Two more cookie posts after this one. I thought this was a good idea until I realized that it made me have to write something every day. Normally not a bad thing but it is a bit hectic around here this week. So, I am again taking the easy way out and giving you a cookie recipe that I not only do not have to type out, but I have not even tried yet! However, it combines two of my favorite things: cheese and Nutella. Just say the word "Nutella" and I am your bitch. Well, not really. But I might shank you for it. These are the cookies I am making for Santa this year because I really think he would like to try them as well. It felt pretty weird combining Santa and prison slang in the same paragraph but I am going with it. So here we go - Nutella Pockets.
http://http://www.lafujimama.com/2009/10/nutella-pocket-cookies/
I saw these on the Food Network on someone else's show and they called them something else but they are the same thing. Santa can't wait! Oh and my love for Nutella is such that it is getting its own label below.
I also may leave this out for Santa so he can loosen that big black belt. Caprese Salad. Nothing says "save room for Nutella Pockets" like a nice plate of green leaf lettuce, sliced whole mozzerella, roma tomatoes and chopped basil topped with balsamic vinegar, olive oil and salt and pepper. Sounds like Santa made the "nice list" too!
Showing posts with label Cookies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cookies. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Day 9 of the 12 Days of Christmas Cookies - the Neiman Marcus Cookie Recipe
This is now my go to chocolate chip cookie recipe. Of course I have it listed in my cookbook as "Most Excellent Chocolate Chip Cookies (Brandy)" because my sister is the one who gave it to me.
2 1/2 cups oatmeal, blended (I do it super-fine because I want it to look like me.)
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
2 sticks of butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 1/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 bag semi-sweet chocolate chunks
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat butter and sugars until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time beating well after each one. Add vanilla. Then add all of the dry ingredients with the chips and chunks being last. Drop about 1 to 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 9 minutes and 42 seconds. I tend to slightly undercook my cookies on the theory that they will continue to cook a little after they are out of the oven. And I like a gooey cookie.
Today's meal (for you, not me) is Shrimp Scampi. This one is from the Neeley's. I enjoy watching their show on the Food Network although sometimes I am afraid they are going have a Cinemax after-dark moment. I also decrease the butter in this one (sometimes).
http://http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/patrick-and-gina-neely/ginas-shrimp-scampi-with-angel-hair-pasta-recipe/index.html
2 1/2 cups oatmeal, blended (I do it super-fine because I want it to look like me.)
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
2 sticks of butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 1/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 bag semi-sweet chocolate chunks
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat butter and sugars until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time beating well after each one. Add vanilla. Then add all of the dry ingredients with the chips and chunks being last. Drop about 1 to 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 9 minutes and 42 seconds. I tend to slightly undercook my cookies on the theory that they will continue to cook a little after they are out of the oven. And I like a gooey cookie.
Today's meal (for you, not me) is Shrimp Scampi. This one is from the Neeley's. I enjoy watching their show on the Food Network although sometimes I am afraid they are going have a Cinemax after-dark moment. I also decrease the butter in this one (sometimes).
http://http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/patrick-and-gina-neely/ginas-shrimp-scampi-with-angel-hair-pasta-recipe/index.html
Monday, December 20, 2010
Days 7 and 8 of 12 Days of Christmas Cookies - Chocolate Raspberry Spritz and Maple Snickerdoodles
I have been trying to post everyday but in hindsight that seems a little ambitious. Next year I will plan ahead and have my 12 days of Christmas Cookie posts done early, save 'em up and then just add a little tidbit of yuletide snark and be done! You know, the same with Christmas cards!
Chocolate Raspberry Spritz - from the same Nestle cookbook as the Merry Spritz but with chocolate and raspberry
1 1/2 foil wrapped (3 oz) unsweetened chocolate baking bars
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
1/2 cup raspberry preserves (I use raspberry or blackberry jam)
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups all purpose flour
Preheat oven to 350. In small saucepan over low heat, melt chocolate and set aside.
