GF Peanut Butter & Nutella Cookies

Oh. My. Gosh!

I can't even tell you how good these are! Mark made me these cookies for my birthday (all I wanted was a meal made just for me & he DEFINITELY delivered!)

I even had Molly try these cookies and she agreed that they do not taste GF at all and taste so much like the real thing. Plus, it's got Nutella. Anything better than that? I think not.

He got this recipe off of Tasty Kitchen.

You need:

1 cup sugar
1 cup creamy Peanut Butter (don't use homemade...don't think they'd stick together as well)
1 whole egg Beaten
1 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
9 teaspoons Nutella

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

2. Into your stand mixer add sugar, peanut butter, egg, salt and baking soda. Mix until well combined.

3. Measure approximately 1 tablespoon of dough. Roll dough into a ball and place onto cookie sheet. Gently press dough ball down using the palm of your hand. Continue forming balls until dough is gone. Space approximately 1″ apart.

4. Bake for approximately 8-10 minutes. Using a 1/2 teaspoon measuring spoon, GENTLY make an indentation in the middle of each cookie. Fill each cookie with a "dollop" of Nutella. Return tray to oven and continue cooking for 2-4 minutes until golden. (I don't think Mark put them back in the oven, but they turned out just fine!)

5. Transfer cookie to a cooling rack and allow to cool.

So good! These are a repeat for sure in the Bennett household!

A Night With Paula

As an early birthday present (very early), Jen took me a few weeks ago to see Paula Deen at Xavier University in Cincinnati! We went up with some friends from Williams-Sonoma and we just all had a great time! Our early arrival time helped us get front row seats and yes, I did get a hug from Paula herself!!!!

What a wonderful gift from a wonderful friend!

Me with my signed copy of Paula's new cookbook.

Jen with Pam and Marsha

Paula herself.

Paula and her husband, Michael.

To read more about it, check out Jen's blog.

Happy Birthday Mom!!!

Today is my mom's birthday!

Here's a picture of us together at Lynn's Paradise Cafe in Louisville recently. My mom is one of my best friends and I am so thankful for everything she is in my life.

I hope your day is extra special, Mom!

Happy Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday to Guinness!!!!

Yesterday was Guinness' 1st birthday so we spent the weekend celebrating it. He got special treatment from us, a new chew toy, and I even made him his very own batch of peanut butter muffins. These muffins are safe for dogs to eat, but tasty enough for his mom and dad to eat as well. They tasted good, but were very plain. Guinness, however, absolutely LOVED them!

Here's some pics of the big birthday boy!

You can tell he loves that hat.

I don't have any kids yet...humor me!

Guin with his daddy

Checkin' out the muffin...

Yum, yum!

He forgot all about that annoying hat on his head once he got to start eating!

I thought I'd include the recipe in case anyone else has a special pup who would enjoy a birthday muffin!


Peanut Butter Muffins
Makes about 12

1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup skim milk

1/4 cup honey

1/2 cup all-natural peanut butter

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 eggs

1 tsp. baking soda

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a bowl, mix all the ingredients until blended, then beat the batter for 2 minutes. Spoon the batter into muffin cups, three-quarters full. Bake for 18-20 minutes. Muffins are done when a toothpick insterted in the center comes out clean. Remove from the pan once cooled.

Birthday Duet

Once again, Jen and I celebrated our birthdays together at Atomic Cafe. As always we had a blast and I know I had a great time turning a year older in the presence of so many that I love.

Here's a few pics from the night:

Me and my cute hubby

Kristin and Jen (b-day girl #2)

Paul, Me, and Diva B
Some of the crew. I just think this picture's hilarious!


Thanks to everyone for such a great birthday!

Birthday Wishlist continued....

OK, Em and Jen gave me a hard time about my previous birthday wishlist post because it really only gave them one idea and they said now I'll end up with 5 Phillips shirts. So....just for them, I'm adding a few more ideas on here of things that I want.

Seasons 1-4 of One Tree Hill. I've been wanting this for a few years now, but Mark won't listen and buy them for me. You can actually get them fairly cheap on eBay, but still....

North Face Women's Crestone 60 Internal Frame Backpack. Using a duffel bag on our last camping trip just didn't do the trick. I need a good backpack that I'll be able to hike with.
Remember the Titans is my favorite movie and somehow I still don't own it.

I loved this movie and it'd be one I'd like to own.

ANYTHING (and I mean that) that has to do with the Bengals.
Target or Kohl's giftcards. Or just cash. You know I can always find some way to spend it.

