Happy Anniversary To...

...My blog!!  Today is the one year anniversary of this silly little random outpouring of my life!

New look to the blog, since the Christmas decor needed to come down.  I did love that Christmas background, and could have persuaded myself to keep it until at least Spring, but figured this was a good occasion to give it a little fresh make-up!

So what does one do to celebrate an anniversary like this?  I have no idea.  It just occurred to me this evening, otherwise I would have prepared something dynamic and interesting.

Instead, I have a whole lot of not much to offer.  Let's see...maybe I'll give some random updates of frequent topics from the past year.

It all began with a discussion of r.a.t.s.  I still can't bring myself to say it.  If you must, you can refresh your memory here.  Or not.   But the update is all happy!  We are still thoroughly excluding those things, thanks to the exclusion work done by "to NASA standards" by Brad.  We have our regular check-up in a couple weeks...I expect nothing but continued happy news!

I also talk a lot about food and recipes.  I continue to love both!  Not sure if I'll keep up with the Monday Menu or not, can't quite decide that.  But it has been a great way to document a huge amount of great recipes into one place!

And the running...it's a work in progress!  But, at least there is progress.  I am totally out of my boot, and hoping my doctor is happy about that when I see him in a couple weeks.  I am back on the bike trying to regain some degree of fitness.  Oh, it left me so very quickly.  It fled like Jack Bauer was chasing it down a dark alley, in fact.  But I'm now chasing it back.  I even got on my treadmill on New Year's Day since the gym was closed.  I mostly walked, but I did break into a run for only 4 minutes, just out of curiosity.  It felt...great and pathetic all at the same time.  Great to feel a stride, pathetic to feel all the shaking goin' on.  But I'm thankful, thankful, thankful that my foot is mostly handling this well. 

And the Flashback Fridays...those have been fun.  And I'm continually making new memories today that will be tomorrow's flashbacks.  Time is slipping by so quickly.  Again, not sure if I will keep this going or not.  It's hard to make any of those decisions at the end of this winter break.  Everything feels a bit out of sorts.  I am ready for school tomorrow just so that the routine can hit its groove.  I love the sleeping in and loose schedules, but now I'm ready for routine again.

So, I literally have nothing more exciting to offer today!  My mind is as empty as my sugar canister.  Hopefully after some grocery shopping tomorrow both will be refilled and ready for the new year!

Can you handle on recipe in celebration of this anniversary?  I mean, how could I not?  In honor of the name of the blog, I give you a replay of my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe.  Remember to stop and smell the bag of chocolate chips when you make these.  It's winter.  There are no roses.  So stop and smell the chocolate chips!!

My Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie

1 cup unsalted butter
2-1/4 cups bread flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 cup sugar
1-1/4 cups brown sugar
1 egg
1 egg yolk
2 TBSP milk
1-1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups chocolate chips

Melt butter. Add the sugar and brown sugar. Cream with mixer on medium speed. Add egg, egg yolk, milk and vanilla. Mix until well combined. Sift together flour, baking soda and salt. Slowly add to butter mixture until thoroughly combined. Do not over mix. Stir in chocolate chips. Chill the dough for at least 2 hours. (Dough should be very hard.) Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Scoop dough onto sheets, 6 or 8 per sheet only. (Too many on the sheet for this recipe and the heat won't circulate well enough around them to bake evenly. I tried.)

Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool on cookie sheets for 2-3 minutes, then remove onto wire racks. Let cool completely and store in an airtight container.
 
I just may have to make some of these to celebrate my little anniversary!!