In large mixer bowl, beat butter, sugar and salt until creamy. Blend in egg, preserves (or jam) and vanilla extract. Blend in melted chocolate. Gradually beat in flour. Place dough in cookie press fitted with desired tip. Press dough onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes until set. Let stand one minute. Remove from cookie sheets and cool.
Your good for you meal is something sort of generic but really tasty if you do it up right: Grilled Chicken Salad. Sounds lame, right? Maybe, maybe not. I season the chicken with greek seasoning then grill on the George Foreman. Slice it up and place it on top of your choice of greens. Add some (but not a lot) of mandarian orange slices, craisins and toasted almond slivers. Also a bit of crumbed goat cheese and a light raspberry vinaigrette and that is one tasty salad! (Not something you will hear me say a lot.)
Day 8 is Maple Snickerdoodles and I totally get to cheat on this one. I love maple syrup. So much so that it is pretty much the only syrup I buy anymore. Second place in the syrup hierarchy goes to Smucker's Blackberry syrup but the bastards quit selling it my area. Pretty soon I am going to have to order syrup online and for some reason that seems sad. . . . . . . I just searched and they do not sell it anywhere within a 120 mile radius of my house. Lame. So, back to maple syrup. I also love snickerdoodles or almost any cookie rolled in sugar and this one is rolled in maple sugar!!! I have not tried it but here is a link to the recipe I am going to try. Soon. Like this weekend when my minion, I mean my sister comes to visit. (Love you B!)
http://http//allrecipes.com//Recipe/ultimate-maple-snickerdoodles/Detail.aspx
I should have done a maple theme with that Pork Tenderloin with Maple Glaze but that would have made sense. So your healthy item could be a meal if you ate enough of them but is more of a side dish. Spinach Topped Tomatoes. This recipe came from my well used and loved cookbook from a school in my hometown. Back in 1995 I was a young college graduate with visions of law school in my head and a job as a customer service representative at a local insurance agency. Starting salary $12,000. Seriously. There I was, toiling away fielding calls from people who needed to either file a claim because they ran into a deer (happens a lot more than you think and should be covered by your collision coverage) or reluctantly add their teenage child to their auto policy. The owners and their kids went to this private school and came in wanting to sell the cookbooks to the employees. I think the cookbook cost about 5% of my net earnings but I was suckered into buying it anyway. Or was it $5.00? Either way it seemed like a lot to me. But I have used this cookbook so much the back page jumped ship and there seems to be more of my notetaking than the actual print.
1 pkg frozen chopped spinach
1 cup bread crumbs (sometimes I use the Progresso Italian breadcrumbs)
1 medium onion, chopped (or about 1 tsp onion powder if you are like me and like the flavor of onions without actually eating them)
2 eggs, well beaten
1 stick of butter (I do 1/4 to 1/2 a stick)
1/4 cup Romano cheese
1/2 tsp Accent (which I've yet to find so I do not use)
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp pepper
Dash of cayenne and salt
You can really use whatever seasonings you like. Switch it up. Using a colander, press the water out of the spinach. This is the worst part of this whole recipe. Mix all ingredients and put on top of a thickly sliced tomato. Arrange either on a foil-lined cookie sheet with edges or in large Pyrex dish. Sprinkle with grated mozzarella cheese (if you like) and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake for about 5 to 10 minutes then turn on the broiler to get the cheese bubbly and brown. Store leftovers in fridge. Leftovers are also good cold if you like that kind of thing.
Chocolate Raspberry Spritz - from the same Nestle cookbook as the Merry Spritz but with chocolate and raspberry
1 1/2 foil wrapped (3 oz) unsweetened chocolate baking bars
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
1/2 cup raspberry preserves (I use raspberry or blackberry jam)
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups all purpose flour
Preheat oven to 350. In small saucepan over low heat, melt chocolate and set aside.
