Becka's blog

I'm hoping to have time this weekend to do another post about the wedding, but until then I thought I'd post this recipe that I already had here in the computer.

For Nora and Topher's wedding reception we had cake, groom's cake, fruit, a variety of cookies, chocolate dipped pretzel rods, coffee, and punch. I realized that I had never posted the recipe for these cookies on the blog. They are one of our favorites. I found this recipe in a church cookbook years ago. Before the wedding I experimented and found that you can prepare the balls of cookie dough, roll them in powdered sugar and then freeze them on a tray. After they are frozen they can be slipped into a ziploc bag. When we baked them we just baked them for about two minutes longer than normal and they turned out great. This was a big timesaver in preparing for the wedding.

Double Chocolate Treasures

2 cups chocolate chips, divided
1 stick margarine or butter
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups oatmeal (not cooked)
1 1/2 cup flour
2 tsps. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
about 1 cup powdered sugar

Melt 1 cup of the chocolate chips and then set aside to cool slightly. In a mixing bowl beat margarine and sugar until light and fluffy. Blend in eggs, vanilla, and melted chocolate. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt and mix into the creamed mixture. Stir in the oats and remaining cup of chocolate chips. Shape the dough into 1" balls and roll in powdered sugar, coating heavily. Place on cookie sheets (I like to line them with parchment) and bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 mins. Cool slightly before removing from baking sheets. Roll in powdered sugar again while they are still warm if you like a heavily sugared cookie. Makes about 5 dozen.

Baby Ryan is absolutely darling and we have come up with any number of excuses to run out and see him. Here's one of his latest photos:

Have a wonderful weekend!

Becka

Well, we had a doubly blessed weekend. The wedding went off without a hitch, although they did get hitched. The bride was beautiful and everything turned out fine in spite of some complications with high winds and trying to set up the reception in a tent! Here is a picture of the happy couple and us:

About 3:30 the morning of the wedding we got a call from DS, Mark telling us that Katie was in labor and they were at the hospital. About three hours before the wedding he texted to tell us that they had broken her water and that she was dilated to 9. We were definitely torn emotionally with extreme joy for Nora and Topher at their wedding and with concern for Mark and Katie and the delivery of the baby. Later in the afternoon we heard from Mark that Ryan David had arrived at 2:56 (the wedding was at 2). He was turned face up and they had to use suction to help with the delivery. It caused some swelling and a wound on his head, but we still think he's pretty adorable. Both parents and baby are doing well and hope to go home from the hospital tomorrow.

We weren't able to take too many pictures at the wedding or the reception, but I will try to post some as people send them to us. I'm sure I'll also be posting lots of baby pictures too!

Becka

My niece wrote last week and asked how things were going in Nora's sweatshop. Our house looks kind of like an explosion in a craft store at the moment. Every horizontal surface is covered with some craft material, food item, or serving piece.

Here's the top of the piano:

Everyone has been drafted into service this week trying to finish up various projects.

Megan worked on paper flowers, made a ribbon bouquet for the wedding rehearsal, and stamped initials on napkins.

Nora made lots of corsages and boutonniers and made pillows for the ringbearers.

We made thirty-six dozen cookies, baked the wedding cake layers, and dipped pretzels in chocolate.

Drew helped taste test the pretzels.

Drew also helped Nora and Topher with a number of other projects.

Topher's Mom and Aunt Lonnie helped with the paper flowers.

Nora's good friend, Rebecca F. made these cookies for wedding favors and Topher's Mom and Aunt Lonnie helped package them.

Rob helped put together the wedding programs.

I doubt that I'll be able to post again before the wedding. We've got a lot of really last minute details to take care of at this point and most of the out-of town guests are coming in. We really do appreciate your prayers and well wishes.

Becka

We have just over two weeks until the wedding. We have started purchasing a few more of the grocery items and I have begun making some of the cookie dough and stashing it in the freezer to be baked off closer to the wedding.

I've been trying to clean out my freezer to make room. I had some cooked beans in the freezer and made some Pasta Fagioli soup recently to use them up. A big pot of soup is a nice thing to have on hand during busy times since you can generally get several meals from one batch. They make this soup at Olive Garden and it is one of our favorites.

My friend Kathy gave me a copy of The Mast Store Cookbook a few years ago.

There are several Mast General Stores in North and South Carolina and Tennessee and they are really interesting places to shop at and visit. They carry a lot of unique items that you don't find elsewhere. We have one here in Greenville down on Main Street. The recipes in the cookbook are those that have been collected from their employees. The book also has many historical pictures and advice from days gone by.

Here's the recipe with my modifications:

Pasta Fagioli

1/2 lb. ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 carrot, peeled and shredded (I used a julienne peeler)
15 oz. can Italian stewed tomatoes (or plain with 1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning)
4 cups beef broth (or hot water with beef bouillon)
2-3 cups cooked or canned beans (I used pinto beans, but you can use navy or kidney beans or a combination)
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup macaroni or ditalini
Parmesan cheese for garnish

Brown ground beef. Add onion and cook until tender. Combine in a soup kettle with the tomatoes, broth, beans, carrot, salt, and pepper. Simmer for about 20 mins. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and add to soup just before serving. Garnish with the parmesan cheese.

This soup is really tasty and you may already have all the ingredients on hand to make it. Have a wonderful weekend!

Becka

It's been a quiet week here at wedding central. The bridesmaid's dresses are awaiting the girls' arrival to have them fitted, some food has been ordered, some ingredients and supplies have been purchased and now we are just waiting to begin some of the last minute preparations.

Since we had a bit of a lull in activity I was able to do a some more work on the hall bathroom project that was started during Christmas vacation. Nora drew up a design for me and I was able to make a little window treatment:

I also ordered this vinyl wall decoration and put it up on a vacant wall in the bathroom:

I ordered it from a website called A Great Impression.

My order arrived quickly and the instructions for applying the design were very clear and had lots of helpful pictures and tips. Mary has many different designs to choose from, including many different Bible verses. You can also choose your own color for the design. It was a fun project and I would like to try another one in my entry way some time in the future.

What spring projects have you been working on?

Becka