The first night, we visited Downtown Disney, which is like a huge strip mall of all Disney stores. It was pretty amazing!! They have a store just for Christmas stuff, a candy store, a store with different sports team stuff, but with Disney characters, A Ghiardelli store--we didn't go in there, mainly because I would have spent 99% of our money just in that store... And, the most amazing place was the Lego store--which had every lego kit immaginable, and a 'bar' in which you could buy any particular color, shape, and size of lego you choose, by the pound. AMAZING!
Inside Goofy's Candy Co.--they had some amazing baked good, some of which I will be trying...
Outside the Lego store--completely made of Legos--so cool!!
The second day was the Universal Day, we spent the whole day there! If you ever get the chance to go to Universal Studios, do it, you WILL NOT regret it! We only went to the Islands of Adventure side, but it was enough to fill an entire day! We saw the Super Hero place, which had all the super heros....
The Universal Globe!
My hubby and Cyclops!!
Then, there is Toon Lagoon, which has all the cartoon characters in the paper cartoons! It was pretty cool!
Then, Jurassic Park, which was awesome! The vegetation and the different vehicles and dinosaurs.... The ride was pretty cool, too, but be prepared to get SOAKED!!
Then, the part that my hubby and I were most excited about--Harry Potter!! It was so amazing, just like being in the movie! There was Honeydukes Candy store, Puking Pastilles (the joke shop from the movies,) and the Hogwarts express train! We even got to eat at the Three Broomsticks!!
Hogwarts!!
The entrance to Hogsmeade!!
Then, there is the Arabian Nights sections, which is all set in the Arabian, with gods and stuff. Poseidon's Fury was pretty awesome! Then, what I was super excited about was the Dr. Seuss part of the park--Suess Landing!! I know, I'm like a 5 year old in a 25 year olds body! But, my husband and I have decided that when we have kids, there 'themes' will be Dr. Suess!!
I can't even tell you how amazing this whole section was! Everything there was 'Suess-ified!' Even the light poles, signs, etc. It was the most fun I've had in a very long time!!
But, anyways!! Now we are back, and the holiday season is in full swing! Thnaksgiving is around the corner (LITERALLY, it's next week....) And then, Christmas will be here before we know it. With all the amaizing baked good we saw in Florida, both at Downtown Disney and Universal, I've decided to have a Cookie Exchange party in early December. And I've been looking for recipes to include in this party. So, I've been baking, baking, baking... And, today I decided to make an 'oldie-but a goodie!' The Peanut Butter Blossom....But, mine are slightly different... I have always used Pillsbury's peanut blossom recipe, found here, but with my own few twists. I add butter extract, and instead of Kisses, I put whole Reese's Cups on the top, just to make them that much more delicious!!!! They always turn out amazing, and seem to be one of my most requested cookies, so I thought I would share with you all today!!
Peanut Butter Blossoms (With WHOLE Reese's Cups!)
1 1/3 C Flour
1/2 C Sugar
1/2 C Packed brown sugar
1 t Baking soda
1/2 t Salt
1/2 C (half stick) of Crisco
2 T Milk
1 t Vanilla extract
1/2 t Butter extract
1 Egg
Extra sugar to roll in
1 Bag of full sized Reese's Cups & Hershey Kisses (if wanted)
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix all ingredients in a bowl (except extra sugar for rolling) with electric mixer until mixed, it will form a stiff dough. Roll by the scant T into balls, roll into sugar and bake for 10-12 minutes, mine always come out perfect at 11 min, but ovens can vary. As soon as you take them out of the oven, press a Reese's cup on top of each cookie, if you are lucky, the chocolate will melt and cover the top of the cookie, which makes them even more amazing!! Let cool (if you last that long,) and enjoy!!