In large mixer bowl, beat butter, sugar and salt until creamy. Blend in egg, preserves (or jam) and vanilla extract. Blend in melted chocolate. Gradually beat in flour. Place dough in cookie press fitted with desired tip. Press dough onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes until set. Let stand one minute. Remove from cookie sheets and cool.
Your good for you meal is something sort of generic but really tasty if you do it up right: Grilled Chicken Salad. Sounds lame, right? Maybe, maybe not. I season the chicken with greek seasoning then grill on the George Foreman. Slice it up and place it on top of your choice of greens. Add some (but not a lot) of mandarian orange slices, craisins and toasted almond slivers. Also a bit of crumbed goat cheese and a light raspberry vinaigrette and that is one tasty salad! (Not something you will hear me say a lot.)
Day 8 is Maple Snickerdoodles and I totally get to cheat on this one. I love maple syrup. So much so that it is pretty much the only syrup I buy anymore. Second place in the syrup hierarchy goes to Smucker's Blackberry syrup but the bastards quit selling it my area. Pretty soon I am going to have to order syrup online and for some reason that seems sad. . . . . . . I just searched and they do not sell it anywhere within a 120 mile radius of my house. Lame. So, back to maple syrup. I also love snickerdoodles or almost any cookie rolled in sugar and this one is rolled in maple sugar!!! I have not tried it but here is a link to the recipe I am going to try. Soon. Like this weekend when my minion, I mean my sister comes to visit. (Love you B!)
http://http//allrecipes.com//Recipe/ultimate-maple-snickerdoodles/Detail.aspx
I should have done a maple theme with that Pork Tenderloin with Maple Glaze but that would have made sense. So your healthy item could be a meal if you ate enough of them but is more of a side dish. Spinach Topped Tomatoes. This recipe came from my well used and loved cookbook from a school in my hometown. Back in 1995 I was a young college graduate with visions of law school in my head and a job as a customer service representative at a local insurance agency. Starting salary $12,000. Seriously. There I was, toiling away fielding calls from people who needed to either file a claim because they ran into a deer (happens a lot more than you think and should be covered by your collision coverage) or reluctantly add their teenage child to their auto policy. The owners and their kids went to this private school and came in wanting to sell the cookbooks to the employees. I think the cookbook cost about 5% of my net earnings but I was suckered into buying it anyway. Or was it $5.00? Either way it seemed like a lot to me. But I have used this cookbook so much the back page jumped ship and there seems to be more of my notetaking than the actual print.
1 pkg frozen chopped spinach
1 cup bread crumbs (sometimes I use the Progresso Italian breadcrumbs)
1 medium onion, chopped (or about 1 tsp onion powder if you are like me and like the flavor of onions without actually eating them)
2 eggs, well beaten
1 stick of butter (I do 1/4 to 1/2 a stick)
1/4 cup Romano cheese
1/2 tsp Accent (which I've yet to find so I do not use)
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp pepper
Dash of cayenne and salt
You can really use whatever seasonings you like. Switch it up. Using a colander, press the water out of the spinach. This is the worst part of this whole recipe. Mix all ingredients and put on top of a thickly sliced tomato. Arrange either on a foil-lined cookie sheet with edges or in large Pyrex dish. Sprinkle with grated mozzarella cheese (if you like) and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake for about 5 to 10 minutes then turn on the broiler to get the cheese bubbly and brown. Store leftovers in fridge. Leftovers are also good cold if you like that kind of thing.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Day 6 of 12 Days of Christmas Cookies - Merry Spritz Cookies
No, my internet was not down yesterday. I wish I had a good excuse for not posting but sadly it was because I was obsessed with the Lowe's 90% off Gift-a-Thon and stalked their facebook status. I ended up being able to enter for about 7 items but did not get bupkis. Oh, I forgot I did get thank-you-for-playing-you-can-have-20%-off coupons but there is just a bit of difference between 20% and 90%. Then last night I got to go to a lovely Christmas party. There was Christmas punch, liquored-up eggnog and wine so when I got home, no posting. Laundry, yes. Posting, no. So on to the cookies! I love spritz cookies and these are my favorites. The recipes come from a Nestle Tollhouse cookbook that I am sure I picked up in the check-out aisle of the grocery store one day. I have never been able to find the "Merry Morsels" and I don't put that extra chip in the middle of the cookie.
