#1 chocolate chip cookie recipe. (letter #2)

Dear 30 year old self- (letter #4)

I know I just blogged a few days ago about how food is "just food"-  but I have to admit- that applies to every other food BUT cookies. 

I adore cookies... eating them, baking them, dipping them in milk- they are just delightful! 

I was once given the nick name "cookie monster" for loving cookies so much. I've been known to finish an entire batch all by myself- (that was back when my metabolism was amazing) but now a days, I like to allow myself one day of guilt free baking. Those days are usually Sundays...and I like to call them my "Sweet Sundays." Something about mixing the ingredients with a wooden spoon,  inhaling all the ingredients as they mix together is heaven on earth. Not to mention getting to lick the spoon afterwards. MMMM...I am making myself hungry. Anyhow I hope to continue to bake more cookies for years to come. 

Sinserly, Cookie Monster

I have found the most delightfully chewy chocolate chip recipe ever!! I found it here on pinterest and have been making these lovlies ever since. They are divine! 

Ingredients: 

3/4 c. unsalted butter, softened 

3/4 c. brown sugar 

1/4 c. granulated sugar 

1 egg 

2 tsp. vanilla extract 

2 c. all purpose flour 

2 tsp. cornstarch 

1 tsp. baking soda 

1/2 tsp. salt 

1 c. bittersweet chocolate chips

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2.  In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugars until fluffy and light in color. Add egg and vanilla and blend in.

3.  Mix in flour, cornstarch, baking soda and salt. Stir in chocolate chunks.

4.  Using a standard-sized cookie scoop or tablespoon, drop dough onto a prepared baking sheet.  Bake for 8-10 minutes, until barely golden brown around the edges.  (The tops will not brown, but do NOT cook longer than ten minutes.)

5.  Let cool, on the sheet, on a wire rack for five minutes.  Remove from baking sheet and let cool completely.  Makes approximately 3 dozen.  Try not to eat them all.

besitos, xo

Cross another off the FALL LIST...

I have great memories of making Halloween dinner with my cousin Hilda and thought I would bring that tradition into my family. So, last night I made jack-o-laterns (stuffed yellow peppers)

STUFFED PEPPERS

1 cup Wild Rice

4 whole Bell Peppers Innards Removed and faces cut out

2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 cup Yellow Onion, Diced

3 cloves Garlic, Minced

3 whole Italian Sausage Links, Casings Removed

1 Tablespoon Ground Cinnamon

1 teaspoon Freshly Grated Nutmeg

1 Tablespoon Smoked Paprika

1 pinch Crushed Red Pepper Flakes

¼ cups Yellow Raisins

1 pinch Coarse Salt

1 pinch Freshly Ground Pepper

1 carton (26.46 Oz. Size) Pomi Strained Tomatoes, Divided

¼ cups Freshly Grated Parmesan

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350ºF.

Cook the rice in boiling water for about 20 minutes.

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add the onion and saute 4 minutes. Add the garlic and bloom 30 seconds. Add the sausage and break up with a wooden spoon. Cook about 5 minutes until fully cooked. Add the cinnamon, nutmeg, paprika, diced bell pepper tops,and a good pinch of salt and pepper. Saute another minute.

Add 1/2 cup of the strained tomatoes and stir to combine.

Stuff each pepper with the sausage mixture and place in a small baking dish.

Bake 30 minutes.

Switch oven to broiler, sprinkle peppers with cheese, stick it back in for a minute, until the cheese melts.

Serve peppers with a good drizzle of the bubbly tomato sauce. 

While I was writing this post I realized I haven't posted this year's FALL LIST yet and well- we are almost through fall...how fast time flies by... you can see some of the recent things we crossed off our list on my sister-in-law's blog here and here.

My fall list:

Pumpkin Patch

Carve pumpkins

Play in the leaves

Leaf Art

Carmel Apples

Halloween Dinner

Watch Troll 2

Buy Scented fall soap

Make a bonfire in the backyard

Spend an entire day cuddling

Halloween sugar cookies

Have Apple Cider

Fall nail polish

What is on your list?

Besitos,

Sugar Cookies....

 Gotta keep those sugar cravings satisfied...so here is a delicious recipe. 

Bright Halloween colors.

Halloween cut outs (that's supposed to be a cat)

Don't ever forget to assign someone as the frosting licker

Take to the neighbors.

(This recipe I got from my sister in law Deb)

SUGAR COOKIES

6 c flour

3/4 tsp salt

2 c salted butter (softened)

2 1/4 c sugar

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

3 large eggs

4 TBSP milk

(**I personally like to add a touch of almond extract) 

preheat oven to 375

whisk together flour/salt and set aside

cream together butter and sugar

add eggs, milk, vanilla

add flour mixture slowly and beat on low until combined

Divde dough in half and form into two balls. Flatten into a disk and wrap tightly in plastic and refrigerate for 1 hour

On a floured (or p sugared) surface roll out dough to desired thickness (they will not puff up a ton so if you want them thick- as she made them- roll them out as thick as you want them to be). She used a big flower cookie cutter so they were delightfully giant.

Bake for 10-12 minutes- she usually takes them out early- like 8/9 minutes. Let them set on pan for a min or two if you do.

Cool and frost (delightful receipe to follow) then eat the crud out of them and repeat as necessay until your Heifertitis is fulfilled.

ICING

8 oz cream cheese (softened)

1/4 c butter (softened)

1 tsp vanilla

powder sugar

(**dash of almond extract for my frosting choice)

mix cream cheese, butter and vanilla til creamy then add powdered sugar to desired consistency

enjoy!
besitos,

Weed & Wish Wednesday

I heart HOT Breakfasts. I have been wanting to make more hot breakfasts for my family...the only problem is... it requires waking up a tad too early for this not-so-morning mama... but today I thought I would start giving it a whirl. German Pancakes for little toddlers are a great way for them to practice using a fork because it easy (and its a good way to get some protein too) ...and it's buttery delicious.

Only thing is I made the first batch with rancid expired milk... gross.

Weed of the day: 

Making a batch of German Pancakes to find out that I made it with rotten milk and had to quickly whip up a new batch with a  grumpy hungry toddler in my arms.

expired.

new batch and old batch.

Wish of the day: 

Seeing this kid smile when he took a bite...Totally worth it. 

Super Easy Recipe for German Pancakes I used this morning:

• 6 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
• Place the eggs, milk, flour and salt in a blender; cover and process until smooth. Pour the butter into an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish; add the batter. Bake, uncovered, at 400 degrees F for 20 minutes.

xoxo,