It's been nearly two years since it dawned on me that some of my most favoritest bloggers (who also happened to be parents) lived close enough for me to stalk in person. A few comments and emails later, 17 of us had a dinner date.
The chaos was so spectacular that we decided to make that dinner date a regular thing. Pretty much every month since, a group of us has gotten together. Some people have joined in on the fun only to fade away soon after, but others have come along to take their places. At any given Burgh Moms and Dads get-together, you'll find twenty or so people.
And then there is our annual cookie swap. When you throw cookies into the mix, amazing things happen. Mostly, you know, cookies, but also HOLY LOT OF PEOPLE. At our house. Because I love love love love love that we finally have a house big enough to entertain, so bring it on!
I don't know how many people were here Saturday, but I know that there are ten dozen cookies in our freezer. Actually, hold on . . . make that nine dozen. I was hungry and there were Buckeyes to destroy.
There were kids EVERYWHERE. You couldn't walk five feet without having to make sure you weren't stepping on tiny, adorable, chubby little fingers. You couldn't see the carpet in the playroom because the toys were strewn about. And then you couldn't walk through the dining room without eating a cookie or ten.
Heaven. That's what it was. Heaven.
I would have photographic evidence of the heaven, but it seems I can't figure out how to use my camera lately. Apparently while Mr. Husband and Alexis were battling the flu a few weeks ago, I came down with an epic case of ForgotHowToTakePictures-itis. Please send a cure.
In exchange for a cure to my disease, here is the recipe for the Seven Layer Bars that I made. Easy and kind of generic, but we've already established that I can't be trusted to finish anything. I had to go that route.
4 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cup crushed graham crackers
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup butterscotch chips
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 1/2 cup shredded coconut
1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Melt the butter in a 9x13" pan (I use glass). Smother the melted butter with the graham crackers and even it all out. Add the remaining ingredients in layers, making sure to evenly spread the sweetened condensed milk over the top. Bake for 25 minutes, or until the coconut is lightly browned.
Make sure to score the sides of the pan once the bars have cooled a little bit, unless you want to have to eat all of the ones on the edge. They kinda suck to get out of the pan if you forget to score them and the edge ones will fall apart, turning way too ugly to be given to other people. Ahem.