Mammoth Ice Cave/ Sunday Idaho Adventure

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We went on a Sunday Idaho Adventure this past weekend. A cuh-razy Sunday Idaho Adventure.

On Sundays, Hubs and I try to explore our portion of Southern Idaho. Often, we end up heading north to the gorgeous Sawtooth mountains. In the winter, often we'll head up to ski and eat. In the summer, we like to shop, hike and well, eat.

Along Highway 93, there are these giant signs that say "ICE CAVE" and literally everytime we go, I ask sweet hubby if we can stop. I'm one of those people who see the brown attraction signs driving along the highway and wonder how I've lived this long without seeing whatever it is... Lincoln's birthplace, giant yarn ball, mineral springs, oregon trail tracks.... you know the ones.

Well, on our drive on Sunday.... he turned. And people, it was beyond my wildest dreams. These pictures cannot do our experience justice. After driving through a desert plain, on a dirt road for about 1.5 miles you come onto this site full of old wooden buildings, stone faces, emus, and peacocks. Yep, peacocks.

Belmont Stakes Party Recipes

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A few weeks ago, we had a watch party for the Belmont Stakes. We were hoping to watch "I'll Have Another" run for the Triple Crown. But as I'm sure you're all well aware, he was hurt training and was pulled from the race the Friday before.

We still watched a very fun race and for most of our guests it was the first horse race they'd ever watched! We wrote the horses names and drew the slips of paper, so each guest had a horse to cheer for. My Sweet Hubby's horse got 2nd! My mom was also in town visiting and having her there made it even more special.

While the horses and racing were fun, we all know the most important part was the food and drinks!

Through some Pinterest research, I discovered the official drink of the race was a the "Belmont Breeze." It is made with lemonade, pomegranate juice, and bourbon.... and it was delicious! I'm not usually a whiskey girl but this stuff was yummmmy. To make: you'll want 2 parts lemonade, 1 part pomegranate juice, 1.5 parts bourbon. Serve over ice with lemon.

I served Pina Colada Fruit Dip, S'mores Bars, and Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Bars, all recipes I found on other lovely food blogs. Since the recipes worked perfectly, there's no point in me repeating them here and messing them up!

We also made the infamous Sit Sandwich, first introduced to us by my step-mother Jenny and now well beloved. I'll share that recipe with you soon... and yes, you really have to sit on it!

All in all it was a very fun afternoon, wish each of you could have been there!

Whatever you do this weekend, make a batch of those darn s'mores bars and love me for introducing them to you.

*Chelsea

Chocolate Oatmeal Chipper Cookies

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Recently, I spent two weeks of my life in the land of medical malpractice lawsuits. Do.Not.Go.There.

Seriously, even if they offer you one of those free cruises if you buy our vacuum trips, don't do it. Medical Malpractice Lawsuit land is exhausting and hostile.

What you should do is make these cookies.

I loooooooooooove oatmeal chip cookies, so when I stumbled across this recipe awhile ago my interest was peaked. I haven't always had the best experience with chocolatey chocolate chip cookies. They always seem to go flat or taste overwhelmingly chocolatey but not in a good way. Yes, such a thing is possible.

But my experience with these yummy oatmeal delights has changed all of that. I think the structure of the oatmeal really helps hold these together. I made a full batch and froze half in dough balls for later.... which I baked six of the day after. Then I ate all six of them while they were still warm. Don't tell on me! My sweet hubby was at the gym, of course, so he doesn't know it happened.

He tends to feel less sorry for me when I complain about feeling chubby after he's watched me eat six cookies instead of going to the gym. Seriously though, last week he was at the Y playing tennis and I was going to meet him there and do an aerobics class. He received this text instead: "I was on my way to the gym and then I got Dairy Queen instead. See you at home."

Am I an adult? Sigh.

Well, either way, make these cookies. Dish them up for your family tonight (and hide a few away for you for later!)

Love,
 *Chelsea

Chocolate Oatmeal Chippers adapted from Nestle

Preparation Time: 10 mins 
Cooking Time: 9 mins  Cooling Time: 2 mins cooling 

Servings: 48 cookies (4 dozen)

What you'll need:

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 
• 1/2 cup  cocoa 
• 1 teaspoon baking soda 
• 1/4 teaspoon salt 
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened 
• 1 cup packed brown sugar 
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
• 2 large eggs 
• 1 3/4 cups (11.5-oz. pkg.) semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 3/4 cups quick oats 

What to do:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 
2. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in medium bowl.
3. Beat butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. 
4. Beat in eggs. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in chocolate chips and oats. 
5. Drop dough by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets. (If you're freezing dough balls, put the sheet in the freezer now, then transfer to a freezer bag when frozen. When you're ready to bake them, place directly from freezer into oven.)
6. Bake for 9 to 12 minutes or until edges are set but centers are still soft. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.