Cookie Cake

One of the girls at the office was recently promoted to a management position. We love to get giant cookies from the Cookie Jar. While Ed does a fantastic job and always adds extra frosting per our request, I decided I could try my hand at making a giant cookie cake. After all...how hard could it be?



I found a recipe online, used the mini-chocolate chips and found a pretty silver platter that my mom had to put it on.



I took the cookie from the oven and I could tell it was going to be delicious!



I waited for the cookie to cool for about 15 minutes. The tricky part was going to be transferring this giant cookie from the baking sheet to the silver platter. I took a regular plate and placed it upside down on top of the cookie. Then I held the two together and flipped it over. Next, I was going to remove the caking sheet.



Most of the cookie came free from the baking sheet, but in the center, there was some sticking. I scraped off what I could, then decided it wouldn't make much of a difference, since this was going to be the bottom and it would be hidden.



Next, I took the silver platter and placed it on top of the upside down cookie. I flipped them again. Here is the result of said flipping...





Oh...and don't worry....my Dad helped himself to some of the cookie...it was very tasty!

First Trip to Starbucks and the Pseudo-Thermos

One of my good friends will be celebrating her birthday on Monday and as I have been fortunate enough to be invited to a party honoring such an occasion, I decided to venture over to Bloomington and stop by Starbucks, as I have heard her describe in full detail how yummy the drinks are there.

Now when it comes to Starbucks and anything coffee, I am completely inexperienced. My parents are not coffee drinkers, and the only time was around coffee was at my grandparents house. While I enjoy the aroma, I have never indulged in coffee (except for one chocolate covered coffee bean some deviant slipped me once).

Anyway, knowing that this birthday was coming up, I have tried to pay close attention to my friend when she orders her coffee .. .. .. or is it a latte .. .. .. or an espresso .. .. .. cappuccino .. .. .. ? .. .. .. I just don't know. I thought I would just march into Starbucks and be able to quickly snatch something up that she would fall in love with. Little did I know what was in store for me.

I headed into Starbucks and was immediately overwhelmed. I began to look around. There was QUITE a variety! I have no idea what the difference is between Berundi Kayanza and Cafe Estima or the Anniversary Blend and the House Blend. Nor do I have any idea how robust some of this coffee is going to turn out to be. Extra bold? Medium? Is there just a regular or average type? Is mild to bland?

And look at how many things you can add to your coffee! Not just cream and sugar, but cinnamon, vanilla, caramel, milk, syrup .. .. .. WOW! The list seems endless. And how can I put this all together into a nice gift basket?

I have walked so many circles around the coffee products and espresso machines that people are beginning to stare at me. I am still clueless, so I decide to go with a gift card and maybe I can locate something over in the gift area where there are some teas, a selection of CDs and a variety of mugs and insulated cups.

I spot a very pretty stainless steel thermos that had some pretty blue designs on it with a blue cap. Not only does it look good, it bares the Ethos Water logo, which means I am helping people in Africa, Asia and Latin America to have clean drinking water. I decide to stick with the thermos and a gift card. I grab my thermos and stand in line. There are three people ahead of me. A few minutes go by, and now there are two people ahead of me, then one. Finally I realize that I am in the wrong line! I am standing in the line for people to pick up their drinks because they have already ordered and paid for them in the OTHER line! Ooohh!

To avoid any further embarrassment, I return to the section of music for sale. Then I nonchalantly head over to the correct line, or so I thought. A man behind the counter asks if he can help me. I say yes, "I would like to purchase this thermos and get a gift card." He proceeds to tell me that he does not have a cash register and the woman to his left (my right) will have to assist him.

Well fine then. Apparently, the cash register he is standing in front of is not on. So I tell her what I need and she completes my purchase. As I return to my car, I can tell that I now reek of coffee! While this is not necessarily a bad thing, I would prefer to evoke a more pleasant, flowery, soft, lady-like scent.

Thankfully, all of my shopping is complete and I can head home.

After changing into a new outfit, I open up my purchase and begin to wrap up my gift. Upon further inspection, I find a piece of paper inside this thermos and it includes the following:

Caution: Not to be used with hot liquids.

What!?!? How can this be?

Apparently, this is actually a water bottle.

So much for my "coffee-themed" birthday gift.

Pseudo-thermos!