So yesterday was kind of one of those days. First of all, it was a Monday, which is never good for anyone. Second, because Thanksgiving is next week, my kids have a short school week, which means that on Thursday morning, we are leaving the first real family vacation (like where we’re not shoehorned into someone’s spare bedroom/couch) we’ve taken in 6 1/2 years (so pretty much my kids’ whole lives). As excited as we are to go, there is so much that needs to be done before we go. I need to make sure y’all and all your Thanksgiving needs are taken care of, my dog swiped my toast this morning while I wasn’t watching and then decided to un-house-train herself, my house is a disaster, my children didn’t go to bed until 9:30 last night because we were watching the last Harry Potter movie, meaning this morning, my daughter had the horrible realization that she couldn’t eat her breakfast because she didn’t like the length of her pants.
One of the things on my to-do list was to bake with my kids. I’m participating in the Foodbuzz Tastemakers Program and we were provided with some Nestle products to help us get bake-y in the kitchen. I had visions of these chocolate chip cookies, or these chocolate chip cookies, or these toffee chocolate chip cookies, or chocolate chip cookie pie. But first, I needed to work on the posts that are going up while I’m on vacation. Turns out my little girl wanted to help…
(please excuse her less-than-model-perfect hair–again, one of those days. Also, I’m not a neglectful mother, it really is warm enough outside for tank tops and shoelessness).
As much as I was trying to hurry things along, she reaaaaally wanted to help measure and pour.
I was stressing out. I may have kind of yelled. See that dusty mess on the table? Imagine that all over my house.
Then we picked up my little boy from the bus stop. And he had had a really bad day. By the time we had settled the fact that math isn’t the biggest deal in the world, we had time for cookies, but I knew it was going to be stressful and I really wanted to not be mad and yell-y while we were doing it. Enter…refrigerated cookie dough. Believe me, when the cookies matter, I’m a 100% believer in homemade cookie dough. But when memories and quality time matter and time’s short? Refrigerated cookie dough all the way, baby.
See where we’re going with this? Pizzookies, anyone?
By the time we scooped ice cream…
and drizzled chocolate and caramel sauce…
all was forgotten. I even forgot about the pretzel dust all over my dining room, especially when I realized that my little girl helping me crush and measure them was the whole point–baking up love and memories. Even if it was messier and took 3 times as long, it was so much more fun to have my little helper in there with me rather than doing it all by myself. Sappy enough for you? Go brine yourself a turkey and you’ll feel better, I promise… 🙂
Disclaimer: Nestle provided me with chocolate chips and cookie dough, but the opinions and memories are all miiiiine.
Questions & Reviews
Wow I’ve never seen cookie dough baked like that before- what a great idea! How long does it usually take to cook?
Into every life, some pretzel dust must fall. 🙂
Ohhhh! Do I see a pretzel crusted cheesecake/jello dessert in our future? I hope so 🙂
My most favorite thing about you and Sara are how human you are! I love hearing about whatever life brings you and how you make it through. You brighten my day with laughter and joy plus amazing recipes and food. Thanks for being human and not lying that every day is perfect day with you and your kids and always having a clean house. You and Sara are amazing!
You are awesome! You have singlehandedly removed the guilt from the roll of refrigerated cookie dough and replaced it with joy and fun. Your words and actions have put smiles on the faces of two cute kids. And all of this from a cooking blog? It don’t git inny bettern’ this!
I love that you a human and have some of the same frustrations that can turn into a learning to love it moments! I am going to have to try this with my little helper.
I’m a firm believer in letting the helpers help even though it will take 3 times the time you can do it. remember it’s your love of cooking you’re teaching. The kids will remember Yes even teens.
So the pretzels in the chocolate chip cookies? Wasn’t that yummy? I saw a recipe in one of the murder mysteries that I like to read (Joanne Fluke is the author and they are all based on FOOD and include RECIPES) and tried it. Yummy…
So true, I was so extremely stressed out after our last mini vacation-not even a full one! 4 kids on a 9 hour trip = wanting to pull my freaking hair out!! All’s well that ends well though, right? It’ll be great! Cookies make everything better! 🙂
Yeah, this is why I’ve decided it’s unrealistic to want more than the one kid I’ve got. She’s not even 2 and has such strong opinions that I can’t imagine how much worse it’s going to get.