There, Em and Jen, are you happy now? There's some extra ideas (and I suppose this will help Mark as well).

Birthday Wishlist

So...if you're looking to find me the perfect birthday present this year (August 1st), look no further...

I want the Brandon Phillips t-shirt for my birthday. I've been needing a new Reds shirt for quite some time and since Phillips is my favorite player, I've decided that this is the shirt I need. So, there you have it. Here's a picture that just sums up why he's my favorite.

...And This One Belongs to the Reds!!!

We had a great time at the game tonight in observance of Daniel's 21st birthday. Not only did Arroyo pitch a good game AND bat 2 for 2 (one of which was a homerun!), but we got to watch only 11 rows behind home plate. Daniel was only 4 rows behind the plate. We had great seats and ate more food than any humans should (it's hard not to when they serve it to you by coming to your seats). Dunn struck out 3 times...typical. Phillips hit a triple with bases loaded (he's my favorite player) and although Griffey didn't get pitched to very much tonight, it was great to see him play. Also, Jay Bruce got a double...he's the real deal! Here's some pics so enjoy!

Griffey at bat
The homerun board proudly displaying Griffey's 600th.
My mom and I at the game
Dad and Dan
My parents after the game.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY BRO!!!

Today is my brother's 21st birthday! We are all going up to the Reds-Cardinals game tonight in Cincy to celebrate Daniel turning legal. Hopefully, the Reds can pull off a win for the special occasion, but then again Arroyo is pitching so who knows....

Here's to you baby bro

Happy 21st Birthday Daniel!!!!!

Update: New Floor

I just thought I'd update on the progress of Mark's music room. Since we're doing everything on our own, it is taking some time, but the room is coming along nicely. As I said before, we're re-doing Mark's room as a birthday gift to Mark. He celebrated his 24th birthday on May 4th and while the room is not done, we have put down the floors. Jen donated her old floors and now they are part of our house. I think the floors really make the room look great. We still have the crown molding, curtains, and new furniture to put in, but those are all minor and we'll get them done when we have a free weekend.

Bennett Birthday Cook-Off

This year, for Mark's step-dad's birthday, he requested a pizza cook-off in which he got to be the judge. Since we all love cooking so much, we obliged and the results were wonderful!

I think this is going to happen more often with all sorts of culinary delights.

Ticean and Amy dress up their shrimp, basil, and sun dried tomato pizza. Yum!

The pizzas baked in the oven

Michael waits patiently for the judging process.

The duct tape on his shirt says "Judge Simon"

Here's all but one of the pizzas that were made.

This was the pizza that Mark and I made
(Chorizo, bacon, gorgonzola cheese, smoked mozzarella, fresh basil, and tomatoes on a whole wheat crust with a roasted garlic alfredo sauce base)


Michael ended up choosing Jake's (our nephew's pizza), but Mark and I still liked our own the best. And isn't that what matters?


And to top it off our niece, Jordan, lost a tooth. A significantly important one I might add!

Feliz Cumpleanos a Amy!

Kimberly, myself, and Amy

I wasn't able to get a chance to blog yesterday, but I do need to give a shout out to my sister-in-law, Amy, for her birthday. Yesterday was Amy's actual birthday, but we're celebrating today!

Amy's absolutely fabulous! I have a special love for her because of two major similarities: She's also a teacher (5th grade at Tates Creek Elementary) and she also married into this family by marrying a Bennett Boy (that provides hours of endless fun talking about how our lives are basically the same being married to them).

I love her dearly and wish her a wonderful day/weekend.

HAPPY 29th BIRTHDAY AMY!!!

One Century Down....

On December 17th, my Great-Grandma turned 100 years old!

I'm aware that this blog is a few days late, but it's better late than never.

Unfortunately, my Grandma Dorse was in the hospital on her birthday due to breaking her hip only 1 1/2 weeks before her actual birthday. We were supposed to have a big party, but she was recovering from her surgery. I'm glad to say she has gone back home and is recovering well.

My Grandma Dorse is BY FAR the most resilient person I have EVER met. I don't know how she does it, but she's tough!

Can you imagine living 100 years? She was born in 1907 which means she's been through both World Wars, the Korean War, Vietnam War, Roaring 20s, The Great Depression, Civil Rights Movements.....she's seen a lot!

Without further ado,
HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY GRANDMA DORSE!!!!

Here's Grandma making 100 look easy with my Uncle Scott.