Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies

This is such a yummy recipe. I love pumpkin chocolate chip cookies... but not the chunky cakey ones you get in the store. This are just like normal chocolate chip cookies...with the delicious hint of pumpkin. YUM!!!
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 C. unsalted butter, softened
1 C. white sugar
1 C. light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 C. canned pumpkin
3 C. all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
2 C. milk chocolate chips
Heat the oven to 350. Spray cookie sheets with nonstick cooking spray or line with parchment paper.
Using a mixer, beat the butter until smooth. Beat in the sugars, a little at a time, until the mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs 1 at a time, then mix in the vanilla and pumpkin puree. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Slowly beat in the flour mixture into the batter in thirds. Stir in the chips. Scoop the cookie dough by heaping tablespoons onto the prepared cookie sheets and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the cookies are browned around the edges. Remove from oven and let them rest for 2 min. Take the cookies off with a spatula and cool on a wire rack.

Tom and Me plus...

BABY makes three! Tom and I went to the doctor's today and saw our baby's heartbeat! What a huge relief and blessing! Our baby is due on May 30, 2009! We are almost eight weeks along. I have been pretty sick this time around... we took that as a good sign since I wasn't with the other two pregnancies. We LOVE our CNM... she is awesome and I would recommend her to any and everyone! Just wanted to share our happy news! Keeping it a secret for a month was so so hard. Now we are safe to tell everyone who will listen!

I've Been Tagged...Again!

5 Things- Tagged by Lyndsay


5 Things I've Done in the Past 10 Years:
1-Moved out of my parents house
2- Had my first kiss
3-Got married
4-Rode the Rocket at Lagoon (YUCK!)
5-Graduated from the U of U


5 Things I Wish I Could Do Today:
1-Get out of debt
2-Quit my job
3-Go to Scotland
4-Have Tom up and flying
5-Be a mom

5 Foods I Wouldn't Want to Live Without:
1-Bananas
2-Pizza
3-Cafe Rio's Chicken Burritos (although we don't eat it very often)
4-Couscous
5-ice cream


5 Things I Would Do if I Were a Millionaire:
1-Buy a house
2-Go on a world trip
3-Get out of debt
4-Share money with my family
5-Get two new cars (one for me and one for Tom)

5 Places I Have Lived:
1-Orem, UT
2-Cutler Ridge, FL
3-Hunington Beach, CA
4-Dayton, OH
5-Fayettville, NC

5 Jobs I Have Had:
1-Preschool Teacher
2-Janitor
3-Daycare worker
4-Manufacturing
5-housecleaner... in high school

5 People I Tag:
1-Tina
2-Jessica
3-Chrissy
4-Tiffany (when your life settles down)
5-Valerie

I've Been Tagged
The "rules" of the game are as follows:
1. Post the rules on your blog.
2. Write 6 random things about yourself.
3. Tag 6 people at the end of your post.
4. If you're tagged, DO IT and pass on the tag.

Now, 6 things about me...
1. I hate/ am afraid of moths. ( I know, I know...but they are creepy!)
2. I get motion sickness... recently rediscovered as I have to ride the bus.
3. I want to own a used bookstore.
4. I wear a shoe size 6 and a half.
5. I do not ever, ever wear a swimsuit or shorts.
6. I really really enjoy eating peaunt butter... with chocolate is even better.

I tag:
1. Valerie
2. Tiffany
3. Jared
4. Lindsay
5. Liz
6. Dawnelle (you can email it since you can't blog)

My wonderful husband, Tom

My wonderful husband, Tom

I love Fall! I love the colors, the weather, the smells... basically I love everything about Fall! Tom and I were able to go up to the canyon yesterday. It is so beautiful right now! For some reason Fall always reminds me of when I was single and living in "The Party Barge". I had great roommates who taught me so much about myself and how to be a better me. And although I had so many great times with my girls I was so anxious to meet the man I would spend eternity with.

Enter Tom. We had known each other for about 9 months before he asked me out. We had been flirting with each other just for fun (we were both interested in other people at this point.) I am so grateful for that time we had to get to know each other as friends. Our first date was so much fun! He was so easy to talk to and be myself around. He started winning my heart on that first date! And the rest is history.

He is such a wonderful man and husband! I am eternally grateful to our Heavenly Father for allowing me the privilege of marrying my best friend. I could honestly spend all day everyday with Tom and be perfectly content. I love spending time with him. I am grateful for all he does for me... especially working a job he hates so he can help support us. I am grateful for his unconditional love and his easy-going attitude. I am grateful that he (for some reason) thinks I am beautiful and tries to get me to see that in myself more. I am grateful that he will someday be a wonderful father to our children. I will take great delight in seeing him hold our newborn... you see, he is afraid he will break little ones :) He makes me want to be a better wife, daughter, sister, friend and woman. I am so grateful for him. I love him the mostest of the mostest cuz he's the grandest of grandest prizes.

I have been inspired by my family's and friends' blogs... obviously! This is one of our new favorite recipes. Hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Black Bean Lasagna Rolls

1 C (4 oz) shredded, reduced fat Montery-Jack cheese

1(15 oz) carton part skim Ricotta cheese

1 (4.5 oz) can chopped green chilies, drained

1/2 tsp chili powder (this makes it super spicy... HOT! I would cut back.)

1/8 tsp salt

8 lasagna noodles

2 C cannned no salt added black beans, drained

cooking spray

1 (15.5 oz) jar no salt added salsa

Combine first 5 ingredients, stir well. Set aside.

Cook lasagna noodles as directed on package; drain well.

Spread cheese mixture over one side of each noodle. Spoon beans evenly over cheese mixture. Roll up noodles, jelly-roll fashion, beginning at narrow end.

Place rolls, seam sides down, in an 11x7x1.5 inch baking dish coated with spray. Pour salsa over rolls. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until heated thoroughly.