food glorious food | The Angel Forever

Category Archives food glorious food

Tuesday Tales – The Cookie Dough Lover’s Cookbook

Posted on June 26, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

As a little girl, my father introduced me to the joys of cake batter. I enjoyed that, even if we were warned about the danger of raw egg. Then something else came into my world. Cookie dough was even better to me. I loved the taste, the texture, and the flexibility. I was obviously not the only one that enjoyed cookie dough, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and then others added cookie dough to their repertoire and it became an instant hit.

One year, for my birthday (before kids), I asked TechyDad for a tub of cookie dough for my cake. Skip the other items, I wanted something that really called my name. Much to my surprise, he did this. It should not be a surprise that I have a Cookie Dough World board on Pinterest.

Recently, a lot of my pins were focusing on recipes by Lindsay Landis and her new The Cookie Dough Lover’s Cookbook: Cookies, Cakes, Candies, and More. I have to admit, just looking at the beautiful photos in the book kept me happy and content. One day, TechyDad made a batch of the egg-free raw cookie dough for us to try. It was delicious and I was thrilled. Then, for our anniversary, he bought me the book.

I am definitely intrigued with a lot of the recipes. A few that sound fun to try sooner, rather than later are:

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Fudge <—Hello gift making!
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Sandwich Cookie <— Best of both worlds
Brown Sugar Cookie Dough Layer Cake
Cookie Dough Mosaic Cheesecake
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bread Pudding
Malted Cookie Dough Milkshakes
Invisible Cookie Dough Ice Pops
Cookie Dough Oatmeal Pancakes
Cookie Dough-Stuffed French Toast
Cookie Dough Crispy Treats
Cookie Dough S’Mores

If you love cookie dough, or know someone that does – this is a great gift for them. Lindsay has a great variety of treats that play on old favorites with a splash of cookie dough. Oh and FYI – you can check out other recipes and goodies on her website Love & Olive Oil.

If you love cookie dough, what would be your dream cookie dough recipe creation? As always, Tuesday Tales are all about spreading the love for books. What have you read recently? Please be sure to link up to your book posts in the comments below. Include something you read on your own, with a child, or someone else.

Disclosure: TechyDad bought our copy of The Cookie Dough Lover’s Cookbook. The opinions expressed in the review are my own. One Amazon Affiliate link is included in this post for the book mentioned. I will receive a percentage of money for the sale should you opt to buy any of the books through my links.

Categories:
books food glorious food photos TechyDad Tuesday Tales yummy

Jake and the Never Land Pirates Birthday Fun

Posted on June 11, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

What do you do when your child asks to have another birthday party with the same theme they have already done? If it is pirates in our house, I say:

I mean, it isn’t every day that you have the supporting characters from Jake and the Never Land Pirates as inspiration. Of course, this year we were lucky and they actually had party supplies. Bubbe and Grandpa found additional items near them and made the scene perfect for our little buccaneer.

JSL asked for one item to be a repeat from last year. He wanted the same pirate cupcakes that I made. I agreed to do this and brought my supplies to finish decorating before everyone arrived.

Once everyone was done eating, we pulled out some pirate crafts to keep the kids busy. First, they made pirate hats and then colored some Jack Sparrow-esque looking pirates.

While the kids played, it was time to set up the table for cupcakes, fruit, and other goodies. We had to make sure that the pirates were ready to guard the cupcakes before we called everyone over.

Then, it was time for the birthday pirate to open his presents. He got a lot of booty and really enjoyed everything from all of the family that came. I think you will see there was a mini pattern here.

Lots more to share, but we need to decompress after our pirate party fun. Right now, I am likely off battling the sneaky guy below.

Of course, Captain Hook stands no chance thanks to Jake, Izzy, Cubby, and Scully now living with us. JSL will have a fantastic time using Bucky with his new friends to battle the sneaky pirate.

We have a good chance of doing well don’t you think?

It's Me

Categories:
arts and crafts birthday Disney family food glorious food fun gift ideas jsl photos play time yummy

Preparing for Another Pirate Party

Posted on June 4, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Last year, while at the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration, my almost four year old son fell in love with Jake and the Never Land Pirates. Sure, he liked it before we left for Disney. However, dancing around with Sharky and Bones, Mr. Smee, Captain Hook, and Jake sealed the deal. When we got home, he announced that he wanted a Jake and the Never Land Pirates fourth birthday party. Unfortunately, they did not have those items to buy so we improvised with what we had on hand.

For Chanukah, we were able to get JSL some Jake and the Never Land Pirate shirts from The Disney Store. He wore this shirt under his pirate costume for the Disney Junior Swashbuckler Soiree the first evening of the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration.

His love for all things pirates continued and grew. While at Disney World for the 2012 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration, JSL declared that he wanted another pirate party. I think meeting Jake again and having him write a special birthday wish in your autograph book may have something to do with it.

For his actual birthday, we found another new Jake shirt for JSL. Then we noticed that The Disney Store had Jake and the Never Land Pirate twin sized sheets. This was perfect for the new bunk beds. In addition to that, we splurged and got him the little Jake doll to go with the theme.

Now, less than a week away from the party, we are trying to figure out how to make it different. I have new pirate crafts, found a few Jake and the Never Land Pirate party items (not enough), and will be making the cupcakes the same since JSL requested them.

If you have had a pirate party, or have ideas, I would love to know suggestions on items that we may want to add to our second. Leave comments, links, or other items that you think would be helpful. Thanks so much!

