TWD: Chockablock Cookies

Honestly, these cookies were OK but not my favorite. I was surprised that I didn't like these because I have really loved all of the cookies Tuesdays With Dorie has baked from Baking From my Home to Yours. There was something about the molasses, oats, chocolate, nuts, dried fruit, coconut combination that just seemed a bit overwhelming. I love all of the components of these cookies but together it was just too many flavors and textures. I can't complain because this was really the first TWD recipe that I haven't loved in a good long while! Thanks Mary of Popsicles and Sandy Feet for choosing this recipe because I have been eying it for a long time!


In other news, Helen has moved from her crib to a toddler bed and Eloise is now in Helen's old crib! I cannot believe how amazing it feels to put both girls to bed in their own bedroom and actually have a few minutes to actually get things done at night. I have been either pregnant and/or breastfeeding a (co-sleeping) baby for almost three years- Eloise is still breastfeeding during the day but I've finally eliminated all night feedings and it is SO liberating. Now if I can get their nap schedules synchronized, I guess we'll move on to potty training!

TWD: Molasses Spice Cookies

When I was about nine years old I remember helping my mom clean the kitchen after dinner. I was clearing the table while she swept the floor. At this point, my brother was seven and my sister was three so you can imagine what kind of a mess ended up under the table. Once she had swept the debris into a little neat pile my mom gathered it up into the dustpan and said to me, "you know there are people in the world who will never even see the crumbs that fell off the table during a meal and there are many others who have to eat these crumbs". I don't know why that stuck with me the way it did but I have never forgotten what she said and I almost always think about it when I sweep my own kitchen. It helps me to pause and put things in perspective. Yes, we have to plan carefully so that we can pay all of our bills every month and it will be quite some time before we can purchase a second car but we always have plenty of food and even if for some reason we could not purchase food we have wonderful family who would never ever hesitate to help us in any way we asked. With Thanksgiving around the corner I can't help but be overwhelmingly thankful for how lucky I am for all of the blessings in my life.


I love Thanksgiving because it really does allow for us to remember everything we are thankful for and to celebrate it with all the people we love. Breaking bread is one of the most universal and yet special things a group of people can do together. The Thanksgiving meal is especially wonderful because so much time and love goes into preparing it. This week's Tuesdays With Dorie recipe was selected by Pamela of Cookies with Boys and it would be a fabulous addition to the dessert table for Thanksgiving Day! I don't know if I can easily explain how much I love these spicy, crunchy on the edges and chewy in the middle cookies. Well yes I can: I made a batch of these about a month ago and we ate every last one before I took one solitary picture. I made a half batch again last night so that I could snap a few shots and they have already disappeared again! They are so wonderful and so easy to make. Oh and they are really very pretty too thanks to the sparkly sugar crust. Make these, enjoy them, and be thankful!