Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies

I'm not a huge fan of cherries...but these cookies are yummy! I made them for my Grandma's birthday because she loves Cherry Mash. I also made some with blueberries and raspberries (I just covered them in the chocolate frosting before I added the extra cherry juice). I loved the blueberry cookies....they reminded me of Harry & David's chocolate covered blueberries, which I am now craving. ha ha. enjoy!

Ingredients
1-½ cup All-purpose Flour
½ cups Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
¼ teaspoons Salt
¼ teaspoons Baking Soda
¼ teaspoons Baking Powder
½ cups Butter, Room Temperature
1 cup Granulated Sugar
1 whole Egg
1-½ teaspoon Vanilla
1 jar (10 Oz.) Maraschino Cherries, Drained, Reserve Juice
1 package (6 Oz.) Semisweet Chocolate Chips (or blocks of chocolate)
½ cups Sweetened, Condensed Milk

Instructions
-In a large bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking powder and soda. Blend well and set aside.
-In a mixing bowl, beat together butter or margarine and sugar on low speed until fluffy. Add egg and vanilla; beat well.
-Gradually add dry ingredients to the creamed mixture; beat until smooth and well blended.
-With hands, shape dough into 1-inch balls; place on an ungreased baking sheet. Press down the center of the dough with your thumb.
-Drain maraschino cherries well, reserving juice. Place a cherry in the center indention of each cookie.
-In small saucepan, combine chocolate pieces and sweetened condensed milk. Heat over low heat until chocolate is melted. Stir in 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon of the reserved cherry juice.
-Spoon about 1 teaspoon of the topping over each cherry, spreading to cover the cherry. If frosting seems too thick, thin it with a little more cherry juice.
(I was worried that I read my original recipe wrong when it told me to put the frosting on BEFORE baking. I thought it would melt and run all over. But I did as it said and it is amazing! This super-silky chocolate frosting does not melt or run anywhere! It seals in the cherry beautifully!)
-Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes, or until done. Remove to a wire rack to cool.

The best birthday gifts...

Last week I turned 28. My amazing husband took off a couple hours and took me to the Cheesecake Factory for lunch! I am so blessed by my sweet family. Everything I have ever wanted/needed, I ALREADY HAVE! My sweet Brooke will be 2 in less than a month, and my baby girls arrived healthy 2 months ago. I don't deserve such a sweet family....I'm so thankful God has blessed us in so many ways!

Currently my Favorite Muffin Recipe - Blueberry Banana Streusel

My sweet husband bought me a new camera for my birthday! I have decided to start taking pictures of all the food I make, and eventually make a picture cookbook of my favorite recipes! I thought I would post this one on my blog....SUPER easy, and SO YUMMY! Streusel topping is optional...they taste great either way!

For the muffins...
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter, room temperature
2 eggs
1 cup mashed ripe bananas (or two medium-sized bananas)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

For the Streusel topping...
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add granulated sugar and brown sugar, beating well. Add flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg; beat just until blended.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line tray with muffin cup papers.
Sift flour, baking powder, salt and sugar together with a wire whisk.
Add butter, eggs, bananas and vanilla.
Mix on low until just combined.
Fold in blueberries...batter will be thick!
Add Streusel topping to each muffin.
Bake for about 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Makes 12-15 muffins.

Since we've been home...

We are enjoying our THREE girls so much. Sure, we are sleep deprived....but SO worth all the "work"! I am still amazed that God blessed us with twin girls. They are SO sweet, and so lovable! I am trying to enjoy the little newborn stage, as I know it goes by WAY too fast. Brooke is doing a GREAT job at being a big sister. She loves on them, and needs to know where they are at all times. I hope that they will all be best friends one day!

Lily & Lauren are here!

Waiting to hear...

...one of the sweetest sounds in the world!

SO THANKFUL for 2 healthy girls

Best husband/daddy ever!

Our family of FIVE!

Big Sister Brooke with her "sissies"

She is so BIG!

Sweet girls

While all 4 of my sweeties are napping, I thought I would take a minute and update our blog! It has been a week since we welcomed our 2 little sweethearts into the world!

Lily Reese

7:33 a.m.

5 pounds, 10 ounces

18 inches

Lauren Grace

7:34 a.m.

6 pounds, 1 ounce

18 inches

What a long journey it was to get to 37 weeks! We know that we would not have made it without the love and prayers of our family and friends. We were so relieved to hear the healthy cries of 2 little baby girls. Here is a little photo journey!

(started this post about 2 weeks ago...and forgot to post it!)

Lauren & Lily Update - 34 weeks

Soon to be the Miller 5!

2 sweet little heads!

Lauren's face

Hard to see (sorry) but the fuzzy part is Lily's hair!

Little foot!

We have made it to 34 weeks! Today, the girls had their first biophysical test. They passed with flying colors. Both Lily and Lauren weighed in at 4 lbs 13 oz. WOW! We are thankful for healthy twins that are growing ahead of schedule. Delivery day is scheduled for June 10, 2010. 20 days and we will be holding our little girls!!!

God has been so good to us...we never expected to make it this far with all the complications. This has been the biggest physical and emotional trial for me personally, but I have really seen God's goodness through it all. There have been so many people who have reached out to our family, and have lifted us up in prayer on a daily basis. We are so thankful for the support we have received from our family and friends. When fears, doubts, and sadness come to mind, I remember His sovereignty and goodness. I am so thankful for a husband who is always a constant source of encouragement and love. Landon has been a true servant leader, and shown me so much love and compassion. When the physical pain gets overwhelming, I remind myself of the blessing that we are going to receive at the end of this pregnancy. I wanted to post the lyrics to a song that has been a very powerful reminder in my life. When I feel overwhelmed and discouraged, I listen to this song and it reminds me of truth

As Long As You Are Glorified

Shall I take from your hand Your blessings,

yet not welcome any pain?

Shall I thank You for days of sunshine,

yet grumble in days of rain?

Shall I love You in times of plenty,

then leave You in days of drought?

Shall I trust when I reap a harvest,

but when winter winds blow then doubt?

Are You good only when I prosper,

and true only when I'm filled?

Are you King only when I'm carefree,

and God only when I'm well?
You are GOOD when I'm poor and needy

You are TRUE when I'm parched and dry

You still reign in the deepest valley,

You're still God in the darkest night.

Oh let your will be done in me,

In Your love I will abide.

Oh I long for nothing else as long as You are GLORIFIED

The Nursery is Complete!

Cribs are ready for sweet little girls

Ready for bows!

I just love these curtains!

FUN carseat covers!

Lily & Lauren's room is finally complete! Our goal was to have it done by 30 weeks. I'm so thankful we accomplished that goal. My mom came up, and sewed some BEAUTIFUL curtains for us. I had bought shower curtains, and she made them into curtains by adding some coordinating fabric. THANK YOU MOM! I can't wait to see my little girls in this room!