Fun With The Contest Queen!

Today I spent more than an hour on the phone with Carolyn Wiman, The Contest Queen. We talked about intention and winning contests, but more than that, we talked about life and how to make it the best that it can be! You can listen to the call by visiting Carolyn's web site:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/contestqueen/2010/02/23/intentional-winning

As promised for those of you who heard the call and want the mandarin-cranberry-oatmeal cookies, see below. Oh, and I didn't forget the picture of me with George Clooney. Now that was a prize I'm glad I won!

My site is not all about winning prizes, it's about winning in life. In my life, that includes prizes, but it all happens the same way, intending the best situations, the best outcomes, and ultimately the best life you can live!

Award Winning Cookies

2 ½ C Flour
2C Oatmeal
1 Tsp Baking soda
¼ Tsp Nutmeg
6 Small Mandarins or 1 Large Orange
1 C Raisins
1 C Butter
1 C Sugar
1 C Lt. Brown Sugar
2 Large Eggs
1 Tsp Vanilla
1 Tbs Mandarin zest
2 oz Grand Marnier
1 C Dried Cranberries

In a bowl, mix flour, oatmeal, baking soda, and nutmeg. In a food processor or blender, combine mandarins and raisins and process until finely chopped. In a mixing bowl, cream butter, sugar, and brown sugar. Add eggs, vanilla, mandarin zest, and Grand Marnier until completely blended. Stir in mandarin mixture and then gradually add flour mixture. Add dried cranberries. Mix on low until completely mixed. Cover and refrigerate dough for one hour. Spoon dough onto ungreased or lightly greased cookie sheets 2 inched apart and bake at 350 for 12-14 minutes. Remove from cookie sheets and cool on wire racks.

*1 C Chopped Walnuts - optional

Icing

16 oz Powdered Sugar
¼ C Warm Water
1 Tsp Orange Extract
1 Tbs Meringue Powder
1 Tsp Mandarin Zest

In a mixing bowl add powdered sugar and warm water and start mixer on low speed. While mixing, add orange extract, meringue powder, and mandarin zest. Stop mixer and scrape down the bowl making sure all dry ingredients are mixing in. Mix on medium speed adding more water if necessary 1 tsp at a time until desired consistency. Using a pastry bag, plastic bag, or spoon, drizzle icing on cool cookies and let icing set.