Lovin' From the Oven

Soft Amish Cookies

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Whoa, mama… I’ve been gone a while. Sorry about that! I was busy packing, moving, and unboxing. My blog got a little neglected throughout the process. I’m still not quite situated yet in our new home, but 90% of the boxes are unpacked and out of the place so I’d call that an improvement (thanks to the help of my superhero parents).IMG_3501

Moving has got to be one of my least favorite activities. You start to realize how much junk you actually own and begin throwing everything out. It doesn’t fit into a box? Throw it away. Can’t find room in the drawer for it? Throw it away. It expires in two months? Throw it away. That became my life motto during the move: Just throw it away.IMG_3502

Thank goodness for our family and my DH’s friends. Because of them, we had almost ten people come and help out. The boxes were flying out the door before I even realized it. That left me to clean every corner of our home for our walk through later in the afternoon with the property management company.IMG_3503

Walk throughs alone are an awkward process. Let’s make small talk while we walk through every room and examine every cabinet. Are they going to call you out on anything? Will it be an easy process? It was for us… for now. I’ll let you know when we get the deposit check back in the mail. IMG_3507

It’s funny how different it is moving with your partner. The first night that I moved into an apartment when I was single, I had never felt more alone. Now, the first night spent in a new place already feels like home because I’m with my DH. Home really is where your heart is.

These cookies are a basic, plain cookie. They’re not sweet by any means, which is why the sprinkles on top add a little extra. Don’t substitute vegetable oil for olive oil because you’ll really taste it! Besides that, these cookies are crumbly and simple.

Recipe from Cookies and Cups

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Soft Amish Cookies

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter, room temperature
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp cream of tartar
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 4½ cups flour
  • *optional sprinkles to garnish

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°
  2. Line a baking sheet with Silpat.
  3. Cream together butter, oil and both sugars. Mix in eggs and vanilla.
  4. Gradually add in baking soda, cream of tartar, salt, and flour until just combined.
  5. Use a cookie scoop to drop dough onto baking sheet. Press sprinkles on top, if desired.
  6. Bake for 10-12 minutes.
https://lovintheoven.com/soft-amish-cookies/

World’s Best Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

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I know what you’re thinking… recipes that are start with “the world’s best?” Really? Well, typically I take them out of the title, but these cookies deserved for those three little words to stay. I think they’re that good.

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I mean, those are some good looking cookies! That crinkle on top from my cookie scoop stayed in place and spread out just the right amount. They held their shape beautifully, which is all I ask of a cookie. The consistency is extremely soft. So soft, that if you tried to pick it up immediately after baking, they’d fall apart. These cookies need time to set. Make sure you let them cool ON the cookie sheet. Resist the urge to move them around!

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But can we talk about the beauty all of these cookies are on?

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It’s from Mad Hatter’s Platters! How cute is their name? I’ve never had anything quite this nice to display my desserts. When I first received it in the mail, I was impressed with the packaging and how heavy duty these plates were. I was expecting something a little flimsier (only because I’ve never owned a tired platter before), but I’m glad I was wrong. This is something that I would expect to last me for years through wear and tear.

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They have unique 2 tiered and 3 tiered platters for you to choose from. I’m currently obsessed with this one and just might have to buy it after I move. These would also make great housewarming or hostess gifts. It was shipped disassembled, but it took me no more than two minutes to put it together. All you need are your hands! No extra tools required.

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The sky is the limit with these platters. They’re great for entertaining, everyday use or even as a centerpiece. Don’t just think about using it in the kitchen… How about in the bathroom for holding soaps or hair ties? Or the bedroom for holding miscellaneous jewelry? You can check Mad Hatter’s Platters on their site and Facebook page for more great ideas.

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Since all the pieces come apart, you can change the look of our platter with different sized plates and bowls in the “add-a-plate” section on their site.

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Guess what?! Mad Hatter’s Platters is giving away a 2 tiered platter to one lucky reader! Aren’t they the best!?

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Just make sure to enter via the Rafflecopter below. You have a week to get your entries in!

Cookie recipe from The Idea Room.

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World’s Best Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 to 1 tablespoon milk (add this at the very end just to make dough smooth and creamy)
  • 1 cup mini semi-chocolate chips

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Cream together the butter, peanut butter, and both sugars.
  3. Mix in the egg and vanilla.
  4. Gradually stir in the baking soda, baking powder, and flour until just combined.
  5. If needed, stir in the milk until the dough is easy to handle. Mix in the chocolate chips.
  6. Use a cookie scoop to drop on baking sheet. Bake for 9-10 minutes. Let cool completely on cookie sheet.
https://lovintheoven.com/worlds-best-peanut-butter-chocolate-chip-cookies/

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This is a sponsored post, but the opinions expressed are my own.

M&M Oreo Cookie Bars

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Did I ever tell you guys that we found a new place? We’re officially moving next month! We’re still staying in Los Angeles, just a different city over. I can’t wait! The only downside is well, packing and actually moving. We’re planning to do the move by ourselves this time, without a moving company (like our last move from SF -> LA). Reason is: my DH’s work paid for our move last time and we’re too poor to do it again. Hah.

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I contacted a couple of moving places just to get a quote to see how much it would cost. I had no idea that movers are so expensive! The best rate was about $150/per person/per hour, and you have to hire at least three people minimum. That’s $450/hour times probably 4 hours of work? That’s $1800! Without the tip! No thanks, renting a Uhaul and asking friends/family for help it is.

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Thank goodness we have such wonderful friends and family! There’s no way we could do it without them. I can’t wait until we can afford to buy our own place and not worry about moving around anymore. Too bad that day is in the distant future. For now, I’m crossing my fingers that this new place we’re moving to works out and we can stay there for a couple of years.

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It seems that every time we move, we acquire more stuff, making each move more strenuous than the last. It’s all part of growing up. First you buy a couch, then a dining table set, and matching bedroom furniture. That’s when you know you’ve really grown up. You actually have furniture for each room! We’re halfway there.

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These bars from Averie Cooks are every kid’s dream. They’re full of candy and sugar, so consider yourself warned. For me, I would have liked them to have more dough to cookie/candy ratio. If you like sweet desserts, then make the recipe as is. For something a little lighter, I’d say to cut down on the M&M’s and Oreos a bit.

Also, I just hopped over to Averie’s post for this recipe and she made these bars when she was emptying out the pantry when moving! What a coincidence that I just talked about the same thing. I now dub these the “moving out bars.”

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M&M Oreo Cookie Bars

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), melted
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 18 Oreo Cookies, coarsely chopped
  • about 1/2 cup dark chocolate M&M's

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 8x8 pan with foil.
  2. Mix together the melted butter, egg, brown sugar, and vanilla.
  3. Add the flour until just combined. Gently stir in the Oreos.
  4. Evenly spread the batter into the prepared pan. Lightly press the M&M's on the top.
  5. Bake for about 20 to 22 minutes.
https://lovintheoven.com/mm-oreo-cookie-bars/

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