Merry Spritz Cookies
1 foil-wrapped bar (2 oz) white chocolate baking bar
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
2 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In small saucepan over low heat, melt white chocolate. Set aside.
In large mixer bowl, beat butter, sugar and salt until creamy. Blend in egg and vanilla. Blend in white chocolate. Gradually beat in flour. Place dough in a cookie press fitted with desired tip. Press dough onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 7 to 9 minutes until set. Let stand one minute and remove from sheets to cool.
Your healthy dinner: Pork Tenderloin with Maple Glaze (really healthy if you go easy on the glaze when serving).
Trim pork if desired (and I do.) Rub pork with 2 tsp of sage, salt and pepper. Melt 1 tbsp butter in pan over medium high heat until bubbling and hot. Add pork and cook until brown on all sides, about 10 minutes. Reduce heat to medium low, cover and cook until pork reaches 150 degrees. Set aside.
While pork is cooking, whisk 5 tbsp maple syrup, 4 tbsp apple cider vinegar and 2 tsp Dijon mustard in a small bowl. Once you take the pork out of the pan, add 2 tbsp of apple cider vinegar to the skillet and bring to a boil scrapping up any browned bits. Reduce heat to medium low. Return pork and juices to pan. Add maple syrup mixture and turn pork in the glaze just until coated, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Transfer pork to cutting board. Cut pork into 1/2 inch slices. Stir remaining 1 tbsp maple syrup into glaze and season with salt and pepper. Serve with healthy sides.
Merry Spritz Cookies
1 foil-wrapped bar (2 oz) white chocolate baking bar
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
2 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In small saucepan over low heat, melt white chocolate. Set aside.
In large mixer bowl, beat butter, sugar and salt until creamy. Blend in egg and vanilla. Blend in white chocolate. Gradually beat in flour. Place dough in a cookie press fitted with desired tip. Press dough onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 7 to 9 minutes until set. Let stand one minute and remove from sheets to cool.
Your healthy dinner: Pork Tenderloin with Maple Glaze (really healthy if you go easy on the glaze when serving).
Trim pork if desired (and I do.) Rub pork with 2 tsp of sage, salt and pepper. Melt 1 tbsp butter in pan over medium high heat until bubbling and hot. Add pork and cook until brown on all sides, about 10 minutes. Reduce heat to medium low, cover and cook until pork reaches 150 degrees. Set aside.
While pork is cooking, whisk 5 tbsp maple syrup, 4 tbsp apple cider vinegar and 2 tsp Dijon mustard in a small bowl. Once you take the pork out of the pan, add 2 tbsp of apple cider vinegar to the skillet and bring to a boil scrapping up any browned bits. Reduce heat to medium low. Return pork and juices to pan. Add maple syrup mixture and turn pork in the glaze just until coated, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Transfer pork to cutting board. Cut pork into 1/2 inch slices. Stir remaining 1 tbsp maple syrup into glaze and season with salt and pepper. Serve with healthy sides.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Days 4 & 5 of 12 Days of Christmas Cookies - Fudgy BonBons and PB&J Bars
So my internet was down from yesterday morning thru late this afternoon. Therefore you get two cookie recipes!
The first is Fudgy Bonbons. I got this one from a Pillsbury cookbook. It originally came from a lady named Mary Anne Tyndall who was Pillsbury's grand prize winner in their 1994 contest. And because of the glory of all things on the internet, I do not have to type it up! (although if the link does not work, let me know and I will post it)
I do not do the drizzle over the cookies because I just don't want to. Instead I take a shaker of powdered sugar and lightly dust the cookies. I find they look more festive.
