Recipe: Double White Chocolate Pretzel Peanut Butter Cookies

Double White Chocolate Pretzel Peanut Butter Cookies

SOURCE: The creative genius behind http://picky-palate.com/

DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: Easy

RECIPE TYPE: Ridiculously good cookies

PREP TIME: 30 minutes

COOK TIME: 12 minutes per batch

Likelihood of being consumed by Katie: Delicious

Likelihood of being consumed by Adam: According to Adam they are "the bomb"

Sophie's opinion: Loved them!

RECIPE:

INGREDIENTS:

1 stick softened butter, 8 tablespoons

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

1 cup white chocolate chips, to melt

1 1/4 cups creamy peanut butter (reserve 2 tablespoons to add to melting white chips)

1 large egg

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1 cup broken pretzel pieces

1 cup additional white chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

2. Cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy

3. Melt white chocolate chips and 2 Tablespoons peanut butter over a double boiler until melted.

4. Add melted chocolate chips  and remaining peanut butter to beaten butter and sugars. 

5. Beat in egg and vanilla.

6.  Place flour, baking soda and salt in bowl; mix to combine. 

7. Add to wet ingredients until just combined. 

8. Pour in pretzels and additional white chocolate chips.  

9. With a cookie scoop, scoop dough onto a silpat or parchment lined baking sheet.  

10. With the palms of your hand, gently press down each cookie to about 1/2 inch in thickness.

11. Sprinkle each cookie with a touch of sea salt.   

12. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until edges become golden and slightly crisp.  Let cool for 10 minutes on baking sheet before removing.

Besties

We got to watch Josie the other night so my brother in law could take my sister out for a MUCH overdue date night! Somehow they ended up at an Ozzy concert....how romantic. I definitely got the better end of this deal. We had dinner, ice cream cones, and then cuddled up on the couch for Snow White. The girls loved it! These two are so cute together.

ICE CREAM CONES!!!

Watching Snow White

The scary part...notice Josie chewing on her Barbie's feet!

Josie is almost out...

Dancing to the beat of her own drum...

When I was little I had a multicolored skirt with layered ruffles that I loved. I can distinctly remember begging my mom to let me wear that skirt just about every day. I only remember her saying yes once (I'm sure I wore it more than once, but the ratio of No to Yes was definitely NOT in my favor). I have one picture of me in that skirt (that I probably should dig up to post on this blog). In the picture I am playing horseshoes with my Uncle Jim. I thought I looked so cute in the skirt and I could never understand why my mom wouldn't let me wear it everyday (please remember that I grew up in Michigan...for many months out of the year skirts were not an option, but I never let that deter me). Man I loved that skirt.

I also had a dark blue, thick Sesame Street belt that I insisted on wearing daily. Since there was no risk of freezing to death, my mom couldn't really argue with me. She would dress me up in my cute little girly matching outfit and over top of it I would insist on wearing the belt. I also have a picture of this and it took me awhile to figure out what I was wearing.

I tell you all this to say that I firmly believe in encouraging individuality in whatever form it appears. I love that Sophie wakes up every morning and adds something to her PJs, or that she often insists on sleeping in boots or shoes. Lately she has been putting her sunglasses on each night and then tries to watch her show in them. I'm pretty sure this has something to do with her pink 3D glasses she has for the TV, but either way it is really cute. She also recently found a lei that she got at a birthday party and she likes to wear it like a crown. I say...go for it sister, be the best Sophie Huskins you can be...keep marching to your own drum...it will serve you well.

Recipe: Brownie Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

Brownie Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

SOURCE: Chocolate chip cookie dough: The Ultimate Southern Living Cookbook. The brilliant idea to stuff a chocolate chip cookie with a BROWNIE came from http://picky-palate.com/.

DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: Moderate

RECIPE TYPE: Ridiculously good cookies

PREP TIME: 1 hour or more (depending on what you have ready)

COOK TIME: 18-22 minutes per batch

Likelihood of being consumed by Katie: Craving right now

Likelihood of being consumed by Adam: He loved them

Other Opinions: According to my sister, she and my brother in law were fighting over them
Sophie's opinion: Loved them!

