This is an actual food post! What?! My blog was originally intended to be a food blog, but turned into a journey of my relationship with Jesus. I would never want it to be anything else, but never thought of a better name. So, the food pictures and named stayed.

ANYWAY… I’ve had a great weekend so far. Yesterday, I made vegan macaroni and cheese for the very first time and IT WAS SO GOOD. I was skeptical and it took me a while to get the courage to finally make it, but it was delicious. I had my dad be my taste tester and filmed his reaction. Too good. He approved and even went back for seconds.

My dad and I did yard work this morning taking advantage of the “cooler” temperatures.

It’s amazing how having an extra day off gives you the mental freedom to get so much done knowing you can rest the next day. I enjoyed extra cups of coffee and a Gilmore Girls marathon. I’ve also been looking forward to making all kinds of “fall festival” foods and looking at some websites. I’ll have to share that fun, too.

I finally framed the most special text message of my life. My dad’s best friend passed away earlier this year who was also the greatest witness for Christ in my life. I talk about this more in this post: Sunflowers always face the sun: “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, but the word of our God shall stand for ever…”

After yard work, a shower, a flat tire… finally went to get the ingredients for the turtles when I decided to pass by the picture frames. I’d been wanting the “perfect” frame for it and this morning actually had the thought “plain white frame and white matte”. I was going to look at Michael’s, but the flat tire threw off my cookie plans and timeframe. Anyway, I spotted this and that was that.

My heart is so happy to finally have it hanging up.

Anyway, this isn’t my typical ‘digging to the core of the earth’ deep post.

I’d wanted to make turtles since I don’t know when. I bake all kinds of things and have no idea what the hold up was on these. Someone posted a recipe for them from a famous bakery in New Orleans so I saved it and looked forward to it all week!

I read the recipe, but the frosting didn’t seem fudge-y enough so I looked up another recipe and used the frosting from that one which just cut out milk. Typically, you would use 3 pecans, but I was excited so used 5 to make the total “turtle” body.

COOKIE:
3/4 c butter, unsalted at room temperature
1 c granulated sugar
1 large egg
2 Tbsp milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 3/4 c all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 lb whole pecans
FROSTING:
1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips
3 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon margarine or butter
1 cup powdered sugar

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cookie:
1. In the large mixer bowl beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg, milk and vanilla and mix well.
2. In another bowl, combine dry ingredients -then add them to the butter mixture. Beat well to combine.
3. Place 5 pecans close together in a star-like form, on an ungreased cookie sheet (I used parchment paper) and then scoop 1-Tablespoon of the cookie dough on top of the pecans. Make sure cookies are at least 1 1/2 inches apart and continue to make cookies until all dough is used up.
4. Scoop or pinch off 1 Tablespoon of dough for each cookie-roll into a ball-place on on pecans. Press onto nuts slightly. Proceed the same with remaining dough.
5. Bake for 12-15 minutes- until browned at the edges, remove from oven and cool on wire rack before frosting.
Frosting:
In small saucepan (I made a double broiler putting a metal bowl over a pot with steamy water), combine chocolate chips, milk and 1 tablespoon butter; cook over low heat, stirring constantly until melted and smooth. Remove from heat; stir in powdered sugar. If necessary, add additional powdered sugar for desired spreading consistency. Frost cooled cookies. Let frosting set before storing. Store in tightly covered container.

Cookie Recipe <– Just a Pinch Website

Frosting Recipe <– Mom Loves Baking Website

Thank you for stopping by. I hope you have a blessed weekend and enjoy these cookies! 🙂