Now your healthy meal: Filet with Merlot Sauce. A bit on the fancy side but super easy if you know how to cook a steak. And because I want to make my life easy tonight here is the link:
I only cook this at Christmas or for my birthday so it is served with either mashed potatoes or twice-baked potatoes. To keep with the healthy theme though, serve it up with a salad and maybe some sauteed green beans.
Yesterday was a day to run around. And around. And around. Luckily I had my momz to chauffeur me while my Christmas/Birthday presents were being installed on my car. I am seriously going to put bows on my tires Christmas Eve and make the kids go to the driveway to see what Santa brought Mommy. Or maybe just the one new car bow and have four hangy-down bits with arrows pointing to the tires. Yeah, that's it. So I am going into the grocery store to pick up five things when the garage calls to tell me the car is ready. Cool, I only a few things then I can pick up the car! Of course when I go into Harris Teeter they are having another free Holiday Wine Tasting!!!! FREE WINE!!! AGAIN!!! And of course I do not have time to hang out. Blast.
The cookie recipe for today is from Ina Garten. Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars. I came across this one while flipping thru a cookbook at the library. It has that lovely salty/sweet combination and I believe I used blackberry jam instead of raspberry although I bet any jam would be good. I just picked up a jar of Marionberry jam yesterday so now it knows its purpose. Here is the link:
For your healthy dinner I am going to take the easy way out tonight because I am just that tired and I need to finish a book that is already overdue at the 'brary and it is late and I think I still have laundry in the wash. . . . . . . . . Yes, I do. Frick. Ok, so before you make or eat the PB&J bars have this for dinner: Baked salmon with this marinade:
The marinade does have a bit of heat from the red pepper flakes but is sooooo tasty. I get it at either Harris Teeter or Fresh Market. Serve it up with some steamed broccoli!
Ok, there is a lot going on in the news lately, something about Wikileaks and some dude who does not mind spreading secrets but wants his house-arrest location kept underwraps and then there is something about taxes and politics. I really would like to know what is going on but it is hard to listen to the news in the morning with two kids all up in my grill while I try to guzzle a vat of coffee to keep up with them. The one thing I did learn from the Today Show this week is that Teva and someone else made a Teva stiletto. Four-inch high sandals. And they can be yours for the low, low price of $330.00.
I also learned that some guys will think that a wrapped tampon can look like a Christmas treat:
http://http//www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/40606754#40606754 or try this one:
If you watch this video, the bit I am talking about is about 7 minutes in and if you let the video load, you can fast forward to the Bobbie Thomas section.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Day 3 of 12 Days of Christmas Cookies - Chocolate Chip Shortbread
I have had this recipe for at least 12 years and love it. So easy, buttery and crispy yet slightly chewy. It also has a bit of salty sweet going for it which is always respectable in a cookie. They look at little something like this:
Chocolate Chip Shortbread
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup all purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl with electric mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla. Add flour and salt. Stir in chips. Easy peasy!
Divide dough in half. Press each half into ungreased 8 inch round cake pan (it can be thin in some places). Bake 12 minutes or until edges are light brown. Score (cut almost all the way thru) shortbread with sharp knife. Make 8 wedges per pan.
Let pans stand on wire racks for 10 minutes. Invert (I always think of "Top Gun" when I hear this word but you do not need to flip off your shortbread. Unless you are in a bad mood and it makes you feel better then please, by all means do so.) shortbread onto wire racks. Cool completely and break into wedges.
Now your healthy dinner.
Chicken Burgers with Feta Cheese on Mini Pitas
This is actually a Weight Watchers recipe and very tasty. You can use ground chicken or ground turkey. Personally I find the ground turkey a bit dry. You can use regular, low-fat or, if they make it, fat free feta. You can also use either white or wheat mini pitas. Put ground chicken in a bowl (I use a mixer for better feta distribution), add 1/4 to a whole container of feta cheese. Well, it is this kind of feta cheese, which I think is about 8 oz. Use plain, garlic, sun-dried tomato or whatever flavor you like.
