Baby Shower Fun

This past weekend I went to Chicago to throw my dear friend, Anika, a baby shower.  I've only been to, what, one baby shower in my life, so I'm obviously an expert in these sort of things.  I had energy though, so that was a step in the right direction.

Naturally I spent most of my time preparing for the shower by planning the menu.  I made a lot of lists, as is my nature.

Pumpkin cupcakes for dessert, per Anika's request.  Next time I throw a shower, I will make more dessert.  That's what everyone wants to eat anyway.

What newborn's wardrobe is complete without a Michigan State onesie?

There were lots of cards and gifts to open.  Everyone loves to shower their favorite friends with adorable gifts.

There were two other hostesses of the shower.  Rory and Anika have known each other since middle school, I think.  Rory's shower game was amazing: a quiz about Anika and Justin and their baby girl.  I was pretty embarrassed I didn't do better than I did, considering I talk to Anika every day.

Laura also hosted and graciously invited a dozen ladies into her home.  Not something one should do lightly.  

We had some group picture issues, but Anika managed to get one of all the guests.  Next time I should figure out how to use my self-timer before the party.

I had a great time at the shower and I hope everyone did too.  And if you're ever at a shower with me again, I promise to make more dessert.

Fall Back

I spent the weekend in Chicago breaking out a scarf for the first time in ages and trying to remember how to put boots on.  I actually lucked out with the weather, but it didn't actually matter much, because most of my time was spent indoors celebrating Anika's baby shower (or cooking to prepare for said shower).  A great time was had by all and I will be back with a full report once I get over the fact that "falling back" daylight savings time doesn't have quite the same effect when you are coming from a city two time zones away.

Salvaging the Last Dozen

When you make cookies as often as I do, it is in everybody's best interest that you share said cookies instead of keeping them all to yourself.  John usually brings a big stash to work, but when there are chocolate chip cookies to be eaten, John can be a little less generous.

I made crispy chocolate chip cookies on Halloween, and despite putting them in airtight containers, they managed to get stale in a matter of days.  Throwing away homemade cookies isn't usually high on my to-do list, so I figured out a way to salvage them.

Next time you have stale cookies, all you have to do is heat them in the microwave for 15 seconds or so.  The staleness disappears and the chips become fresh-out-of-the-oven melty.  Just what I needed, a way to finish that last dozen cookies!

Nutella Cookies

If there is anything I can do, it's cookies.  Now that I've baked about a dozen different varieties, I'm always looking for new recipes to tempt me into making about 5 dozen more cookies than any human should possibly consume in a weekend.  Something called "Nutella cookies" would qualify as such a seductive recipe.  

Now, I haven't always been a Nutella kind of gal.  I probably never even tried it until college or law school when worldly Eve Radin managed to bring it to my attention.  I don't just love the combination of chocolate of hazelnut, I also love the texture.  Like chocolate chips, Nutella manages to be sweet but not too sweet at the same time.  Nutella goes great in crepes, on hand-held waffles at the farmers market, and apparently in cookies.

When I mentioned to a few people that I was making Nutella cookies, people envisioned sugar cookies topped with Nutella.  I think everyone can agree that a cookie that contains and embodies Nutella is going to be a lot better than some cookie topped with the stuff.

These cookies contain an entire cup of Nutella, are filled with chocolate chips and hazelnuts, and have a deep rich chocolate flavor from a thick dose of cocoa.

These are some of the best cookies I've had in ages.  They aren't overwhelmed by the taste of Nutella, surprisingly, but manage to satisfy everything you would want from something with the word "Nutella" in the name.  These are best enjoyed with a glass of milk while watching Vernoica Mars, or for breakfast.  Your choice.

Nutella Cookies
From Simply Recipes

1 1/2 sticks softened butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 cup Nutella
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
2 cups plus 2 tablespoons flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa (not dutch-processed)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped hazelnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cream 1 1/2 sticks softened butter in an electric mixer for about three minutes, until fluffy.  Add 1 cup Nutella, 3/4 cup brown sugar, and 3/4 cup sugar to butter and mix well.  Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure even mixing.  Add the two eggs, one at a time, and beat for 30 seconds after each edition.  Add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and beat for 10 seconds.  In a separate bowl sift together 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 2 cups plus 2 tablespoons flour.  Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix on low speed until incorporated.  Be sure to scape the sides and bottom of the bowl to make sure it is fully mixed.  Fold 1 cup chocolate chips and 1/2 cup chopped hazelnuts into the dough.  Refrigerate for at least 10 minutes. Spoon tablespoon-sized balls onto a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes.  Let the cookies cool for 2 minutes on the cookie sheet and then allow them to cool completely on a cookie rack.

Boo at the Zoo

John planned another surprise date for us, and this time I didn't manage to guess it or ruin it by forgetting my motion sickness pills.  It was Boo at the Zoo this weekend, in more ways than one.  Firstly, John took his boo to the zoo, and secondly, it was the Halloween celebration at the zoo.

It was our first time at the San Francisco Zoo, and it was great: just big enough to have fun but not so big that you are overwhelmed.

Apparently people were pretty into the World Series at the zoo.

This was probably creepier than any Halloween costume I saw this year.

I loved the peacock that ran around wherever he saw fit.

I heard a fellow zoo-goer call this baboon "Mufasa."  Um, sorry, but Mufasa was a lion in Lion King.  Rafiki was the baboon.  Any half wit knows that.

I need to stop watching Disney cartoons.

Boo at the Zoo meant there were endless kids dressed up (mostly as cute animals), and some parents too.  They got to trick or treat at a bunch of stations throughout the zoo.

We saw quite a few giraffes at the zoo, some in costume and some behind the fences.

They are really cool animals, so I can see why they make such popular costumes.

And those tongues are just ridiculous!

The zebras were buddy-buddy with the giraffes.  One big African Savanna happy family
!

The gorilla preserve had the cutest baby gorilla I've ever seen.

The little girl literally hopped around making stereotypical gorilla noises and doing gorilla things.  It was like someone was dressed in a gorilla suit.  Too cute.

Does this gorilla mommy look stoic or what?

The penguins were having quite a time swimming and running around.  It was 70 degrees at the zoo, so hopefully they could stay cool.

This Mufasa was downright adorable.  And downright frightening.

Bald Eagle spotting!  This poor guy is in rehab and can't fly away, but it was pretty cool to see a bald eagle so close.

Kind of funny that I've seen a lot more macaws in my life than I have bald eagles, but I guess a few trips to Florida will do that for you.

John insisted I pose at all of the cheeseball animal posters.

Polly peacock has nothing on me.

John as an arachnid was the best of all, though!  What a great day at the zoo!