lime coconut sugar cookies

These are the other cookies I sent off into nature with the little ladies of my ward. Another one of my faves. I love how light and fresh they taste. 

Chewy Lime Sugar Cookies

INGREDIENTS:

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Zest of one large lime, finely minced
3 tbsp lime juice
½ cup unsweetened toasted coconut
1/2 cup sugar for rolling cookies

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.

2. In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

3. Using a mixer, beat together the butter and sugar until smooth and very fluffy.

4. Beat in egg, vanilla extract, lime juice and lime zest.

5. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients and toasted coconut.

6. Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, and roll in sugar. Place on lined cookie sheets about 1 1/2 inches apart.

7. Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until lightly browned.

8. Let stand on cookie sheet two minutes before removing to cool on wire racks.

Yet another cookie I eat far too many of right outta the oven....or maybe as dough.....

chocolate peanut butter munchies

(old pic and I had old nail polish...)

I'm working on my wedding/reception posts, but they are taking some time. Mostly, I'm too lazy to really get to work on them. I'm not too lazy to bake some cookies to send with the YW to camp since I can't go (I'm depressed). In lieu of my enthusiastic presence, the girls get two of my favorite cookies. They are too good not to share (and if you follow me on Instagram, I probably share pictures of them too much). 

The first cookie is the best cookie to come out of my BYU cooking class. 

Chocolate Peanut Butter Munchies (makes about 32).


Ingredients: 

1 1/2 C. flour 1/4 C. peanut butter

1/2 C. cocoa powder 1 egg

1/2 tsp. baking soda 1 Tbsp milk

1/2 C. sugar 1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 C. packed brown sugar 3/4 C. powdered sugar

1/2 C. butter, softened 1/2 C. peanut butter

2 Tbsp. sugar



1. Preheat oven to 350°. 



Chocolate dough:

2. Stir together flour, cocoa, and baking soda.

3. In a large mixing bowl, cream together 1/2 C. sugar, brown sugar, butter, and

1/4 C. peanut butter. Beat in egg, milk and vanilla.

4. Beat in as much flour as you can with an electric mixer. Stir in remaining

flour mixture.

5. Shape dough into thirty-two 1 ¼” balls. Set aside.



Peanut butter dough for middles:

6. Combine powdered sugar and 1/2 C. peanut butter. Beat until smooth. (If necessary, knead with your hands.) Shape into 32 balls.

7. To form the cookies, flatten one chocolate ball. Place a peanut butter ball on top.

Shape the chocolate dough around the peanut butter center, completely covering the filling. Re-shape into a ball. Repeat with the remaining dough.

8. Place 2 inches apart on an un-greased, parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Place 2 Tbsp. Sugar in bowl. Dip bottom of drinking glass in sugar and lightly flatten each cookie, re-dipping in sugar between cookies. Bake 8 minutes, or until cookies are set, and slight cracks form on top. Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute.

9. Remove from cookie sheet and cool on rack


They take a little extra effort due to the multiple ball rolling (can I say that?), but the payoff is MAJOR! They are my favorite right outta the oven with a glass of milk.

I hope you love these as much as I do. I also hope you don't eat 10 right outta the oven like I do....

a few of my fave things

I never really notice raindrop on roses, and I hate stupid little kittens (not really, but really). So, you won't find those among my favorite things. This is a list of superficial beauty products that make me feel better about myself. 

1. Benefit: They're Real 

Ladies, run and get this mascara. It is more expensive than your CoverGirl, but it's well worth it. I get mine at Sephora for $23. Miss Natalie Hill recommend it to me and I don't know why it took me so long to trust her opinion. Trust!

2. bareMinerals: well rested concealer 

This has been such a find! I suffer from genetic dark circles and they are even worse during allergy season (allergy shiners). It is the best! Definitely helps brighten under my eyes and works really well as regular concealer too (takes the red out). It's basically the only thing I use. It runs around $18 and can be found at a bareMinerals store or Sephora and probably anywhere online.

3. L'OREAL: Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream

 I discovered this when it came in the Target Beauty Box I ordered. Lucky me! I had tried other lesser BB creams, but this is just what it says it is. Magic. It's silky smooth, matches perfectly to your skin color, and evens out your skin tone. The color that came in the box was "light" and worked well for me. Target sells it for $7.99. 