You can also add any spices you like to the mixture. Make 4 patties and grill 'em up on the George Foreman. Toast up some mini pita, smack the burger in the middle and you are done! For some reason I like to put taco sauce on the burger. I think because I like the idea of Mexico and Greece hanging out together. Of course you can also add your regular burger toppings like lettuce, tomato, blah, blah, blah.
Today was a day of running around. Took the boy to the gym, dropped off stuff at Goodwill, ate some pizza and did some Christmas shopping. Along the way I encountered an awesome server at Mellow Mushroom, a lot of rude drivers around South Park Mall, free Godiva chocolate and had fun trading insults with a good friend. But what stands out the most is the lesson I learned at the My Gym. Don't judge a book (read: person) by its cover (or outside appearance). We went to a different class today so there were new kids and, of course, new moms. One lady stood out because she was about six feet tall, very thin and attractive in an old school Ralph Lauren sort of way. She also had a two-month old she was carrying around, feeding and getting to sleep while she was chasing and playing with her two year old! So of course I am thinking "of course she has a nanny at home, how can she look and act that together with a two year old and a baby?!?!" I end up talking to her and she also has a four year old at home! Three kids under four! Crikey! She was super nice and said that she barely sleeps and her days are "challenging." Just because someone looks like they have their act together does not mean that they do.
The other lady came in with her two year old girl wearing a really cute Christmas dress and fancy Christmas bow in her hair. The mom was wearing skinny jeans, flowing black shirt, tons of diamond and pearl jewelry and a headband that looked sort of like this but was in black and white:
My first reaction was "that headband is ridiculous." Especially since most moms at the My Gym look like me: jeans or sweatpants and a casual shirt with one or more of the following stains: spit-up, wet and smushed Goldfish, yogurt or crumbs of any variety cracker, bread or cookie. Hair styles range from ponytail to hidden-under-a-hat-and-therefore-greasy-because-there-has-been-no-time-to-wash-it-in-five-days (I am assuming). My second reaction was "I would have nothing in common with her." Ok so that one ended up probably true but I learned that she is very nice and sweet and she talked to a lot of the other kids and moms which is rare in my neck of the woods. She started by telling me that my Ellie is beautiful and should be in commercials. That in and of itself is a one-way ticket to awesome in my book. Then she made me feel like one of the mad elderly with the following anecdote. Her daughter's name is Perri (or Perry, whatever, doesn't matter) and Perri has a cousin named Mason. She said she has never heard of the tv show ("Is the guy's name Mason Perry?" Um, no, but thank you for playing) but the grandparents get a kick out it whenever the cousins are together. Ok, how old do you have to be to remember Perry Mason? So she made me feel as old as her grandparents but she was super nice and while the headband was a bit much for the gym, she carried it off with her outgoing personality. So the lesson: we moms have got to stick together regardless of fashion.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Day 2 of 12 Days of Christmas Cookies - Chewy Fudgy Brownie Cookies
This recipe came from the wrapping of a baking pan that I am not sure I still own. Doesn't matter. The cookies are easy to make, very tasty and freeze well. And they look like this:
Chewy Fudgy Brownie Cookies:
1 box of this (or any other brownie mix you like):
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup oil
1 egg
2 tbsp water
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (if you use a chip-less brownie mix or you like extra chocolate chips and I would be suspicious of anyone who did not)
1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional and I never use, pecans are for pies not chewy fudgy brownie cookies)
Powdered sugar
In large bowl, mix brownie mix and flour. Add oil, egg and water and mix well. Add chips then nuts, if you must.
Roll dough into 1 1/2 inch balls. Roll in powdered sugar. Place 2 inches apart on greased baking sheet (or use the cool non-stick mat or parchment paper).
