Meet Brenda's Table!

Here's Brenda then and now!

Brenda is in 2/4 MOPS and this is her third year as a DGL.  She has three kids.

Do you have any funny stories from motherhood?

When we go camping sometimes we are a little lax on bathroom etiquette and allow our little boys to go potty behind a tree. Especially when they were newly potty trained and we had to remind them to go often. Who wants to trek to the outhouse half a mile away, right?  Such was the case on a camping trip with five other families a couple of years ago when one of our boys decided he had to go. He ran up to a tree a little way from our campsite, but where everyone could see him, and proceeded to pee on the tree. We thought it was pretty funny until he turned around and dropped trou. Before we could stop him he was squatting down to do his other business. Horrified, we quickly found something for him to wipe with and then cleaned up his mess. After a little embarrassment and a few laughs we explained to our boys that there are some times that you have to make the trek to the outhouse.

Meet her table!

not pictured: Kelsy and Becca

Each person was asked this question:

If you could be any TV mom for a day, who would it be?

BRENDA: Caroline Ingalls because I'd love to be a pioneer for a day.

MENTOR MOM-DEBI: Carol Brady because she always stayed calm in the chaos.

BRIANNE: Carol Brady

DEBBIE: Caroline Ingalls

ANNE: Clair Huxtable from the Cosby's

BECCA: Carol Brady...because she has Alice!

HOLLY: Lorelai Gilmore

KELSY

Thanks for sharing your table with us, Brenda!

Chocolate Truffle Cookies with Sea Salt

by Brenda

Ingredients

1 ½ cups (8 oz.) Ghirardelli® 60% Cacao Baking Chips, for melting into the cookie dough

1/3 cup Ghirardelli® 60% Cacao Baking Chips, for mixing into the prepared cookie dough

¼ cup all purpose flour

¼ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 eggs

½ cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2-3 tablespoons coarse sea salt

Preparation

In a heatproof bowl over a double boiler, melt chocolate and butter until smooth. Turn off the stove and let chocolate sit over warm water.

Combine flour, baking powder and salt and mix to combine. 

In another bowl, mix together sugar and eggs, combine thoroughly with a whisk and slowly add the warm chocolate mixture. Stir to combine.

Add vanilla extract and mix. Stir in flour mixture. Cool for a few minutes (if batter is warm, chocolate chips will melt). Stir in chocolate chips. Chill for 10-15 minutes.

Pre-heat oven to 350º. Scoop rounded tablespoons of batter and place on baking tray. Sprinkle each cookie lightly with a pinch of sea salt. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 7-8 minutes until the outside looks slightly cracked.

Be very careful not to over bake cookies because they will continue to bake as they cool once removed from the oven. Cookies should be soft and gooey in the center.

For a chunky and different twist add one of the following:
     o ¾ cup toasted pecans or pistachios
     o ¼ cup chopped candied ginger
     o 1/3 cup sweetened coconut 

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Chocolate-Truffle-Cookies-with-Sea-Salt-368131