Disclosure: Although we paid for our own trip to Disney World to attend the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration, we were given an incredible deal from Disney. Also note that Disney never asked us to blog about this event. As a long time Disney fan, it is my pleasure to share my experiences from the event.

Categories:
arts and crafts birthday brothers decisions Disney DisneySMMoms food glorious food fun jsl photos travel vacation yummy

Disney Cast Member Magic

Posted on May 21, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

When you immerse yourself into the world of Walt Disney World, you quickly realize that part of the magic is thanks to the amazing Cast Members. Yes, I said Cast Members, not employees. As a member of the Disney production team, all individuals that work within the Disney umbrella are referred to as Cast Members (CMs in Disney lingo).

On our last visit to Walt Disney World, I wish I had gotten the name of several of the CMs that went far above and beyond what they needed to do. There was the CM in Mouse Keeping that arranged special friends and left us nightly surprises in our room.

Luckily, we did keep track of a few names to make sure to recognize them.

Kimmy from Garden Grove, CA was the CM at Beaches and Cream that had the entire place sing Happy Birthday to JSL. He was so surprised since he thought the flashing lights were to present another Kitchen Sink at a table.

Countless CMs were involved in helping us through an emergency and then they left some Pixie Dust one evening. It was completely uncalled for, but very much appreciated. After taking the photo below, Papa and I walked down to the front desk to thank them and get names of the CMs responsible for this sweet gesture.

What I wish is that I had taken more photos of these amazing individuals that as a team made our trip even better. I have many names and will be writing to Disney to praise these individuals. Still, photos would have been nice – a face to personally thank them here on my blog.

There were also CMs that made us laugh like Steve from Wallingford, CT. Steve was our fearless Captain on The Jungle Cruise. He was absolutely amazing, keeping the kids happy and tossing in some much needed adult humor.

Another person that made me smile while I was having a rough last night was Stephani from Centerpoint, AL. While I was stressing over last minute purchases and packing at the Yacht Club Resort store, she made me laugh and smile. Suddenly, the idea for this post came into my head. I knew that I had to get a photo of this woman who had made me forget about the stresses of packing my family up to leave Walt Disney World. She laughed, but I explained that I was a blogger and there was a reason for this. She recalled the conference earlier, posed, and told me to make sure to spell her name properly.

It is because of these CMs and countless others that my family will always remember this magical trip that we had together. I will never be able to thank them enough, but hopefully by writing this and letting others share in the wonder – it will be at least something.

Do you have a magical CM tale to share? I would love to know how someone at Disney helped to make your trip even more special or went above and beyond. Let me know what this person or people did and how you thanked them.

Categories:
Conference Disney DisneySMMoms family food glorious food jsl looking back photos travel vacation yummy

Disney Junior Swashbuckler Soiree

Posted on May 17, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

From the minute we received the more detailed schedule for events of Disney Social Media Moms Celebration, something caught the attention of my children. Yes, NHL and JSL immediately noted the Swashbucker Soiree, especially after I read them this:

Ahoy matey! Aye – now this is a family dinner you won’t want to miss! Brought to you by Disney Junior, join us for a buccaneer-themed evening along the beach with live music, a treasure hunt and plenty of fun for everyone.

The boys literally jumped up and down. They guessed that Jake from Jake and the Never Land Pirates would be there and possibly others. The boys, well, they are good at guessing.

After the Cocktail Reception – Passport to the World welcome, we went out to the beach by the Beach Club Resort to meet up with our families. With one quick look, you could see we were in for an amazing pirate party!

Disney Junior handed out pirate bandanas and pirates greeted us as we walked onto the beach where a pirate band was playing music for all of us to enjoy. Then, it was time not to walk the plank because there was an amazing buffet of pirate inspired goodies for all to devour.

While the boys and Nana and Papa were eating, TechyDad and I were able to chat with some of our friends on the beach. We also caught up with head GEM (Good Enough Mother) Rene Syler and stopped for a photo. TechyDad helped the kids eat while we gabbed and gabbed with Rene and every other person I bumped into.

Of course, my little mateys had a hard time staying by their seats soon after this. You see, once they saw someone enter the area, they did not want to stay at the table. Check out who joined the party below.

Yes, that is Jake from Disney Junior’s Jake and the Never Land Pirates. When Jake came out onto the Swashbuckler Soiree scene, many of the kids (including mine) were off to participate in the fun and games. Once NHL and JSL had their photo taken with Jake and the pirate slide behind them…

They had to beware of other pirates. This colorful crew of pirate misfits were teaching the kids how to perfect their pirate pose for the camera.

Looking back on it, I wonder if they were really just trying to help and protect the kids. Soon after this, two scallywags that you may recognize showed up to join the party.

Of course, when you party like a pirate, it is important to stop to enjoy a cool ice cream treat.

This break also means that it is the perfect time for the Pirate mother to send out an Instagram or two to share photos from the fun. And for those that finish their Mickey Ice Cream sandwich early, it’s always interesting to hide your feet in the sand!

Of course, little pirates that have been up since the wee hours of the morning get tired when the sun sets. We knew that we had many more adventures ahead on Friday and beyond. While others remained to dance in the dark, we went back to our room in the Yacht Club Resort to settle the boys in for some sweet pirate dreams.

More to share and lessons learned from our time at the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration coming soon.