Bake at 350 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes or until tops of cookies begin to crack. Do not overbake. Immediately move to cooling rack. Pour big glass of milk and try to share.
Now for your healthy dinner: Fish Tacos with Low Fat Key Lime Sour Cream
The first time I had this was at Mama Kwan's in the Outerbanks. They served blackened fish with the key lime sour cream and I was hooked. I don't know how to blacken something without burning it so this is my version. I bake up some tilapia filets from either the Fresh Market or Earth Fare (the fish at Harris Teeter looks all tired.) Sprinkle with some of this, but go lightly unless you like it spicy
Bake at 375 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes (depending on how thick the fish). While fish is baking, mix up some regular, low-fat or fat-free sour cream (about 1/2 cup) with about 1 tbsp of this:
and about a teaspoon of sugar. You can add more key lime juice or sugar to taste. When fish is done, flake with fork. Get out your tortilla or soft taco (or crunchy taco) shells, add your fish, maybe some cheese, some shredded cabbage if you like, and drizzle key lime sour cream over all of it. Serve with some refried beans and a salad.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Day 1 of 12 Days of Christmas Cookies - Peanut Butter Blossoms
So I'll start ya'll off with an easy one and one of my favorites. Peanut Butter Blossoms. The yummy tastiness of sugar-coated peanut butter cookies with Hershey Kisses. I have tried it with several different types of peanut butter cookie recipies (and will continue to try more) but this one is my favorite.
Step One: Buy this (well, maybe not the 12 pack unless you have an unhealthy love for peanut butter cookies or you may need to make a lot for a charity bake sale or something which is much healthier and way better for the world unless the charity is for people who cannot eat sugar or gluten and then you are just mean.)
Mix according to directions. You will need water, vegetable oil and an egg. Roll into balls, heh, then roll in a bowl of this (probably about 1/4 cup):
While the cookies are baking, peel and try not to eat a lot of these:
Step One: Buy this (well, maybe not the 12 pack unless you have an unhealthy love for peanut butter cookies or you may need to make a lot for a charity bake sale or something which is much healthier and way better for the world unless the charity is for people who cannot eat sugar or gluten and then you are just mean.)
Mix according to directions. You will need water, vegetable oil and an egg. Roll into balls, heh, then roll in a bowl of this (probably about 1/4 cup):
While the cookies are baking, peel and try not to eat a lot of these:
When the cookies are done, as soon as you take them out of the oven, put a kiss (the chocolate kind or you will burn your mouth) on each cookie. Oh, the simple goodness.
Now, for your complimentary healthy meal to balance out the one cookie you are going to have before giving the rest away.
Pork Tenderloin with Blackberry Ketchup. The first time I had this was in law school. A friend and I went out to a nice restaurant instead of the usual student eateries we normally frequented. The restaurant was in or near the old Claussen's Bakery building on Greene Street in Columbia. We are talking circa 1998. They served this dish with mashed potatoes and probably some sort of vegetable. I looked around for years for the recipe for the blackberry ketchup and finally found it in a sauce cookbook, go figure. There are versions online but the ones I saw called for fresh blackberries and I just don't have that kind of time. This version calls for one very easy to open jar of blackberry jam. My one bit of advice is to make the blackberry ketchup in the morning or early afternoon so your house has a lovely smell the rest of the day. It does reheat nicely in the microwave.
Blackberry Ketchup:
1 jar (10 to 12 oz) blackberry jam
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 tsp allspice
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
pinch of cloves
1/2 tsp salt
pinch of pepper to taste
Combine all of the above in a small sauce pan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to low and let simmer for 20 minutes. Serve immediately or refrigerate after it cools a bit.
