Cherry Pistachio Browned - Butter Cookies

This summer while we were in New Orleans we tried a great place called Bakery Bar.  They sell a very traditional New Orleans cake called a doberge cake.  Their cakes come from a baker called Debbie Does Doberge.  While we were picking up a cake (half lemon and half chocolate - yummy) Hubby noticed they also had Cherry Pistachio cookies.  

He told me that his grandmother used to make them and that they were one of his favorite cookies.  Now, I've known this man over 25 years and that was the first time I'd ever heard of this cookie!  Of course I had to try to make some for him, since they are his favorite.  Unfortunately, his grandmother is no longer with us so I had to find a recipe on my own. 

There weren't tons of recipes online that looked like the kind his grandmother made.  Most of the recipes I found online were a weird green color that did not look very appealing.  I ran across a great recipe on
Local Haven that looked like a cookie I would eat. 

 These cookies were absolutely delicious.  He said they were a little different from the ones his grandmother made but they were definitely a hit.  I'm sure the key to this cookie was the browned butter.  I'd never made a cookie with browned butter but I will incorporate it whenever I can. 

You can get the recipe at Local Haven.

Renee

Gamer Party

Wow, time is really flying by, RJ just turned 10!!  For such a big birthday we decided to have a Game Truck party and invite 20 of his closest buds.  As I was agreeing to do this party I wondered if I should have my head examined. Twenty 10 year olds running around my house!  Hubby convinced me that it would be ok (that I would be ok) and that the boys would spend most of the time on the truck.  

After carefully thinking it over, I agreed and we had the truck for 2 hours and left 30 minutes extra for pizza and cake.  I could definitely do 2 & 1/2 hours.

I enlisted the help of MJ to make these game controllers.  I think they look pretty awesome and he was proud of his work. 

Each boy was given a VIP badge with their name on it to wear during the party.  I ordered the badges,  the gamer Ryan sign,  and a few other things from an Easy shop called lulucole.

 I had to come up with snacks and treats to go with the gamer theme.  RJ wanted to have all the games he likes represented.  Personally, my favorite were the cheese ninjas.  They looked like real ninjas and were the easiest snack to make.  I pulled the cheese apart and used an edible marker to make the eyes. 

The boys loved the chocolate Mario mustaches.  The biggest mistake I made was not making more of them.  I was afraid a fight was going to break out when the last one was taken. 

I also made royal iced game controller cookies, Minecraft rice Krispy dirt blocks and piranha fruit made from strawberries and grapes.  

The Nintendo Switch cake was the most challenging thing I made.  This was my first time ever using fondant and I was very nervous.  Thanks to a lot of advice from my friend, Erica, and tons of online videos, I was able to get the cake done.  

I was very pleased with the way the cake turned out.  It looked good and tasted even better!

I gave each boy a test tube filled with bubble gum for their take home party favor.  

I ordered the test tubes from Amazon and the labels came from lulucole.

After all was said and done, the party was a huge success.  RJ and his friends had a wonderful time and I survived :-).  

Renee