RECIPE:

Ingredients for brownies:

Brownie mix

Egg

Oil

Water

Directions:

1. Combine water, oil, and egg in large mixing bowl.

2. Add brownie mix and stir until blended.

3. Bake in greased pan per package directions and let cool.

Ingredients for cookie dough (modified recipe from "The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies" recipe from the Ultimate Southern Living Cookbook)

1 cup butter at room temperature

3/4 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 cup dark chocolate chips 

Directions

1. Beat butter until creamy in electric mixer. Beat in sugars until well blended.

2. Add eggs, on at a time, beating well after each. Add vanilla and mix well.

3. In a small bowl, mix flour, salt, and baking soda together. 

4. Gradually add flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix well after each addition.

5. Add chocolate chips and stir

Directions for Brownie Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

1. Prepare pans for baking, I use silpats and perforated pans from Demarle. I am a Demale consultant and can sell you these items if interesting...these products are amazing!

2. When brownies are cooled, cut into small squares.

3. Scoop a small amount of cookie dough, place a piece of brownie on top and then top with another scoop of cookie dough. 

4. Slightly flatten cookies to distribute brownie (I did not do this enough and mine ended up with a lump of brownie in them...still delicious.

5. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 18 minutes. 

6. Pour a HUGE glass of milk and chow down...I dare you to try to eat two!

OUTCOME: Excellent

Recipe: Angel Chicken Pasta

Angel Chicken Pasta

SOURCE: Allrecipes.com
DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: Easy
RECIPE TYPE: Main Meal
PREP TIME: 30 minutes
COOK TIME: 1 hour

OUTCOME: Excellent
Likelihood of leftovers being consumed by Katie: Definitely
Likelihood of leftovers being consumed by Adam: Likely
Sophie's and Josie's opinions: They both ate it!

RECIPE:
6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (I used 4 and then cut them into large chunks)
1/4 cup butter
1 (0.7 ounce) package dry Italian-style salad dressing mix
1/2 cup white wine (and some extra to drink while cooking)
4 ounces cream cheese with chives (I used plain cream cheese and added freeze dried chives)
1 pound angel hair pasta


DIRECTIONS:


1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees


2. In a large saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Stir in the package of dressing mix.

3. Blend in wine and golden mushroom soup. 

4. Mix in cream cheese and chives, and stir until smooth. Heat through, but do not boil.

5. Arrange chicken breasts in a single layer in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Pour sauce over.

6. Bake in preheated oven for 60 minutes. 20 minutes before chicken is done, bring a pot of lightly salted water to a rolling boil. Cook paste to al dente according to package directions. Drain. Serve chicken and sauce over pasta. 

Divalicious...

I mean...come on...she cannot be any cuter than this. It was quite difficult to catch the little diva on camera since she was running around the room like a crazy person!

Prior to her debut on the tan carpet modeling her PJs by Carter's, her socks from the dollar bin at Target, and her "Eyesies" by Gymboree, she was doing a solo impression of Lady and the Tramp. I was unable to catch it on this video, but she kept saying "This pasta is gooooodddd." A full sentence from our bean is a BIG deal in our house! 

Recipe: Chicken Tacos

I have decided to start blogging about recipes I have made and the outcome...good or bad. I am always exchanging recipes with friends/family and I am always stealing recipes off other people's blogs...this way I can also serve the cause!

Since we will be eating at home as much as possible (at least until Adam is re-employed), this will serve as a culinary blog through our life. Don't worry, I will also blog funny stories/events/pictures, but when I have nothing else to say, at least you will know what we are eating!

I will start with one I made last night even though I don't have any pictures of the meal. . So here goes..

Chicken Tacos

SOURCE: a Facebook post on my sister-in-law's page when she asked for good crock pot recipes to use for Christmas Eve dinner. So thank you to Laura for asking, and thank you to Laura's friend for the recipe!
DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: EASY EASY EASY
RECIPE TYPE: Crock Pot
PREP TIME: Less than 10 minutes (and most of that was maneuvering my crock pot out of the cabinet)
COOK TIME: 6 hours in Crock Pot


OUTCOME: Excellent
Likelihood of leftovers being consumed by Katie: Definitely
Likelihood of leftovers being consumed by Adam: Likely
Sophie's opinion: She didn't try it...too messy for her

COMMENTS: I simply spooned up the chicken and put it in the tortillas and the sauce ran everywhere. I would suggest using a slotted spoon to drain some of the sauce from the chicken.

RECIPE:

Ingredients:

3-4 boneless chicken breasts

1 jar picante sauce or salsa (2 cups)

1 packet of taco seasoning

Toppings of choice (cheese, sour cream, lettuce, olives, etc)

Soft or hard taco shells

Put all in the crock pot for 6 hours on low. When the chicken is done, take it out and shred it and put it back in the "sauce". Serve on soft or hard taco shells with whatever you like.