Mrs. Mehaffey's Almost Famous Chocolate Chip Cookies

Growing up, my neighbor made these amazing chocolate cookies every year during Christmas season. When I got married she graciously handed over the recipe and it took Bob and I years to get it perfect (it was all about the way things were mixed and cooking time). We make the dough, shape it into balls and freeze it so whenever we need a cookie, we can bake it right up.

Well, when it came to wanting to give a prize for something at school, I thought what better for kiddos than chocolate chip cookies? So I wrapped some up nicely and announced that the prize was "Mrs. Mehaffey's Almost Famous Chocolate Chip Cookies". They laughed. And then they were intrigued.

Upon first taste the girl who won wouldn't stop talking about them and then she decided to share them (they are such generous kids). Anyway, they started asking me if they could have the recipe. I told them that I did not get it until I was getting married and so it would be the same for them. One asked, "What if I don't know you then?" to which I answered, "If you care that much about the cookies, you will keep in touch."

I laughed to myself when later on that day I overheard them talking to each other about wanting to get married that day to get the recipe. Oh how they can make me feel so good about myself.

Ruby Falls

Bob and I took a hike up to Ruby Falls the same day we went to Helen. I still can't believe all of the miles of trails that there are so close to us. We keep wanting to become "hard core"(for us) and go for a 12 mile day hike--with lots of snacks of course! However, we will have to wait until it gets warmer--there was still snow and lots of icicles on this hike. This was an easy one--totally paved--but the view was astounding. The falls were much bigger in person that what is here. Loved it!

Helen GA

Bob and I had a free day last weekend so we decided to visit Helen for the day, which is a little German mountain town about an hour and a half away. All of the buildings are modeled in this way and it is fun to see some very normal places (think Motel 6) outfitted in this style. Of course we sampled every candy store there was, getting our fill on fudge and brittle. We went into a cute little toy shop where everything was made of wood and I just wished I had a little boy to buy something for...

Anyway, here is the awkward picture we took of ourselves in front of the restaurant we ate at. As I go through more and more of our pictures, so many of them look like this because we have to take it of ourselves. Of course, there is always the option of asking someone else to do it, but after our NY experience (someone actually saying No, they were not willing to take a picture of us) we have felt a little insecure. Or, when we do have others take it they turn out just as awkward if not more. The other picture of us in this town (not shown here) was taken by someone else and has awful shadows. So you just get to enjoy (laugh at) this one.

We loved our drive home through some different quaint mountain towns. Although it always scares me when we do this because Bob starts talking about moving out there. Seriously. One day he came home from fishing and told me that he had seen a new cabin for sale for $20,000 and the thought honestly crossed his mind that we could buy it, move there, and virtually retire now--maybe getting part time jobs at nearby shops. I encouraged him that while it was a good thought, he would be doing it alone, and it might not be that fun by himself (although I still think he is considering--hehe).

Anyway, there is so much to discover here in our "backyard" and we had a fun day exploring some of it!

Snow Week!

Sunday night we had a crazy snow for Atlanta (5+ inches) and things have been mostly shut down all week! Because snow is not normal for Atlanta, the city has not invested in many snow plows, so the problems come with the icy roads and lots of cars. We took advantage of cancelled classes and spent some time playing and eating with friends in our apartment complex. One of the first things we did (of course) was to build a snow man. Here he is--not much of a looker, but we were still proud. It has been crazy seeing the city transformed and despite the fact that you start to feel real antsy being inside so long, you can't help but be overwhelmed by the beauty it creates. It really forces you to slow down and take it all in.

Chairs overlooking the river.

The first night of snow--it snowed over 4 inches in an hour!

Our back patio.

Table Setting

Maybe because I am becoming more of a homemaker, or maybe becuase we were hosting company this year, I JUST started getting into table settings. I have been loving to cook for a long time but we are so casual I have never felt the need to purchase cloth napkins, chargers, etc. Well this year I finally splurged a little and did it. I enjoyed seeing my table come to life, but Bob is still questioning me about the chargers-- "Really, what do they charge?". I am going to have to find a way to use them in everyday life just to justify it :)

Christmas Eve Feast

Bob and I decided to stay here for this Christmas and incorporate ideas and traditions that we want for our own family some day. One of the things we wanted this year was for a simple to make yet elegan Christmas Eve dinner of bread, cheese, fruit, and wine. We felt we were feasting at a table with kings. We enjoyed this meal together and then went to an 11:00 church service. For Christmas morning, we had friends come for brunch and then spent the day hanging together, eating and doing puzzles. My family came out the day after Christmas and we got to make our traditional Swedish meal--the first time that I've really made any of it. It really was a wonderful time with food and company.

Baguette Competition

I have been really into making bread lately and decided to make some for Christmas Eve. Bob got me the William Sonoma baking book for my birthday and I had also just found Mark Bittman's recipe on a friend's blog so I decided to have a friendly competition between the two. I tried to enlist Bob so it would really feel like a competition--he could choose one to make and I could choose another--but he wasn't really game, so I made them both myself. It came down to this: They were both really delicious. Mark Bittman's recipe was way easier but not quite as great. The William Sonoma one was amazing but took a lot of extra steps. I am glad I made them both at the same time so I could test them against each other instead of just trying to remember what the other tasted like. I guess for a "normal" day I would make the more simple recipe and for something more special I would go all out and make the other.

A baguettepan was called for both, which I originally scoffed at. I do not need yet another thing to stick in a cabinet and didn't know why a sheet pan would not suffice. I learned quickly that while a baguette pan is not a necessity, it will drastically change the shape of your loaves. Mine turned out kind of flat since the dough is so thin and pliable and it didn't have the special pans to hold them in place.

Cheesy Christmas Sweater Party

This is the student in my class who won the cheesy Christmas sweater competition we had on the last day of school before break. Most of the students made the cheesiness of the sweaters themselves, adding on items such as this huge stuffed bear! I had made my own as well with a Christmas tree decorated with jolly ranchers. Bad idea because the kids kept trying to steal the candy off me. I love this class!

Cirque Dreams

Our apartment complex has partnered with the galleria near our home and are starting to offer $2 tickets to many off Broadway shows. Over the holiday, we got to go with friends to Cirque Dreams which was a crazy combination of acrobatics and dancing ornaments/weird music. I can't say we are better for having gone, it was a little over the top, but fun nonetheless. This month Bob and I got to attend Oklahoma for the same price (but I forgot to take a pic).

Chex Mix

Chex Mix is a Mehaffey family favorite as far as Christmas goodies go. Since we are away, I tried my hand at it this year. Sooo good! There is a reason we only make it one time a year! It is a great and easy gift to give to others (or keep for yourself) and it is a nice break from all the sweet goodies.

Gingerbread Cookies!

Gingerbread cookie decorating was a tradition for my brother and I growing up. My aunt would have us over to decorate them and then she would use them for a Christmas party she had. I always loved the tradition and find myself wanting to do it every year. Seeing that I could not convince Bob to do it with just the two of us (nor would it have been as fun), we had my friend and her kids over fo a decorating extravaganza. It was their first time decorating gingerbread men, so it was extra fun!

Masterpieces