Prepare the pork by cutting off all the fatty bits. Give it a nice massage of salt, pepper and ground sage. If you are out of sage, like I am tonight, sprinkle some garlic powder and/or onion powder. Bake at 400 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes or until it looks done (maybe just a hint of light pink in the middle). Drizzle blackberry ketchup over sliced pork and serve with your favorite healthy side. Tonight was a bit of lima beans and a salad. Would also go nicely with a sweet potato. And of course mashed potatoes. You will amaze your friends! At least I amaze myself when I eat it.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Soup and Cookies Part Deux
So today's soup was split pea with ham. Very easy in the crock pot but had to borrow my neighbor's immersion blender to make it all thicky and yummy. (See previous post about how I killed my blender making soup. Yes, soup. Not crazy margaritas but soup. Yes, it is sad.) Here is the link:
http://http//southernfood.about.com/od/crockpotsoup/r/bl17c5.htm
Yesterday my neighbor's son brought over some delicious cookies that he made for a meeting. Yes, 10 year olds have meetings. And they make cookies for them. He brought four but I had to do quality control in the front yard before bringing them in to the family.
Thanks Josh!
http://http//southernfood.about.com/od/crockpotsoup/r/bl17c5.htm
Yesterday my neighbor's son brought over some delicious cookies that he made for a meeting. Yes, 10 year olds have meetings. And they make cookies for them. He brought four but I had to do quality control in the front yard before bringing them in to the family.
And here is the recipe!
Thanks Josh!
Friday, December 3, 2010
The Fast and the Furious
I was a little ambitious when it came to cooking today. Ambitious then lazy. I have been wanting to try my hand at homemade butternut squash soup. I bought some cut up squash a couple of days ago with that "buy-me-now-before-I-go-bad-and-save-$2-and-risk-ecoli-poisoning" sticker on it for a little incentive. I started the process around lunch which was probably about 2 1/2 hours before the squash started growing limbs. After a delay of game (I realized I did not have enough chicken broth so made a mad dash to Trader Joe's where I ran in to get chicken broth and came out with two double bagged bags of yummies and drinkies because if you go to Trader Joe's you HAVE to buy wine. Seriously, it is a law) I finally cooked up the soup and ended up puree-ing the very soul out of my blender. Well, not so much the soul as the "coupling." I finished it off with a food processor and it turned out not disgusting. I would not go so far as to say "really good" but "passable" would be a good description. I think I mucked up the squash somehow so I am going to try again. So here's that recipe from foodnetwork.com which I cannot seem to copy and paste and do not feel like retyping at this point so I will link it:
Then I decided that I cannot possibly decorate the tree without homemade cookies and eggnog. So I ended up making four tons of Drop Sugar Cookies. I love sugar cookies but hate, hate, hate, hate, hate rolling out dough so this recipe seemed like something I should try. Sadly I do not have a link so I will power forward and share:
Drop Sugar Cookies
6 cups all purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 1/4 cups butter softened (4 1/2 sticks)
3 cups of sugar
3 eggs
9 tablespoons of milk
6 tablespoons vanilla extract
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In medium/large bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt until blended.
- In large bowl with mixer at medium-low speed, beat butter and sugar until creamy. Add eggs, milk and vanilla; beat until well blended. Reduce speed to low; beat in flour mixture just until blended.
- Drop by rounded measuring tablespoons (I used a regular spoon) 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheet.
- Bake until edges are browned, about 13 minutes. Transfer to wire cooling rack to cool completely.
I ended up freezing most of them but may need to borrow my neighbor's freezer if I need some ice. It made a lot of cookies. A lot. You can also add other stuff to the dough like chopped nuts, mini chocolate chips, or lemon zest/peel/juice. I would post a picture but they are asthetically boring to the eye even though they are yummy.
Soup's done. Cookies are done and now people have the nerve to ask me what is for dinner! Soup and cookies, that's what! Nah, the boy will not eat soup and as relaxed as I have been about his eating lately, I cannot justify cookies for dinner for a toddler. Not on a Friday.
While I was at Trader Joe's they were sampling this:
With this:
So that and a salad made up the very late dinner. Pretty good and you should totally check it out! That is if you have a Trader Joe's near you. And you are not a vegetarian.
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