Chocolate Malted Cookies

So I told you last week I had made some great cookies and I'm back to share my recipe now!  I made these cookies for the Super Bowl party I went to.  There ended up being a lot left over so off to work they went.  Let me tell you - they went like hotcakes there!  Everyone loved them and ate them all up!

photo from Taste of Home

Here's the recipe:

Chocolate Malted Cookies


1 c. butter
1 1/4 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 c. malted milk powder (I used chocolate)
2 Tbsp. chocolate syrup
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
1 egg
2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 c. semisweet chocolate chunks
1 c. milk chocolate chips

In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter, brown sugar, malted milk powder, chocolate syrup and vanilla for 2 minutes.  Add egg.  Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture, mixing well after each addition.  Stir in chocolate chunks and chips.

Shape into 1-in. balls; place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.  Bake at 375 degrees for 12-14 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool for 2 minutes before removing to a wire rack.

Try these out and let me know what you think!

January Reads

Sorry folks, I haven't been on here for awhile.  I took an unexpected trip home last week and have spent the past week trying to play catch up after I got back.  Don't worry - everything is fine back on the home front - a slight scare by my mom, but everything turned out perfectly fine.

Anyway, one of my new years resolutions was to read more.  I LOVE to read, but I feel like I haven't been reading as much as I use to since I got my house.  I feel like I spend more time watching TV or doing other random things, and to be honest, I miss the different worlds and places that my books always take me.  So I started this year by making a list of the books I read and decided I would give you ideas for different books to read as well if you're interested!  Here is my list from January:

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

I really liked this book.  It starts pretty slow, spending time developing the characters and situations.  Once you got through about the first 100-150 pages, I felt like it really picked up.  Warning: there are some intense and graphic violent attacks against one of the characters!  I didn't know if I wanted to continue after this part of the book, but I'm so glad I did.  This book combines murder mystery, family saga and financial intrigue into one good read.  Stacey's rating: B+

The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks

Okay, I must admit, I read just about every Nicholas Sparks book that comes out.  Sometimes I don't know why.  I always end up bawling my way through the endings and this book was no exception.  This is a story about two high school sweethearts that reunite after they've grown up.  They both come back to their small home town after an important figure in both of their lives passes away.  I did like this book, but it's what I've come to expect from Mr Sparks and I wish for once he would surprise me.  Stacey's Rating: B


The Hunger Games Trilogy: The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, & Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

  

I loved these books.  I read the entire trilogy in a weekend.  I'm serious.  I could not put them down.

Let's start with Hunger Games:  Imagine a world where all of North America was destroyed and in its place is the nation of Panem, a central capitol and 12 outlying districts.  In order for the government to control the people in all the districts they basically starve them and each year they host "The Hunger Games".  In the hunger games, each district chooses one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 to compete to the death.  The winner's district wins extra food for their district for the next year.  In this book we're introduced to Katniss, Peeta, Gale, Prim and all the other unforgettable characters.  LOVED THIS BOOK!! Stacey's Rating: A+


Next in the trilogy was Catching Fire: The winner of the Hunger Games has to go from district to district on basically a winners tour.  During this tour, the discourse among the people of the districts can be felt.  They are unhappy with the capitol and tensions are rising.  Change is coming and the capitol is trying desperately to defuse the situation.  This was probably my least favorite of the trilogy, but was still good. Stacey's Rating: A-


The final book of the trilogy, Mockingjay, sends us back to the hunger games.  The capitol is pulling out all the stops.  They want the face of the revolt among the districts dead and in order to do that they've devised a new plan. The contestants for this year's hunger games will come from past winners.  But the story doesn't end there.  Read this to see how it ends!!  Stacey's Rating: A


Lovers and Dreamers by Nora Roberts

Okay, here's a secret I'll let you all in on...I like the occasional romance book.  And Nora Roberts almost never disappoints me.  There's love, there's a fight that breaks up our favorite couple, and then they get back together.  The reader is happy, upset, and feel for each character.  Mrs. Roberts just has a way with words.  This book is actually a compilation of a trilogy of hers, following three girls that grew up in the same house.  It was good, but nothing really special.  Stacey's Rating: B-


Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich

If you haven't met Stephanie Plum, I strongly encourage you to take the time to.  I've read all 17 books that follow this crazy bounty hunter and am honestly never disappointed by her stories.  There are some many lovable characters in this series.  Stephanie is a bounty hunter for her cousin Vinnie,  she lives in New Jersey and is partners with a retired prostitute Lula, who is hilarious!  Stephanie's grandmother lives with her parents, in the same town as Stephanie, and Grandma Mazur will have you rolling on the floor with her antics. Stephanie also has two men in her life, Ranger and Morelli, that keeps the story interesting.  Join the gang as they hunt down bad guys and dodge people who are intent on killing Stephanie for things she usually gets inadvertently involved in.  These books are light, fun, and require little thought as you join the fun. Stacey's Rating: A-


