On The Menu: Brown Butter Cookies

I know here we are in January which means that everyone is trying to eat healthier and I am right there with you but during the winter I love spending time in the kitchen. Which means whenever I have free time I am trying new recipes and returning to long time favorites. I almost never bake these cookies but they are my mom's favorite and she made numerous requests for a batch of these over the holidays. They are rich, decadent, and so delicious.

A lot of people get intimidated by the process of browning butter. I do not know how much people have requested this recipe from me after trying the cookies only to later to tell me they failed because they burned the butter. Browning butter takes a little time. I always keep the heat on medium-low and constantly stir the butter until it has a light nutty brown color. After the butter is melted the browning process takes about 10 minutes. I promise this brown butter cookies recipe is very easy to make once you master the butter browning process.

Ingredients:
2 cups butter
2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup chopped pecans
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
5-6 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup hot water

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Heat butter over medium heat for about 10 minutes, until it turns nut brown in color. The foaming and bubbling is part of the browning process, but watch it carefully so that you don't burn the butter. Remove from heat, and cool slightly. Reserve 1/2 cup of the butter for the frosting.
3. Pour remaining browned butter into a large mixing bowl. Beat browned butter with brown sugar until the butter is no longer hot. Mix in eggs, 2 teaspoons vanilla, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Beat thoroughly. Mix in flour and chopped pecans.
4. Drop tablespoons of dough onto ungreased baking sheets.
5. Bake for 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until light brown around the edges. Allow cookies to cool on wire racks. 6. In a medium bowl, mix the reserved 1/2 cup browned butter with 2 teaspoons vanilla, confectioners' sugar, and hot water. Beat until smooth, and use to frost cooled cookies.

Stylish For Less: 15 Sweaters Under $100

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I am someone who expects a white Christmas or at least a Christmas that calls for roaring fireplaces, hot chocolate, and bundling up. I couldn't have been more disappointed over the holiday season when the temperatures where nearing 70 degrees every single day. I love sweaters and they are likely one of the items of clothing I own the most of. We are finally experiencing some winter weather and I have pulled all of my sweaters from the back of my closet and have been constantly rotating them so I can wear as many as possible during this cooler weather. Above are 15 of my favorite stylish for less sweaters all under $100.

Rain Rain Go Away

Faux Fur Trimmed Hooded Parka - Quilted Jacket - Red Trench Coat
Burberry Hooded Trench - Camel Parka - Burberry Trench Coat

The only thing that would have made this Christmas better would have been snow. I always dream of a white Christmas. A chill in the air and fluffy, white snow covering the land just make it look more like Christmas. I find snow to be beautiful and graceful. I love a good snowy day so that I can feel content all snuggled up in a blanket, sipping hot chocolate, and having a movie marathon with friends and siblings. This Winter the only bad weather we have been having is rain.
It hasn't even been cold! Honestly there have been many days when you can comfortably venture out and about in a short sleeved tee. It has constantly been raining here though, which means everyone is pulling a raincoat from their closet. Raincoats are getting a lot of use here right now. I love all of the raincoats above. They would definitely be perfect for the weather we are having right now. My favorite would have to be this one. I love the details and the color. It is sophisticated and chic. What about you? Which one is your favorite? Have you been having a snowy Winter?

Chit Chat: A New Job

I have news that I am so excited about to share. I have a new job!

Since graduating law school I have been unhappy with my job situation. I cannot even begin to count the number of hours and days that I have spent worrying and crying because I was just plain unhappy. I tried numerous times to approach my former employer about my position and in hopes of creating some plan that would make me feel better about my job. After many discussions, my boss made it clear that she was very happy with how things were and that she had no intentions of anything ever changing.

Knowing that there was no way for me to grow in my job, for me to be happier, or for my position to improve I knew I needed to make a change. I kick started a job search a very long time ago and let me tell you it was hard. For months and months I felt like a complete failure that no one wanted. I sent out dozens of resumes, tried to look at it from every angle possible, approached everyone I knew and many people I didn't and absolutely nothing came from it.

I had largely given up. I felt hopeless and had really began to believe that I was completely stuck where I was. Then less than a month ago the secretary for an attorney that I had tried to get to meet with me for months called on a Friday afternoon. She said her boss asked her to call me to find out if I knew any attorneys looking for a job. I immediately replied, "Me!" After asking if I was serious she asked a few other questions and said she would pass the information on to her boss. The next Monday she called and asked me to come to their office that day. When I arrived at their office they began immediately telling me what I would be responsible for at their office, the office schedule, and we discussed pay. It was also decided that on December 18th I would give my two weeks notice.

Today marks my seventh day at my new job. Maybe it is the newest of it but I am happy and excited. I have been told that there are many possibilities for growth here and that is what I want. I want the opportunity to grow, to be successful, and to always improve. This new job serves as a reminder that if you work hard and are kind great things will happen.

P.S. This is a little freaky but when I visited a psychic over the summer she told me I would get a new job opportunity in December!

image via: The Everygirl