Welcome Home Matt!!

Sunday night was fantastic. My boyfriends brother, Matt, finally returned from Afghanistan after 6 1/2 long months. Matt was our team's Round 25 and 26 recipient. The time changed a couple of times through out the day but once we got the final time, the excitement really set in.

Matt's son, Tyler, and cousin Amy decided to make Matt a "Welcome Home" sign. They were having a little trouble with the bubble letters so my inner-Martha came out and I drew the bubble letters for them. Tyler is 11 and Amy is around 10. So, because they clearly know everything at that age they instructed me on how to do the letters.

Amy: We want a red and blue pattern
Me: So every other letter?
Tyler: Yeah yeah and it has to say 'Welcome Home Sergeant Moon'. That's 'S' 'G'...
Me: haha yes I know what the abreviation is
Tyler: ok but it has to say Sgt Moon, not Matt

 After they were done decorating the sign, they had everyone in the family sign it.

Matt arrived at MCAS Miramar around 9:30pm. Their plane was greeted by a large group of cheering family and friends. Matt's son, Tyler, was beside himself excited. He kept saying to his cousin Amy, "Is that the plane? No! I bet it's that one!" It was cute. It was a very exciting and unforgettable night. We are so thankful he made it home safely. Thank You, Baking GALS, for your support, prayers, baked good, dedication and love. Here are a few more pictures from the evening:

Here's the whole group!

Me and my love

Matt's mom. Think she is excited?

Matt seeing his son for the first time!

The ginormous plane

Round 27 Goodness

I had a blast baking this round. Well, every round. I spent an entire day baking. My guy was working and I was actually caught up on laundry and housework so I dove in. I had big plans. Peanut Butter M & M Bars, Snickerdoodles, homemade Oreos and Monster cookies.

I was especially excited to try out the Oreos recipe from Bake at 350.  I even added the little heart that she did. To give it a little extra flare, I rolled the filled cookie in red sugar crystals.

 

          

              

It is Valentine's Day afterall. What kind of baker would I be if i didn't throw in some festive Valentine's Day sprinkles and M & Ms.

I tell you, every time I bake for Baking GALS it reminds me just how big this world is and how much of a difference one organization can make in the lives of people who sacrifice so much for our country.

Homecoming!!!!

We have a couple of our guys coming home!!!

As I mentioned before, Matt, is scheduled to come home at the end of the month. 10-12 more days. Almost there. His family and I are chomping at the bit to give him big hugs.

I just found out tonight that our Baking Blessings Round 26?27 recipent, Josh, will be coming home in two weeks. Please join me in praying for him and all of the people he will be traveling with. I know Josh's family is beside themselves with excitement.

To everyone that sent Josh some baked love, Thank You!

Recipes From Susan

I can't even tell you how excited I am that team members are starting to email me pictures and recipes. Of course, it is not required but boy is it fun!! We all have so many different things to bring to the table.
For your baking pleasure:

Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk
1 C Butter, softened
1 C firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 C granulated sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 C all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
3 C Oatmeal
1 bag (11.5 oz) Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chunks
1 C taosted pecans, optional

Preheat Oven to 350
1) Bat Butter and Sugars until creamy
2) Add eggs and vanilla, beating well
3) Lightly spoon flour into a measuring cup, level off with a knife
4)Combine flour, baking soda, salt in a bowl. Stir to combine
5) Add oats to flour mixture. Stir again
6) Add flour/oat mixture to the butter mixture, mix well
7) Gently stire in chocolate chunks (and pecans)
8)Drop by rounded tablespoon onto baking sheets lines with parchment paper
9) Bake 10 minutes, cool on pan 2 minutes then remove to cooling rack


Ginger Cookies
4 3/4 C Flour
3 Sticks Usalted Btter, at room temperature
2 Tbsp Baking soda
1 3/4 C Sugar
3/4 tsp Salt
2 large Eggs
1/2 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 C Molasses
2 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Vanilla
1 1/2 tsp Ground Ginger

1) Combine dry ingredients and set aside
2) Beat butter and sugar in a mixer and beat on low, increasing to high about 2 minutes until fluffy
3) add eggs, one at a time
4) add Vanilla and stir until combined
5) Mix in Molasses
6)Slowly add in dry ingredients mixture
7) Divide dough into approx 6 pieces
8) Roll into  1 1/2 in logs, wrap in wax paper and refrigerate 1-2 hrs until firm
9) Preheat Oven to 350
10)Unwrap, slice logs into 3/8" thick slices
11)Place on ungreased cookie sheet and sprinkle with sugar
12) Bake 10-12 min

Pictures from Stefanie

I L-O-V-E getting pictures from team members! That's what this blog is all about! Stefanie emailed this to me this morning. The cookies look incredible! I don't know about you but these were some of the thoughts that went through my head when I saw it:
1) My address is...
2) I seriously need to work on ym "flooding" skills
3) I'm drooling, good thing I'm home alone
4) Those are some lucky guys inAfghanistan
5) My address is...
6) How in the world to people make the picture collages on their blogs?!?!
7) I'm still drooling, I have a problem
8) My address is...

Thank You Stefanie! I am so happy you sent this to me and that you're on the team again!

Check out Stefanie's Blog. It's really cute!

And on a side note... I really love the friends I have made through Baking GALS! What a blessing all of you are!

A Giveaway!!

Hello fellow bakers! A friend of mine has a Giveaway Blog and I thought I would share this particular giveaway with all of you. The prize includes a scented eye pillow and a chocolate scented candle. A little bit of  heaven, if you ask me! All of us Baking GALS do so much for others. Take a moment to follow the link and enter win this giveaway. You only have until February 4th so you better hurry it up!

P.S. It is almost baking time!!!

Coming Home!

To everyone that has baked for Team Fire and Icing during Matt's deployment, thank you. From Matt, his family and myself... Thank You , Thank You, Thank You.

You all made a huge difference in the lives of MALS 16 during their stay in Afghanistan. You brought light to the darkness and joy when it felt like there was none.

I am happy to say that Matt is coming home!!!! They should be home around the last week or so in Februray.

The shipping dates for the next round are later than what they would need to be for us to send them packages so they will not be recipients this round. Please continue to remember them in your prayers while they are getting ready to come home.

Round 27 info!

YEAH!!!! It is finally time to start baking again! Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. It always amazes me how quickly it goes by.

Here's the info for our next round:
Teams Open: January 22
Shipping Starts: February 1
Shipping Ends; February 12

I would love to start posting recipes from team members on here so please email me some of your favorite cookie/bar/goodies recipes! jcskiddo@hotmail.com

Also send me pictures of you and your friends/family baking!!

I will be hosting 2 teams again this round. "Fire and Icing" and "Baking Blessings".I am excited about blessing these two guys with boxes and boxes of good stuff.

Welcome Back everyone!