sandbakkelse - norwegian almond butter cookies

Ok, I want to warn you right now...  when I say butter cookies, I mean butter cookies.  This recipe is chock full of butter.  One whole pound to be exact!  But don't be scared...  these are so worth every bit of that butter!

This is a traditional norwegian cookie recipe that my grandma has made for years.  In some places these are made in special molds, like little tart shells, but for ease and simplicity sake, my grandma makes them as regular cookies...  and I think they are perfect!

You really can't beat these with a big hot mug of coffee...  And I like to add the red sugar sprinkles around the holidays for a little festivity!

Sandbakkelse Recipe

Ingredients:
2 cups butter
2 cups sugar
1 large egg
1 tablespoon almond extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
5 cups + 2 tablespoons flour
colored sugar sprinkles, optional

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375ºF.

Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in the egg, almond extract and salt until well blended.  Mix in the flour, until you have a smooth, well-mixed dough.

Scoop the dough out onto parchment-lined baking sheets.  Flatten with a fork dipped in water and sprinkle with colored sugar, if using.

Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are just barely golden brown.  Remove to a cooling rack to cool completely before storing in Tupperware in the freezer (if they don't all get eaten right away, that is!).

40 weeks...

...have come and gone.  Yet you're still cuddled inside me, sweet boy.

When will you make your grand entrance into this world?  When will you come out of your safe little cocoon and join this family that is waiting so patiently to meet you?

When will I get to hold you in my arms and cuddle you and smell your sweet baby smell??

I love you so much, my son.  I am so grateful for this time we have had together... the months that you have been all mine, safe and protected from this often harsh outside world.

But I am also so ready for you to come out.  You are running out of room, and I am ready to hold you, and kiss you, and to introduce you to the world!

Come out, come out from inside sweet boy!  We love you and can't wait to meet you!!

jalapeño popper dip

I love jalapeño poppers, so when I saw this recipe -  I knew immediately that it would become a favorite!

Boy was I right...  creamy, cheesy, much less messy than poppers... and so perfect with chips!

I have been known to eat this dip as a meal.  And it has happened more than once!

If you like jalapeño poppers, try this dip!

Oh and try this Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese too!  Oh my.

Jalapeño Popper Dip Recipe
adapted from babskitchen

Ingredients:
2 (8oz) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup mayo
1 (4oz) can diced green chiles
6 fresh jalapeño peppers, seeded and finely chopped (or 1/4 cup jarred jalapeños, rinsed & chopped)
1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup panko bread crumbs

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400ºF.  In a medium bowl, stir together the cream cheese, sour cream and mayo until smooth.  Stir in the chiles and peppers until mixed.

Spread the mixture into a baking dish.  In a small bowl, stir together the parmesan cheese and bread crumbs.  Sprinkle this mixture on top of the spread in the dish.

Bake for 20 minutes, or until the cheese mixture is heated through and bubbly.  If you'd like, at the end, turn on the broiler to brown the top a bit more!

Serve with lots of tortilla chips!

(Oh, and this only tastes better the next day...  you could throw it together the day before you wanted to heat it up and it will be amazing!  Or, you can bake it up and eat some and then stick it back in the oven the next day...  either way it is delicious!)