Double-Chocolate Rocky Road Cookie Bars

First Layer
1 pouch Betty Crocker double chocolate chunk cookie mix
1/4 C vegetable oil
2 T water
1 egg

Heat oven to 350 - Spray bottom and sides of 13X9 inch pan with cooking spray.
In large bowl - stir cookie pouch and other ingredients until soft dough forms. Press into bottom of pan.

Filling
1 8 ox pkg cream cheese, softened
1/2 C sugar
1/4 C butter or margarine softened
2 T flour
1 t vanilla
1 egg
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1 cup chocolate chips
1 1/2 C mini marshmallows

In large bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, butter, flour, vanilla and egg with mixer until smooth. Stir in pecans. Spread over first layer and sprinkle evenly with chocolate chips. Bake for 26 to 28 minutes or until filling is set. Sprinkle evenly with marshmallows and bake 2 minutes longer.

Frosting
1/2 C butter or margarine
1/4 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
1/3 C milk
3 C powdered sugar
1 t vanilla
1 C chopped pecans

In saucepan melt butter over medium heat. Stir in cocoa and milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Mix in powdered sugar and vanilla with wire whisk until smooth and then mix in the pecans. Pour immediately over marshmallows spreading gently to cover. Cool 30 minutes. Refrigerate for 2 hours or until chilled before serving. Cut into bars. Store covered in fridge.

I made this new recipe yesterday - and loved it. It won Honorable Mention in the 2007 Betty Crocker Cooking competition. It may be too much for some but for me (with the major sweet tooth) it really fit the bill! I was tempted to eat it warm (and did) but it is actually much better cold (which I also did). I almost messed up by using a whole package of chocolate chips (as is usually called for in recipes) and then read the recipe closer, so be careful with that. It is a little more effort than I like for most desserts but I will do it every now and again. Enjoy!!

Rafting

I have been kinda down the last few days. While I was wasting time going through some old photos (to use my scanner) I found these old pictures of a family camping trip. I don't remember where or when it was (Utah obviously) - the thing I remember was the rafting trip that some of the ladies took. This is us leaving the campsite.

We were having a great time laughing and talking while we floated along - I know somewhere along the way Diane mentioned that she needed to go to the bathroom (because Diane always has to go to the bathroom!). Anyway, it got to the point where she was in some kind of tortured state because she was actually sitting in water, hearing the water and feeling the water and having to go very bad - well let's just say she finally just had to "let it go". We laughed so hard, so thoroughly and so completely that I remember feeling so...happy! This is us coming back in after our hilarious rafting experience. Look at her disgusted face. Also, check out how svelt Brandon is - nice!


Cam and Tierra occupying themselves at the campsite.

Later on at the campfire. Doesn't Odie look a lot like Abby?

Cory mesmerized by the fire (why do men love fire so much?).

It was a happy fun time as you can see by all of our faces. We need another family trip (one where we actually get to come). Remembering this rafting trip really perked me up. Thanks Diane!

"Viewings"

Last Sunday I was in Utah at a family member's viewing. I wasn't able to stay for the actual funeral, which I am sad about. I have mixed feelings about "viewings". On one hand it is nice for the immediate family to feel the support of friends and family, to visit and hug as each comes to pay their last respects. On the other hand it is completely morbid! There is a dead person laying there right as people are talking! The person is so obviously NOT there in the body, which makes it even more creepy. It is amazing how much a person's personality, their animation or their soul is evident in their looks. So much so, that their body without those things seems vacant or hollow. Does looking at the loved ones "body" in death make that death easier to accept, does it help with healing or closure? How did we arrive at this strange custom of looking at our loved ones in death? I have been thinking about these things.

Picture the Past

I have always liked this picture of Cory and Larry - for several reasons. The back says it is 1977, which means Cory is 11 and Larry is 7, maybe he just turned 8. First, I like the pajamas. Cory is wearing his Steelers pajamas. There has never been any rational reason for him to like the Steelers (he isn't from Pittsburgh and probably doesn't even know anyone who is) from such an early age - but as you can see, he did. Also, Larry is in Dallas pajamas, which are tucked in by the way (old school). I know he feels like he got the shaft from whoever bought these pajamas, poor kid (he is an avid Steeler fan too). Second, I love the expression on Cory's face - the smirk. He is enjoying himself, that's what the smirk means. He told me that he and Larry made up this football game that they are playing at the table, apparently they played it quite a bit. I also like Larry's expression - pure uninhibited joy. I have always been so impressed with the relationship between these two. There is four years age difference, but they have always enjoyed each other so much. They genuinely "like" each other, like if they weren't brothers they would still be friends. I bet this picture makes them wish they could spend more time together. I wonder if they can remember how to play this game after all these years??

Les Mis

Last weekend we went to see Les Mis - it was wonderful! "I Dreamed a Dream" has been in my head ever since - I thought you might like it in your head too. I thought Marius' voice was very dreamy!

We have had these tickets since December. We had to strong arm Cam into going with us. Last week he heard that an old baseball teammate (who quit the team to pursue his acting) was in the play - this made him slightly more interested. He ended up enjoying it, as Cory and I did.

Tagged by 3's

3 Things About Me...

3 Jobs I've Had:
1. Burger King (in Provo of all places - have you ever had to make whoppers for millions of people getting out of a football game - STRESS!)
2. Phil Kotter's State Farm Insurance
3. JC Penny

3 Places I've Lived:
1. Santa Rosa, California (born and raised)
2. Houston, Texas (current)
3. South Weber, Utah (these three are places in order of length of time)

3 Places I've Been:
1. Bath, England (these are in order of favorite places)
2. Paris, France (cause Cory and I went with friends and had a blast!)
3. Mount Rushmore (in July - fireworks displayed above the heads - awesome!)

3 Shows I Watch:
1. Friday Night Lights
2. The Amazing Race
3. Dancing with the Stars

3 Places I have been this week:
1. Kroger
2. Barbara Bush Library
3. Papa Johns Pizza

3 Places I would rather be right now:
1. Walmart
2. Eating French Toast
3. Bed

3 People I Tag:
1. Sharon
2. Angela
3. Layne

Bugging Me

This Easter themed layout is really getting on my nerves! I hope it isn't annoying anyone else as much - it will be hard to leave it till Easter.