4. Almay: Eye Makeup Remover Pads

This has been a staple for me. They work quickly (even on long lasting mascara like they're Real) and, being a performer, they help get every last bit of pesky eyelash glue. I get it at my favorite place, Target, for around $5. 

5. Neutrogena Naturals: Fresh Cleaning and Makeup Remover 

I love how clean my face feels after using this product and it doesn't have any harsh chemicals or perfumes. Bonus! It's about $7.

6. Aveeno: Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer SPF 15

I've gone through many a moisturizer in my day and this one is the latest. I always look for one that has SPF and doesn't leave my face feeling greasy. It generally runs about $15. 

There you have it. A few things that make me feel better about showing my face in public. Any recommendations? 

God's voice

When I moved back to marry Husfriend, I officially starting going to his (now our) ward. They almost immediately gave me a calling as Beehive Advisor in the Young Women. I was super excited! I even cheered. Mostly, because that meant I didn't have to go to Relief Society (sorry 'bout it). I always felt I would serve in the YW, but I didn't realize how scared I would be and what I was getting myself into. 

You see, I'm not that confident in my gospel knowledge, because of my religious background (a story for another day). Now I'm TEACHING three impressionable little Beehives and I get chihuahua shakey nervous every time it's my turn to teach. People may think that's a little odd since I get up in front of audiences all the time, but teaching is WAY different. In acting, I'm given a script of what to say. In teaching I have to come up with my own words to say (obviously) and I don't think I'm the most eloquent person on the planet. Especially, when it comes to churchy stuff. I want to be a good influence and a confidant in case they don't have anyone at home to turn to, but I'm scared that I'm not knowledgeable enough or not cool enough. Luckily, there are other leaders by my side to help me out when I don't know what I'm doing.

I stumbled upon this lovely pic on Pinterest and it was a great reminder of where the feelings of doubt and fear come from. Um, I definitely need to pay more attention the the left side of this pic and try to put "God's Voice" in my voice and be a light for my Beehives. 

My heart has been so full of gratitude lately for the people surrounding me that speak to me in "God's Voice". Thank you for building me up and encouraging me. I know I'm a brat sometimes and don't express things well, but thank you. Sincerely. 

little hammy goes to hobble creek

 A few years back, Mr. G bought this little old '59 camper trailer. It looked/looks exactly like canned ham so he named it appropriately. When he got it, it was all he could think about. He put in countless hours obsessing...I mean....working on the paint design for the exterior and nailing down the interior decor as well. It all paid off, because it's A-S-O-M (Mr. G lingo for, AWESOME). After he got it all put together we took it on a lil' road trip to Galveston, Texas. (So. Much. Driving!) We fell in love with it!

Since then, Little Hammy has been on many more trips and this week it traveled a whopping 20 minutes from its home to Cherry Campground up Hobble Creek Canyon. Our friend, Mark Bailey joined us with his son Finn. I kinda felt like I was intruding a dude trip, but whatevs. 

On the way up, I admit, I was a tad (a lot) on the grumpy side. Sometimes I let the annoyances of the day creep into the fun time of the day. But, after some Apples to Apples, tin foil dinner, and some light convos about religion and politics, the dudes had me in a much better mood. 

That night, I slept like absolute rubbish. I don't know what it was. Perhaps it was the atmospheric change from all the male gas that was emanating inside the ham, or maybe is was Chancho waking up and giving a low rumbling growl at the night noises. Whatever it was, I was up. I kept hearing things too and would peek out the back window expecting to see some hooligans stealing our stuff. Instead, I saw nothing. 

Fast forward to a few sleepless hours later.

Mr. G got up to take Chancho out to do his morning jobs (pee). What he discovered during Chancho's rounds was the happenings of the "hooligans" I heard. My hooligans were nasty raccoons!!! We didn't leave anything out in the open except for a bag of dog food and our closed cooler. Those little rascals tore holes in Buddy's food bag and ate it ALL! They also opened our cooler, moved the carrots outta the way, got out the carton of eggs, and went to town on what was meant to be our scrambled eggs for breakfast.

 (note the sleepless dark circles)

Without our dozen eggs, we still had a delicious breakfast of pancakes and bacon. After we digested our food (minus the eggs) we headed out for a hike. We tried one "trail", but after Chancho got stung by a bee, and the "trail" vanished we turned back to find a real trail. Wadsworth trail was perfect. Nice and shady with a little river running along one side of it.

