange eating plan because I don't want them to look at me like I'm a weirdo or some girl with a complex.  Second, it's really hard to socialize and go out with people when I can't eat most things on a menu (in particular, on a happy hour menu).  This is especially difficult because I never did my research to find out what kind of alcoholic drinks I can consume, and still stick to my plan.  Third, I have found that lately I am a bit of an emotional eater.  This was my reason for starting the nutrition plan in the first place.  I was sad, and felt like my relationship with food was very unhealthy so I wanted to change it up.  However, in the past two weeks I found myself having hard days, and trying to use food as a comfort.  When I think about it, it is so silly!  Eating a cookie and cheating on my nutrition plan only exacerbates my frustration!  When will I ever learn!?  =P

 

For the two weeks that I was very diligent, I noticed that this had a drastic impact on me.  I didn't overeat because while the food I was eating still tasted good, it wasn't so amazing that I just kept eating and eating - therefore, I stopped when I was full.  I also didn't think about food as much or over-analyze what I was eating.  Since when I'm following this plan I know I am eating healthy, nutritional food, I didn't feel the need to monitor how much I was eating or feel guilty if I did eat something.  While these things might sound minor or silly to some, they are very big improvements for me and ease my mind so much of a lot of needless worry.  But now I feel like since I haven't been following my plan 100% in these final two weeks, I feel extremely guilty and think about it way too much.  I'd say that right now, I'm following it about 85% of the time.  So, I have a new plan of action and hope for support!

 

I am going to start my one month of clean eating...completely over.  I will start on Monday, October 3rd.  Before then, I will research what alcoholic beverages I can have so that when put in the situation, I wont have to worry about it (however, in the past month I have avoided all alcohol).  Until Monday, I will continue eating good but wont be 100%.  When Monday comes - the challenge is on.  I will not cheat and I will report to you guys more frequently on how I am doing.  I really want to do this, for me.  I want to feel better and I know that when I am eating clean, I do.

 

So here's to me and this challenge I am determined to complete.  Monday it will start, and this time it will be a success!  I'm sorry I haven't been better this time around, but hey, hopefully I'll be able to teach you guys a thing or two from my difficulties and show you how to be successful!  Woohoo. 

 

Happy Friday everyone!  Enjoy your weekend - play hard, have fun, and take a step toward healthier living - one day at a time!

 

Much love!