Made me wish I could have been there to help you!
You are awesome! Have a great vacay. You deserve it, clearly!
You mean you have days that are better than hair-is-passable and house-is-a-disaster? That’s like, every day for me. The Saturday that we get around to cleaning the kitchen floor is a once a semester deal, just about.
When your little girl is getting married – I hope you will use these pictures and make a favorite recipes from home scrapbook!
What great pics! Love your sunny yellow kitchen, your adorable barefoot daughter, and your sweet son, whose haircut makes him look like a nice young man! You’re a good Mom…..the smiles on your kids faces prove it!
Since we never eat a whole batch of cookies ourselves, I always freeze about half the dough. Perfect for the quick times when a tube of refrigerated dough would be handy. Enjoy your trip!
I always want to make cookies with my little ones in the kitchen, but I also get so stressed out… Thanks for the tip on the refrigerator cookie dough!! I’m definately gonna do that this week! I’ll save the more difficult ones for just Mom time 🙂
When we go with the kids, it’s a trip. When we go without the kids, it’s a vacation. Have a great trip! 🙂
So true!
I love your post…we all have bad days and we can make them better. I love that you aren’t afraid to share your bad days (oh, and that you yell occasionally!), it just makes you that much more relatable. Thanks!
Enjoy your vacation! 🙂
I love refrigerated cookie dough…but I still make my own (I like cinnamon in my chocolate chip cookies and it’s just easier to make my own and roll it up and freeze it!). Plus when I just need a little taste of cookie I take it out of the freezer, cut off a chunk, and enjoy 🙂
And I had to laugh when you said to forgive the not-a-model hair style…she looks like a happy kid, that’s about as model-y as a child should be!! And I work at a daycare…if one 3 year old is hard enough to cook with, try 12!! You come up with A LOT of little jobs haha!!
Adorable! Makes me wonder about some of the opportunities I may have missed, because I shoo’ed my kids out of the kitchen, because I had to do it “my way”
This makes me feel better. Instead og making sugar cookies from scratch or ginger bread cookies like I did two years ago with 4 kiddos, I’ll do this with my six I have now and my five month pregnant body. I want to make memories but want it to be perfect and I just can’t do it! Refrigerator cookie dough is just what I need. Thank you for making me to feel less guilt!!!!!
We nearly made Pizzookies last night, but decided that eating the caramel apples we’d made that afternoon was dessert enough (we’ve made the apples four times since Sara posted them last month…can’t get enough!).
Have a blast with Mickey and friends!
Yes, I baked cookies with my 4-year-old yesterday. I had to keep repeating in my head, “Keep this FUN and relax” as she wanted to measure everything. So…making cookies took basically FOREVER, but she loved it. I managed to relax, but yes–a lot of cleaning up afterwards!
I feel ya! And we totally watched the last Harry Potter last night too! Now I’m exhausted :0)
Wait. What were you doing with the pretzels?
It was for an upcoming post–stay tuned! 🙂
I seriously love this post because it makes me feel better that I get frustrated in the kitchen with my kids too. They love to help me, but they’re only 3 and 21 months. Sometimes I just don’t have the patience for it, but I LOVE them helping me most of the time.
Having been there-done that, I can guarantee that years from now you will not remember the pretzel dust or messy house and neither will the kids; but none of you will ever forget the memories you make. While it is a little cliche’ all you really get to keep is the memories you make. Someday, when you see your kids doing these things with their kids, you will see what it is that really has an impact on them. Time goes by quickly – savor it!
I’ve always told my husband that men and women have total different perceptions of vacation. Before…after…and even DURING is SO. MUCH. WORK!! I hope you take a vacation from vacation when you get home!!
I’ve determined vacations are only vacations when the kids aren’t there!! 😉 Love them, but love a break!
So sorry to hear you had one of THOSE mornings! I can totally relate;). LOVE the cookie dough dessert! YUMMY! I will have to make that very soon. THX! Have a wonderful vaca!