Snow Day Baking: Procrastination of Housework edition

We've had quite a few snow days in our neck of the woods!  Usually, that'd be perfect timing...I could clean, pick up, vacuum, laundry, dishes..........but not this week!  I found some recipes on pinterest I wanted to try out...so, here they are!

Blueberry Cheesecake Cookies

These are super yummy!  They're like scones, except sweeter and in cookie form.

You need:
1 Stick, plus 2 TBS butter, softened
8 oz tub of Philedelphia Blueberry cream cheese, also softened
1 egg
1 cup of sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
a pinch of salt (I put in 1/4 tsp)
1 cup blueberries (I used fresh, but you could use frozen-just toss them with a little flour first)

Method:
-Cream the butter and cream cheese until fluffy (in my kitchen aid, it took about 4 minutes on medium speed)
-add the egg, vanilla, and sugar and beat until mixed together
-add the powder, soda and salt.  add the flour and mix together.
-gently fold in blueberries.
**you are going to want to use a parchment paper lined baking sheet for these cookies.**
-bake at 350, for 12 to 14 minutes.

Chocolate Snack Cake

This bread is yummy!  It's like a dense brownie.  We snacked on it by itself, warm out of the oven, but I bet it would be delicious with ice cream!

You need:

1/2 stick butter, softened

1 cup of sugar

2 eggs

1 cup of sour cream (I used plain greek yogurt)

1 3/4 cups of flour

1/2 cup of chocolate cocoa powder

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup chocolate chips (I used semi-sweet, but you could swap it for any kind of chip or even omit them....but who wants to do that?????)

Method:

-Cream butter and sugar

-Add eggs, one at a time

-Add the sour cream

-Mix in the powder, salt and cocoa powder

-Throw in the flour

-Fold in chocolate chips, if you're using them

Pour batter in a well greased loaf pan, and bake at 350 for 55-60 minutes.  Cool in the pan for 20 minutes before turning out on a wire rack.  Cool completely.

new year resolutions

They're late, but better late than never,.....right??  =)

Fitness goals:

**  Work on speed!  I want to achieve:

               -a sub 7:45 minute mile (my fastest so far has been 8:32)

               -a sub 25:00 minute 5k (today! I clocked my fastest at 28:00 even)

         *If I can get my shorter distances faster, my longer distance time goals are:

               -a 1 hour and 30 minute 10 miles, or faster!

               -a sub 2 hour half marathon (13.1 miles)

**  Take the last part of my certification test to become a group fitness instructor.

Mommy-world goal:

** Be more intentional about one on one time with Jaden.  Specifically, I want to take him out by ourselves once a week.

**  Get into the Word with the kids.  I have been a major slacker in this department this year.  

Wifey stuff:

** Plan and do date nights, every other week maybe.  

Personal goals:

** I would like to finish painting my kitchen and bedroom... =)  

** I also want to utilize my bread machine a little bit more this year.  

** Make/eat more seafood for dinners.  Striving for once a week.

** Be more intentional about catching up with my long distance friends.