Pin-Wheel Cookie Recipe

Here is the yummy recipe for the pin-wheel cookies me and Sean made.

I got it from a "Taste of Home" Magazine. ( I hope it's okay for me to post it?)

Pin-wheel Cookies

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened

3/4 c butter, softened

1 egg, separated

2 cups flour

1 Tbsp baking powder

2/3 c colored sugars

30 milk chocolate M&M's

In a bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter & egg yolk until smooth. Combine flour and baking powder; beat into cream cheese mixture. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. (I skipped this step and they still turned out fine.)

Divide dough in half. On a floured surface, roll each portion into a 15 in. X 9 in. rectangle. With a sharp knife or pastry wheel, cut dough into 3 in. squares. Place 3 inches apart on lightly greased baking sheets. (*I didn't get out the measuring tape, here; approximation works great for me!)

Beat egg white until frothy; brush over squares. Sprinkle with colored sugars. Cut through the dough from each corner of a square to within 1/2 in. of the center. Fold alternating points into the center to form a windmill; pinch gently at center to seal. Press an M&M into each center.

Bake at 350 for 9-12 minutes or until set. (Cookies will not brown). Remove immediately to wire racks to cool. They are so tasty!

I made some more for Daphne to share with her class for her birthday, and this time Hayden was my "helper." His idea of helping is putting handfuls of flour on the table and spreading it around for me, pouring green sprinkles on a cookie that was already sprinkled with pink, and eating the M&M centers.

Can't get much more helpful than that.

Backing up a bit

Here are a couple things I missed last week.

1. On Wednesdays the kids have early out day--kind of random and weird, but I like to have them home early, so whatever.  This past Wednesday they had a great afternoon playing together really nicely (which is not always the case) but it just made me feel so happy I had to document it.  

Playing nicely can really wear you out!

2. Also on Wednesday, I made some really yummy chicken wraps that turned out too delicious not to share so I'm posting the recipe here.  I got it from a Costco cookbook they were handing out for free one day!  Score!

Avocado Ranch Salad Wraps

1 avocado cut in 1/2 inch dice

2 tsp fresh lime juice

1/2 c ranch dressing

salt and pepper

*1 lb Willow Brook Kettle Fried Turkey Breast

I couldn't find that, so I just used chicken breast instead

4 c mixed salad greens (I just used spinach leaves)

4 10 inch flour tortillas

12 grape tomatoes, halved

1/4 c cilantro 

1/4 c sliced red onion (I omitted this and used green onion instead)

3 Tbsp shredded extra-sharp white Cheddar Cheese

Combine avocado, lime juice and ranch dressing.

Season to taste with salt & pepper.

Shred turkey, and stir into the avocado mixture.

Add cilantro and onion to the mixture

Place salad greens on tortillas, followed by the turkey mixture, tomatoes, and cheese.  

Roll up the wraps & cut in half.  Makes four servings.  

Enjoy! They are very tasty! 

3.  My birthday was this past weekend.  I also, had my Quintessence Cabaret Concert this past weekend, so the birthday festivities were kind of spread out.  We took the family out to eat at Olive Garden Friday afternoon and when we got home, I opened my birthday present.

 

Arthur got me AN ICE CREAM MAKER!!!!   I have such fun memories of my family growing up making homemade ice cream together and all taking turns cranking the handle with Dad.  

Arthur got me one that can be hand-crank or electric, which is great!  I just know we have lots of fun memories in store for us, and I can't wait to break it in.  

Sunday night, we had my birthday dinner.  The kids set the table with a table cloth, and name tags for everyone, and picked pansies to arrange in my small circle vase.  They put out "special glasses"  (I think they might be parfait dishes) for Arthur & I, and filled all the cups with water.

(Unfortunately, it was more temptation than Hayden could handle, because he climbed on the table, plucked the petals off a few of the flowers, and spilled two cups of water, saturating Sean & Dallin's name tags and soaking the table cloth--so things were a bit damp for dinner.)

This is just a picture of the name tags & vase since I didn't get a picture of the whole thing last night.  I just loved their flower arrangement and the nametags written in their cute 1st grade/kindergarten handwriting.

Arthur made me a delicious white cake with strawberries and whipped cream. (Can't get enough of that stuff lately.)  And since he couldn't find the bag of candles, we used the broken number three.  But really it stands for 24.  

okay fine.  29.

4.  Which means, that my parents celebrated their 30th anniversary this weekend!  Congratulations you guys!  What an example you are setting for your posterity.  We love you and can't wait to see you this summer.

5.  As previously mentioned, my last Quintessence Concert was this weekend.  It is the fun one of the season--members of the choir do solos, duets, and small ensembles with lots of different kinds of music.  A lot of show tunes and jazz and things.  Despite getting the video camera charged and the camera ready for Arthur, he forgot them in his rush out the door.  So Jenny & Julianne, I'm sorry, but I don't have any recording of my solo, "Girl in 14G," which is such a BUMMER because I nailed it.   

A friend in the choir did email me these pictures, though.  

This would be the girl upstairs in 15G (the jazz singer)

Here's me as the 14G girl.  

All we need is the 13G opera girl, and it would be almost like being there.

Anyway, the concert went well, (if a little long) and was well attended.  Thanks to my friends who came to support me!!!  It means a lot to me!

I'm also thankful for my Arthur who has been awesome in supporting me in developing my talents.  He has held down the fort by himself most Sunday evenings when I have been at rehearsal over the last 3 years.  He is so great at giving me "space to fly" as Marjorie Hinckley used to say of her husband.  Thank you, Arthur!!!

Recipes

Julianne inspired me with her roll recipe post. I thought I'd share a couple of my favorite recipes. So here's one for breakfast and one for dinner. Try them and let me know if you like them.

Waffles

1 3/4 cup flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
3 eggs
7 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups milk

Preheat the waffle iron. Sift the dry indredients into a medium sized bowl. Separate the eggs, putting the egg whites in smaller bowl. Beat the egg whites until they are stiff. (If you are using an electric mixer, you can beat the egg whites first, then beat the batter without having to wash the beaters. The reverse is not true. If you beat the batter first and you have to wash the beaters before beating the egg whites.) Add the egg yolks, oil and milk all at one time to the dry indredients. Beat until there are no lumps in the batter. Fold the egg whites into the other batter using a spatula or other flat utinsel. Put a full 1/2 cup of batter in your waffle iron to make a 9-inch round waffle. This recipe makes about eight 9 inch waffles. (We have a waffle iron that does two small squares, and it works fine in there too.)

Arthur makes these for mother's day or my birthday, or any other special day, and always serves these with fresh whipped cream and fruit. Sooo good.

Okay, the next one I'm not going to write all the way out. I tried it for the first time earlier this month, and I was so proud of myself for making something that turned out this good. It is an imitation of Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Salad, and it is amazing. You can find it by clicking here. It is a lot of work, but totally worth it!!! The blend of all these different flavors is so great. Try it out the next time you feel like making a really good dinner. (Like if you'll be entertaining the first lady or something. )