Oct 20, 2012

Chai Pumpkin Spice Cookies

Fall is one of my favorite times for baking. There is something about the temperature dropping and the leaves changing that makes me want to stay inside and make tasty treats. I found this recipe on Pinterest last year but it was after the season, so the pumpkin spice kisses were no longer available. As soon as I saw them in the stores this year (like the first week of September) I bought a few bags knowing that I would make these cookies.

The cookies are not too sweet and have just the right amount of chai. They go perfect with a cup of coffee and a good book.

The recipe is from here:


Ingredients

½ cups Unsalted Butter, Softened
½ cups Sugar
1 whole Egg
¼ cups Chai Concentrate
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1-¾ cup Flour
½ teaspoons Baking Soda
⅛ teaspoons Salt
⅛ teaspoons Chai Spice Mix
1 bag (10 Oz. Size) Hershey's Pumpkin Spice Kisses

Baking Directions



Combine the butter and sugar in the bowl of your stand mixer and cream at medium speed until fluffy, or with a hand mixer, for about 2-3 minutes. Add the egg, chai concentrate, and the vanilla; mix until combined. Add the flour, baking soda, and salt, scraping down the sides of the mixing bowl as necessary. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Using your hands, roll the dough into 22 to 24 1-inch round balls. Place the dough balls on parchment paper-lined baking sheets and sprinkle chai spice mix lightly over cookies.

Bake the cookies for 12-15 minutes. Meanwhile, unwrap kisses.

Remove the cookies from the oven and immediately place pumpkin kisses in the center of each cookie. Don’t touch or the kisses will turn into puddles! Cool completely.

I really enjoyed this recipe and I plan on making another batch of these cookies to share at some of my fall festivities. Leave a comment if you try making them or have tried them before!

XO
Kirsten


Oct 3, 2012

Life Update

Wow Summer is gone and it certainly flew by! I have not posted in quite a while so I thought I would do a little update on what has happened over Summer via Insta. So here we go!




















Pool Parties--some one was a little tired...



Late night beer on the patio...



AOII 100 Year @ TAU


Updated my work decor and tablet...



Celebrated my Birthday!



And now I am totally ready for Halloween!

Hopefully I will keep up to date with this blog now that I won't be out late on patios and having pool parties any more... oh Fall!

Also, I moved out of uptown, but I don't know what I would change my blog name to? Kirsten living? Haha let me know if you have any ideas!

XO
Kirsten


Jun 22, 2012

Instagram Lately

Here's a glimpse into what I've been up to lately :)


Balloon for my 1 year at the agency! Can't believe its already been this long!


Neons! Hanging out at the Dudley in Brooklyn Center watching my guy friends play ball!


Pandas on my desk! Little reminders of AOII all day at work :)


Breakfast on Wednesdays at work is one of my favorite parts of the week!


Lilly Pulitzer animal crackers--classic! Bought from FLEET FARM! Who would have thought you could get Lilly there!

Wow I didn't realize how all my posts are basically from work--I need to start taking pictures when I am out and about!

On that note--I will try to do that this weekend!
Happy Friday!

xo
Kirsten

Jun 20, 2012

Cake Pops!

This past weekend on Father's Day, my dad requested that I make these little gems. Ooey gooey delicousness!

The cake pops were super easy to make and were kind of fun--you get a little down and dirty in the mixture. Plus they were fun to decorate and put together. The recipe is from Duncan Hines and the link is down below. Enjoy!




Recipe Here

Jun 15, 2012

Cutest Proposal!

I am such a sucker for adorable things! This proposal is so cute! I would never think of something like this! Happy Friday!! :)


xo
Kirsten

Apr 16, 2012

Make It Count


I came across this ad for Nike last week and thought it was really unique. These two guys spent all the money for the ad traveling the world and created this video to show how they "make it count". I love their choice of quotes to coincide with what is going on. Also, I like the the fast pace of the entire feature.

It already has over 3 million hits since it was put up last week. Pretty amazing!




Apr 9, 2012

Happy Thanks-Easter

Over the weekend I got the opportunity to spend time with my family. Its rare that we are all together and able to go out for dinner or be at home in the same room. We colored Easter eggs, had Broadway Pizza and played pull tabs. And we enjoyed Easter dinner and Angel Food Cake. Yum.

My brother referred to the holiday as Thanksgiving at one point which got me thinking--this is a great time to give thanks for your life. The Easter holiday is to remind everyone that God gave his son for your eternal life, so why not be thankful for that?

So I really thought about it and what I am thankful for. I am very thankful that I am finally on my own, living in a little apartment, paying for all my own things and not relying on parents or anyone else. I am thankful for all the great friends I have in my life. Without them I don't think I would be the person I am today. I am thankful for the time I have spent alone in the last year. I have honestly learned so much about myself and become confident and strong. I know what I want and I am so thankful that I am happy with who I am.

What are you thankful for?

Here's a look at some of the Easter festivities :)

Our "Neon" food coloring egg dye

Colorful Eggs--How did this tradition even start?

Yes, I still get an Easter Basket. And Yes, I still eat almost all the candy the day I get it.
  
Blaze "helping" me eat the candy. Naughty kitten.

Angel Food Cake with home made pink fluffy frosting.
Funfetti for the perfect Easter treat. 

I just love holidays. 

XO Kirsten