The dudes went swimming in said little river. None of them brought their swimmin' trucks. Being dudes they went in their undies. Some undies leave more to the imagination than others.

 Mark captured some of the beauty. 

 The rest of the day, we hung out, ate, ate some more, the rest of the Bailey clan came up for dinner, ate again, and lazed about. I was planning on going home that night, because I had to work the next morning and wanted to get a good night o' sleep. Everyone else thought that sounded like a great idea, so we all left. Copiers! Nothing against Camp Cherry. We had accomplished all that we had set out to do. 

A realization came to me during this short camping trip--there is so much beauty surrounding me. Most days I neglect it, because I'm too absorbed in myself. God has given me so much to be grateful for, but today I'm grateful for to live in a place where seclusion, peace, and yes, beauty, are just a few minutes away. Time to get outside and outside of myself. 

i need a donut

I'm wearing the shirt above today (paired with my grandma's sweet turquoise necklace) that I was styled in for a Macey's Grocery Store commercial I did. I thought it was a great neutral t-shirt so I picked one up to wear in real life at Target for only 6 bucks! Since I'm wearing it today, I thought I'd blog about that shoot. 

The spot is about a young mom who is stuck in traffic and starts daydreaming about Macey's tasty donuts. She goes into her daydream and performs a big production number about needing one of those crave-able treats. She then snaps outta her dream and decides she's gonna make a donut detour. The end.

My excellent agents at TMG sent me out on the audition before I was officially with them (thank you!). They thought I would be a great fit, because it involved donuts and singing. A few of my favorite things!!! The audition consisted of lip-syncing to Barbra Streisand's "Don't Rain On My Parade." Having performed that song for an entire summer, I decided to give them the real deal and sing it myself. I'd like to think that's what sold them on me. Or, maybe it was the fact they were going for a Zooey Deschanel look and I was the only poor substitute they could find. Whatever it was, I'll take it!

First, I had to record the song about delicious donuts that I would later lip-sync to. I was put in a studio across the hall from the mixing/recording room. The client, director (Julian Acosta), producer (Jared Harris), and sound engineer were all in the other room listening to me try to make the little ditty sound just right. Not gonna lie, it was a little disconcerting when I would do a take and I wouldn't hear anything for a few minutes. Maybe I sweat a little.They even joked about how awkward it was for me knowing that there were people in the other room talking about me and judging me. At least they didn't ignore the elephant in the other room.....

A few days later it was time to shoot. The first evening we filmed all the shots in the car. It was the first time I've had to actually drive on film and I was more than freaked out. I was certain I was gonna run over a foot or camera. Especially since during one of the shots there was a white lighting thing (technical term) covering the entire windshield. The way they signaled me to stop was by having one of the crew guys tap the hood of the car. Um....freaky! 

  

 My fake children were the cutest things on the face!!!

It was a pretty easy first day. The next night however, was LONG! We filmed overnight. My call time wasn't until 9:30 pm. We had to do it overnight, because we took over an actual Macey's. Even though it was a looooong night, it was a lot of fun. I got to wear a pretty dress and be surrounded by donuts. DREAMS COME TRUE! 

We finally wrapped about 7:00 am. Yikes!  I wouldn't have made it through without Dr. Pepper, the outstanding crew, and amazing concealer. 

Not sure when it airs, but I've been told that if Macey's wins the local lottery for air time during the Super Bowl, this is the commercial they're gonna use. I'd be OK with that....now I need a donut. Again. 

snickers brownies

Some people have asked for the recipe for this brownie cake of awesomeness. Let me tell you, it does take some time and patience, so plan ahead. It's pretty rich, but pairs well with a good vanilla ice cream. 

Snickers Brownies
*Recipe By Jasey's Crazy Daisy
Brownie Layer
1 box of brownie mix, I prefer Betty Crocker's Fudge or Dark Chocolate mixes
Ingredients called for on box
1/4 cup hot fudge topping, unheated, straight from the jar

Nougat Layer *Adapted from How Sweet It Is
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup evaporated milk
2 (7 oz.) jars marshmallow creme (@1 1/2 cups)
1/4 cup peanut butter
1 1/2 cups salted peanuts, roughly chopped
1 teaspoon vanilla

Caramel Layer
1 (17 oz.) jar of caramel, preferably Mrs. Richardson's Butterscotch Caramel

Candy Bar Topping
1 1/4 cups chocolate chips
1/4 cup peanut butter.

