I’m a bit late getting my post up this week, but I’ve got a good excuse: today is Shane’s 30th birthday so I’ve been busy celebrating! 🙂 (I can’t let the occasion pass without a few more words about Shane but if you stopped by hoping to read about this week’s SMS and would rather skip the birthday talk, feel free to scroll down.) If you read my blog regularly (or follow me on Twitter), you’ve probably already learned a thing or two about Shane: he’s an equal opportunity hater of all fruits and vegetables and triathlete/runner extraordinaire. Just last weekend, he completed his first half-marathon in a terrific time of 1:54:07! It was a fun day (even for spectators) – here are a few shots:
So, I’ve shared a bit about Shane, but I haven’t told you everything. One of my favorite things about him is that he really is a kid at heart – playful, fun and always able to look on the bright side. It’s the perfect complement to my often impatient, over-stressed, type A personality. Next weekend we’re having a party to celebrate the big day (stop by next Sunday to read all about it) but for today, happy birthday Shane!
This week’s SMS was chosen by Debbie of Everyday Blessings of the Five Dee’s: spiced pumpkin cookie cakes! Pumpkin – the perfect fall ingredient and one I’ll be baking with quite a bit over the next few weeks! Speaking of fall, where did it go?? It’s been so cold here lately and today it’s even been snowing!
This may be the first time in quite a while I haven’t scaled a recipe back. I made the whole thing figuring I’d freeze some of the cookies for snacks another time and I’m really glad I did. I’m a huge fan of cake-like cookies and these definitely fit the bill. They’re soft, tender and when sandwiched with cream cheese filling, just delicious! The recipe suggests piping the dough onto the prepared baking sheets and though I was too lazy to do that this time, I may try it next time in the hopes of achieving more cookies of the same size. I had to mix and match a lot of my cookies to make my sandwiches!
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Lemon Bars
Glazed Grapefruit Cake
Orange Sherbet
Meyer Lemon Pound Cake
What a beautiful post and tribute to Shane. He may not like vegetables but I’ll bet he can’t resist these amazing pumpkin cakes!
Happy Birthday Shane!! Great time on the 1/2 marathon. I need to get my time below 2 hours, but I don’t like running and only run for the 1/2 marathon.
Your cookie cakes look great! I’m glad you liked them and went ahead and made them.
(yes, I piped mine. Even though I don’t like piping–reminds me too much of pipetting in my biology labs which I completely sucked at. But I sucked it up and piped using skills I learned in my french baking class, & it was my best piping ever which isn’t really saying a lot.)
Happy BIRTHDAY to your hubs! What a nice way to say how much you care. I hope he gets a chance to read it because how you feel is heart warming =).
Your SMS spiced pumpkin cookies look delicious and I think so many of us just love pumpkin and associate the flavor and color with Fall. The powdered sugar sprinkling is a beautiful touch!
Happy birthday to Shane and congrats on an impressive finish to his first half-marathon! I love the photos, so adorable. Your cookie-cakes look fantastic. I totally thought of these as a very perishable treat, that was smart to freeze some.
Happy birthday and congrats to Shane! Your cookie cakes look great.
Aw, your cookies have snow on them too! They look delicious, like pumpkin whoopie pies.
What a great tribute to your birthday boy hubby! Loved seeing the pictures, especially the baby ones. so adorable.
Happy Birthday Shane! Those are some adorable baby photos!
Great looking cookies… i had quite a few mismatched shapes and i piped the mix onto the cookie sheets.
I can’t believe how happy he looks running that half! Love the b-day tribute. How cute that you 2 compliment each other so well. These cookie/cakes look so yummy. Funny how they usually end up in a variety of different sizes!
Awww! Happy Birthday, Shane! What great pictures of him when he was little. I love the shot in the work boots! We have one of Vincent like that and it’s still one of my favorites. Hope it was a great day. And I can’t wait to read all about the party next week!
aw! Happy Birthday Shane! Love the cookies!
YAY for Shane. 30. What a great age. Congrats
Those spiced pumpkin (don’t tell S. that this is a veggie) cookie cakes look delicious. Pumpkin is such a great ingredient to bake with.
Great post and what a sweet man you have! Congrats to him and his 1/2 marathon..that is my favorite race!
Your cookies look great and Im glad you all loved them!
Happy Birthday Shane! I’m sure since you were baking for him you made a carrot zucchini cake with pineapple frosting – right? 🙂
Just kidding….
This is a beautiful post indeed, full of heart warming pictures. My fave of course is your little girl in the big shoes. CUTE!! Great great cookie/pies. Beautifully made!
Happy birthday to shane! What a great post!!
Your cookies look lovely.
Katie xox
How funny that you specifically mentioned not piping your cookies out, because when I saw your photos I thought, “Oh, she must have piped her cookie dough!” They look so perfect!
Aw, those pics are so cute! And the cookies look yummy.
Hi Tracey!
How are you? I loved reading the sweet words you shared about Shane- he’s one lucky guy to have someone like you who loves him so deeply, and you guys seem like the perfect team! Please wish him a big congratulations on his half marathon, as well as a Very Happy Birthday- have lots of fun celebrating… I can’t wait to return next weekend to see what you made for him!
Fabulous job on your cookie cakes, my dear! They came out lovely- next time if you want them more even and consistent (even though yours looked awesome to me!), but don’t want to pull out the pastry bag, try a small ice cream/cookie scoop. That’s what I used and it was so easy, I wouldn’t do it any other way.
Wasn’t the weather yesterday just INSANE?! Oh my goodness, I hope you were staying warm and cozy in your home, wrapped in a blanket with a big mug of hot tea, coffee, or cocoa. I can’t believe we had a day like that in MID October- I hope it’s not a harbinger of the winter to come! Oy vey! Where exactly are you again?… I forget what town you live in. Well, pack on the layers today, and grab your boots and parka… haha!
Have a wonderful start to your week and I can’t wait to hear from you again soon 🙂
<3,
Joy
Happy birthday to your hubby! We just hit the thirty mark in our house this year too! That so funny about your husband being a kid at heart and you a Type A. That’s my husband and I but switched (that’s why I love having kids because I can act like a kid and not look ridiculous).
Great job with the cookies- they look great. And stick with the spoon! I piped mine and still had to match up the different sizes.
Happy birthday to Shane! Can you believe it was snowing in the NE yesterday? crazy. Your pumpkin treats are adorable!
Oh, cute, I love that picture of him in his daddy’s boots!
Yummy cookies!
This looks scrumptious. Pumpkin is holding its own, these days.
Awesome cookie cakes and congrats to Shane on his strong half marathon finish.
Lol! I was mixing and matching my cookies too. It all worked out in the end, though! My hubby just had a b-day too!
Aw! Happy birthday to Shane! I can’t wait to read about the party. These cookies look sooo yummy!
Happy birthday Shane!!
Tell Shane that if he has any advice on how I can get my butt running (I suck, I really do) I’d gladly accept it!
Mmmm… I’m sorry I didn’t make these this week, I curse the stores for not having pumpkin puree. But I’ll get to them. Scouts honor!
Yummm! These look amazing. Hope your husband had a wonderful bday!
Happy birthday Shane!
I’m surprised that your cakes weren’t piped – they look perfectly symmetrical, as if they were.
After looking at this post I decided to make these since I had some leftover pumpkin. I brought them into work and they were a HUGE hit at the office. Thanks for the idea!