Simply The Cox's: November 2010

Friday, November 12, 2010

What's the Daily Today?

So if you a reader of my little blog than you know that for awhile I was featuring a new blog everyday! As much as I enjoy doing that, my time just doesn't allow for me to do a feature everyday, so I will be doing one every week!

I LOVE letting y'all know about new blogs, they can lead to other blogs, and some great ideas! Now if you are a reader of my blog, then you should notice that I re-designed it! Yes, I know it's a bit early for the whole Christmas background, but I just couldn't wait any longer!!!

So, you are asking yourself, those are just the cutest pictures of her family, and where did she have them done??? Well it's your lucky day, because I am featuring the photographer that took our family pictures today!

Her name is Britni Call and she is the owner of Delightful Dimples!!! She has amazing talent and is great with people, and kids!!! She lives in New Braunfels, and does work in Hill Country area as well as the Gilmer area!!!

She is very reasonable and I recommend her to anyone! So look her up, give her a call, send her an email, and setup your photo shoot, before it's too late! Remember Christmas is right around the corner, and pictures ALWAYS make the perfect gift!

And don't forget to tell her I sent you her way!

*If you would like for your blog to be featured on "What's The Daily Today?" then please send me an email: tlcox4@gmail.com*

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Oreo Cupcakes

I found a recipe online a few months back for Oreo Cupcakes, My kids (including my husband) LOVE Oreo cookies, I on the other hand not a big fan, so I tried this new recipe out, I'm told they were A-mazing!

As always when I blog about food, I leave you with a recipe to go along with it, so here it is, and here is the blog where I found this yummy recipe, Annie's Eats!

Cookies and Cream Cupcakes

Yield: 24 cupcakes

Ingredients:
For the cupcakes:
24 Oreo halves, with cream filling attached
2¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
8 tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 2/3 cup sugar
3 large egg whites, at room temperature
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup milk
20 Oreo cookies, coarsely chopped (I quarter them)

For the frosting:
8 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
6 tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 tbsp. vanilla extract
4 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
2 tbsp. heavy cream

For garnish:
Oreo cookie crumbs
24 Oreo cookie halves

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Line the wells of two cupcake pans with 24 paper liners. Place an Oreo halve in the bottom of each liner, cream side up. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt; stir together with a fork to blend and set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the butter and sugar and beat together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Blend in the egg whites one at a time, beating well after each addition. Blend in the vanilla extract. With the mixer on low speed, beat in half of the dry ingredients just until incorporated. Add the milk and beat just until combined, then mix in the remaining dry ingredients. Gently fold in the chopped Oreos with a rubber spatula until evenly incorporated, being careful not to over-mix.

Evenly divide the batter between the prepared cupcake liners. Bake for 18-20 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through baking, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pans 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

To make the frosting, combine the cream cheese and butter in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat on medium-high speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Blend in the vanilla extract. Beat in the confectioners’ sugar until incorporated and smooth, 1-2 minutes. Add the heavy cream to the bowl and beat on medium-low speed just until incorporated, then increase the speed to medium-high and whip for 4 minutes until light and fluffy, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.

Frost the cooled cupcakes as desired. Sprinkle with Oreo crumbs and garnish with Oreo halves.

Family Pictures

Back in mid October, my mom paid for all 17 of us to have family pictures done, a sweet friend of ours from church, just happens to take the most amazing pictures EVER, check her out at Delightful Dimples and set up a photo shoot with her!

We had 2 hours to work with for a group shot of 17 people and then to break down into 5 families, that's a lot to process, but not to worry, Britni was there! She was awesome at getting great pictures and working with the time frame we had.

We will always be getting our family pictures done from her!

Enjoy a few of my favorites, and these are just a few, there are seriously about a 100 that I LOVE!

Mommy couldn't get her as high as daddy could

I love the walking away, but yet looking at each other

The only picture of my brothers and I as adults

This is so sweet, and if you look real close you can see a tear on his eyelash

I told ya Daddy could throw her higher

Mommy and her precious daughter!

From time to time, I can get him to kiss me in public

We are meant for each other!

My ALL time favorite of him and I, and he HATES this picture!!!

My wonderful family!

Piano

Every Friday almost without fail we head over to our Oma's house in San Antonio, for Piano lessons, it's one of the kids favorite thing to do, they get a quarter and cookie and we get a yummy lunch.

I have started with the lessons also, and am really enjoying it very much! Roughly 2 weeks ago my kiddos made me have a mini photo shoot, so enjoy there silliness!

Halloween Pumpkin

We carved a super cool pumpkin for the kiddos, I de-gut and Clayton does the carving! We make a great team!

Halloween Dress

I know I am way behind on the blogging, I am going to try and get better!

For the Holidays I try to make Madison a pillow case dress, I don't always get one made, but most of the time I do, so here is her Halloween one!!!