Prepare brownie batter according to package directions for a 9x13-inch pan, adding 1/4 cup hot fudge ice cream topping, unheated and straight from the jar to the batter. Make sure to follow the high altitude directions if you live at high altitude. Cool completely.


Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add sugar and milk, stirring until dissolved. Bring to a boil. Add in the marshmallow creme (I didn't measure, because how exactly do you measure that sticky fluff? I used one complete 7 oz. jar and most of the second jar), peanut butter, and vanilla stirring until smooth. Turn off heat and fold in peanuts. Pour evenly over cooled brownies. Use a spatula to help spread the mixture. Cool. I stick the brownies in the freezer for about 15 minutes.


Scoop caramel topping into a heavy bottomed saucepan and heat over low until caramel is soft and easy to stir.  Pour the caramel over the nougat layer. Make sure to pour it evenly across the nougat covering as much as the surface as you can. This makes it easier to spread the caramel with a spatula. Let cool. Again, I usually stick this in the freezer for about 15 minutes. Scoop caramel topping into a heavy bottomed saucepan and heat over low until caramel is soft and east to stir rather than mess with hot.

Melt chocolate chips and peanut butter together in a saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally, until smooth.  Pour over nougat layer and cool completely. I usually stick them in the fridge until the chocolate is set. They chocolate gets pretty soft when left out, so I like to store these in the fridge and let them set out for a few minutes before cutting them. You want the chocolate to be cool enough to be set, but warmed up just a bit so that they are soft enough to cut more easily. Enjoy!

privilege to pee

Say, what?!?!

I'm talking about Urinetown: The Musical. Brilliantly directed by Dave Tinney.

Initially, I was pretty bummed I wasn't living in Utah at the time, because I thought it would be such a fun, quirky show to do. Then Mr. G and I decided to finally tie the knot and, what do you know, I was gonna be in town. So a few texts went back and forth between myself and those in charge. The outcome? I weaseled my way into playing Hope Cladwell. 

I wish I could say the process was a breeze, but it was far from it. I started rehearsals a week later than the rest of the cast and the day I moved back from NYC AND the day I got engaged. We choreographed a number that night and pretty sure I didn't retain any of the movement. I felt more than rusty. 

For some reason, the rest of the rehearsal process was just as rough as that first night. I felt insecure, super vulnerable, and like maybe I wasn't the right fit. The style of the show was so specific and I didn't think I was getting it. Usually, I'm one of the first people off book (memorized) and I was struggling with my lines and lyrics. Basically, I thought I was totally failing and wanted to quit. 

Thankfully, I had some really great people around me (you know who you are) that talked me out of being incredibly stupid. The realization to get over myself, buck up, and work through my self-doubt didn't come easy, but I knew I needed to let my faith that I would eventually nail it, become bigger than my fear that I was royally sucking (mantra 2013).

After a couple of meltdowns, the major one during tech week, (my apologizes cast, especially Mr. G), I finally got my head in the right place and was able to just let loose, have fun, and do the work. Isn't amazing that once we forget about ourselves (selfish me) and give to whatever it is that we are doing, how much better we perform. Annoying that I have to keep learning that lesson. 

Once we opened, I had a blast! Even opening night when I almost died (the chair I was tied to for the majority of the second act fell over while it was being spun at the end of a rope around the stage) was a good time. 

So, here is my public thank you to everyone involved. Thank you for putting up with me. I'm sorry I started birth control during tech and that you had to witness the monster it created (I've adjusted now, I swear). It was indeed a privilege to say pee on stage with you all. Thank you for being some of the most talented, giving, hard working, hysterical people that have come into my life. Let's do it again! 

hello old friends

Oh, hey! It's me again. I've been MIA for a bit, because, well, my life has been a whirlwind since moving across the country, getting engaged, starring in a show, planning a wedding, auditioning, filming commercials, getting married, and honeymooning. 

Sheesh!

Now, my life is all about organizing my new life as a Hansen and adjusting to being a Sadie....er....wife. 

(My awesome BYU cooking teacher, Dana Adcock, made this sweet apron as a wedding gift for me and I love it!)

I'll be sure to document the above list soon. Promise. 

Until then, look at how dapper Mr. G looks in this pic.

Photo by: Ty Arnold