I read and
watched fairy tales growing up the same way every other little girl did. To be
honest, I often loved the dog versions (Lady & The Tramp) more than the
princess ones. Nevertheless, I took in
the concept of a fairy tale. As children, it’s acceptable to believe in fairy
tales; In fact it’s often encouraged. Yet, somewhere down the road we’re
expected to lose sight of fairy tales and focus on reality. However, in my mind
this world might be a slightly better place if we all took the time to read a
fairy tale once in awhile.
The world is
a complex place and we don’t have any form of magic to turn to. On a daily
basis we confront good and evil. Whether it’s from a specific individual or
just the obstacles life throws at us. Yet, how often has that best friend who
answers your call at 3 AM or the mom who is always there for you, feel like a
fairy godmother? The term fairy tale is often used too loosely to describe a
fairy tale wedding, etc. I would love a fairy tale wedding just as much as any
girl and believe they happen every single day.
Does that mean I believe in “ And They Lived Happily Ever After?” The
answer would be no. A fairy tale can’t
be focused on one event; it has to be focused on the moments that occur every
single day. No one is guaranteed a
happily ever after. Yet, what we are guaranteed is the opportunity to live
everyday striving and working for what makes us happy. There are going to be
ups and downs and plenty of obstacles to achieve our happiness, but sometimes
it only takes the perfect pair of shoes, a special note or the favorite song on
the radio to make us realize the power of our happiness. In my mind happiness is the true magic of a
fairytale and that is something you don’t need a magic wand to find.
I try to
live every day with an optimistic view. However, an optimist can also be a
realist. Being happy is not just about a
state of mind; it’s about our actions.
We have to fight for our happiness because otherwise there are plenty of
people or events that will gladly try and take it away from you.
I love
watching Once Upon A Time, because although it’s completely fiction, it reminds
me of the true meaning of a fairy tale every time I watch it and sometimes,
just sometimes, it really is the little moments that make all of the
difference.
In my world,
sometime it just takes a cookie to transform the power of a day and you will
never hear me doubt the power of a stick of butter, chocolate, sugar and a
little bit of love to put a guaranteed smile on someone’s face. So to put a smile on your face I’m sharing my
current favorite cookie recipe for Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Pretzel
Cookies. I dare you to tell me you didn’t
smile just reading that.
Dark
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Pretzel Cookies
This cookie recipe takes basic chocolate chip
cookie dough and swaps out the chocolate chips with pretzels and peanut butter
cups.
Ingredients:
1 cup
unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown
sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp.
vanilla
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp.
baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 cups
chopped peanut butter cups (I love the dark chocolate Trader Joe’s variety)
2 cups
chopped pretzels
Directions:
Preheat the
oven to 350 degrees. Combine butter and sugar and cream until smooth. Add eggs
and vanilla to mixture. In a separate bowl combine the dry ingredients. Add to
the wet ingredients and blend until smooth. Add the chopped peanut butter cups
and pretzels and blend in by hand.
By rounded tablespoon
size, place on a prepared baking sheet 2 inches apart. Bake for 10 -13 minutes
or until golden brown. Let cool and serve.