Divine Evil by Nora Roberts

As I stated before, Nora Roberts rarely disappoints me in her stories.  This was one of those rare exceptions.  I read this book, hoping it would change or get better through the whole story, but alas that didn't happen.  I was not a fan of this book and wouldn't recommend reading it unless you want to be creepedStacey's Rating: D


Alrighty, there you go!  There's the list of the books I covered during January.  I'm in the middle of baking cookies that are suppose to taste just like a "good old fashioned chocolate malt" so I'll try to pop back in during the week to give you all the recipe and tell you how they turned out.  Happy reading!

Motivation

Alright my fellow friends - I have really been slacking on this blog lately and need to do better!

So, I'm going to try to do a quick recap of what's been happening lately in my life.  I started my new position with the World Clinic department at Sanford last Monday - so 1 week is done.  I'm enjoying my team and what I've been working on and am looking forward to getting more involved in what's happening in the department.  The first couple weeks are always slow until you get up to full speed of what's happening.  Budget season is starting - so it should be interesting!

Farrell's Winter session start last week and I'm a coach this session.  We have instructors, the people who teach the actually classes, but we also have coach's - which are basically mentors for the new students.  I have 6 people who I mentor and motivate and I love it!  I think the thing that I didn't expect is to see the change in myself over just 17 weeks.  I go through the first weeks workouts and remember how I could barely make it through them and now I realize how far I have come and how much stronger I've become and I love it!

I've also started doing hot yoga occasionally as well.  There's a studio here in Sioux Falls that offer this - which is when you do yoga in a studio that has a temperature of 105 degrees and 30% humidity.  It's hot and I sweat more than I've ever sweat in my life!  Seriously, every part of my body sweats - my arms and legs, even my feet.  During classes, I look like I just got out of a shower with sweat pouring down my arms and legs.  It sounds weird, but it's very cleansing and relaxing.  Although today I did my first 90 minute session and it was way harder than the 60 minute sessions I have been attending.

Finally, I'm going to leave you with a new video that was made by the women of Farrell's in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  This has become my new MOTIVATION!  I really want Sioux Falls women to make a video now!  This totally explains how I feel doing FXB!!  Women of Cedar Rapids IA

My Best Friend

I read a blog called Branny Boils Over regularly and when her Souper Bowl post came up, I knew what my next blog post would be about!  My favorite animal of all time - Neko.

I adopted Neko Easter weekend of 2009 right after I moved into my house.  The house was just so empty and I knew that a dog would be the perfect addition - especially since I had a huge backyard that one could run around in.

I was volunteering at the humane society at the time, and was waiting for the right dog to come through.  I thought I was looking for a puppy that would grow up to be a smaller sized dog - perhaps a Maltese or Yorkie Terrier.  Instead I ended up with a black lab that has grown up to be a 70 lb. pooch.

I love the fact that I have a walking partner who makes me stay active.  I love that I have a welcome committee as soon as I walk through the door whether I was gone 5 seconds or 5 hours.  I love that Neko makes sounds like Chewbacca off Star Wars when she greets new people or gets excited about something else.

So, as requested by the Souper Bowl blog post, I dedicate one of my favorite soups, White Bean & Turkey Chili to my baby, Neko.

Here's the recipe:

White Bean & Turkey Chili

1 Tbsp. canola oil
2 medium diced yellow onions
1 1/2 Tbsp chili powder
1 Tbsp minced garlic
1 1/2 Tbsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
3 (15.8 oz) cans Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained
4 cups chicken broth
3 cups chopped cooked turkey (can also use chicken)
1/2 cup diced seeded tomatoes
1/3 cup chopped cilantro (optional)
2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground pepper

Heat oil in a large pot over medium high heat.  Add onion; saute 10 minutes or until tender and golden.  Add chili powder, garlic, and cumin; saute for 2 minutes.  Add oregano and beans; cook for 30 seconds.  Add broth, bring to a simmer.  Cook 20 minutes.  Place 2 cups bean mixture in a blender and process until smooth.  Return puree mixture to pot.  Add turkey, and cook 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated.  Remove from heat.  Add diced tomato, chopped cilantro, lime juice, salt and pepper; stirring well.

Nutritional info per 1 cup:
Calories: 286, Fat: 6 g, Protein: 32.4 g, Carb: 24.3 g, Fiber: 5.5 g, Chol: 85 mg, Sodium: 435 mg

Enjoy!