Showing posts with label Cookies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cookies. Show all posts

4.16.2011

Cookies or Cupcakes?

...or dare I say both?

After perusing the internet I stumbled up these babies.  Oh, and those.  And oh my, look at this one!

And so the idea of a cookie dough/ cupcake combo was planted in my mind.  You would think after reading all these recipes I would do a little planning, gather ingredients, think the process through.  Nope, I tend to be a bit impulsive and I make no exception with my baking!  

Last Friday, (last day of my spring break, wahhhh) I spent the day on my hands and knees scrubbing our floors since we were expecting company on Saturday.  I also had whipped up an awesome dinner and by the time 6:00 rolled around the kitchen was finally clean.  I was tired. beat. ready to kick back and relax.  And then Shane calls with exciting news about his job. My mind flashes to the freezer and I know how we'll celebrate.  I have cookie dough frozen from the last batch I made.  I'll just pop them in the oven before he gets home.  Easy Peasy.

 *this is an old picture, don't mind the dates*

I putz around, watch some TV and look at the clock.  20 minutes to 7pm.  Shane gets home around 7:15, maybe I have time to bake something a little more special...? I can make cupcakes.  Oh me oh my, I can make vanilla cupcakes with a cookie dough surprise inside!

I literally ran to the bookcase and grabbed Hello, Cupcake! off the shelf, and flipped to the vanilla cupcake recipe.  Ran to the cabinets. Please let me have all the ingredients. Please  let me have all the ingredients. Phew, I got em!


In no time I had vanilla cupcake batter ready to be poured.  I spooned a tablespoon of batter, dropped in a cookie dough ball, and covered with another spoon of batter.  Then I stuck it in the oven and hoped for the best!




The recipe says bake at 350 for 15 to 20 minutes.  I baked it for closer to 30, since the dough wasn't turning into a cookie consistency like I expected.


uh oh

What about frosting?  I hadn't even thought about how to top these sweet concoctions.  With no butter in the fridge, my only option it seemed was a royal frosting.  I put powdered sugar and vanilla extract in my mixer and slowly added almond milk a tablespoon at a time.  Not your most conventional frosting, but I had to make due with what I had!


sweet success

  
The cookie dough never did really turn into a cookie per say. Instead it remained a chewy, dough ball surprise!


 These were not finished by the time Shane got home.  But that's okay.  He's used to walking in while I'm frantically in the kitchen whipping up my latest creation.  I don't even know why I try and impose this 7:15pm baking cut off time, since I almost always take longer than that!  

I'm happy to be an impulsive baker because these cookie dough cupcakes were a yummy way to say "You rock Shane" and  "Hi, welcome to San Diego friends"!

4.08.2011

Strawberry Fields Forever


Spring has sprung.  I know this because of the abundance of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, boysenberries and you-name-it berries on supermarket shelves.

And these are not just any berries...these berries are IN SEASON! Strawberry fields don't last forever...well here in So Cal strawberries have a year round season, but the peak is 
April 30-June 30!

Which means I paid a mere .97 cents per package.


And would ya look at that? These strawberries only traveled about 40 minutes to my local grocery store!

.97 cent strawberries mean spring, but also...
No jelly, no problem.  PB & strawberry sandwich!


Banana strawberry soft serve with chocolate chips?  Yes please!


Strawberry-licious smoothies!

 Oh and let's not forget strawberry oatmeal bakes topped with more strawberries!

Spring  has also gotten me excited about another flavor.  Can you spot it sitting atop the oatmeal bake on the left?


 Oh yes I did!  Homemade coconut butter is scrumptious and super easy!
{ Process unsweetened shredded coconut  in a food processor until creamy} 
Ashley from the edible perspective has great tips here

 Mmm.

Coconut makes me think of  tropical islands.  If I'm on a tropical island you best believe I'm on the beach with a drink in hand, preferably a mojito.

 MOJITO!

But alas, I can see palm trees from my window, but I don't have a drink in hand.
But there is a drink in my....

COOKIE!
An awesome teacher friend brought these goodies into work!


Azucar is a little bakery in Ocean Beach that serves up Cuban inspired pastries, cakes, and cookies.


This my friends, is a mojito cookie.  Shane and I agree that we need to get to Azucar and get some more of these; delicioso!  Thanks Pierce!

 When you go to a bakery, or even out to eat, do you stick with what you love or try new things? When we go to Azucar, which we will, I'm tempted to get this cookie again!  I may have to get it along with something else!

What's your favorite way to eat fresh strawberries?  I like em plain, in smoothies, on/in oatmeal, yum!  I want to try some sort of strawberry cupcake!

3.24.2011

Nom, Nom, Nom


If you like Girl Scout Samoas 
but didn't get a chance to buy them
even though you work in a school and you had plenty of opportunities
go here and make them yourself!


 
your welcome.

Oh, and if coconut isn't your thing...

The shortbread cookie + chocolate = amazingness

(and is a lot easier since the caramel coconut topping is super sticky and a pain to spread!)

1.24.2011

An Indecisive Cookie

Peanut Butter.

Pumpkin.

Banana.

Chocolate Chips.


Oh yeaaa.


Let's get right to it.  I had an urge to make cookies tonight.  The only problem was I could NOT decide what kind of cookie I wanted and Shane was of no help.


Me: "Shaneeeee.  I want to make cookies.  What kind do you want?"
Shane: "Yea make cookies!"
Me: "Of course you want cookies.  I asked what KIND of cookies."
Shane: "Surprise me."


See?  No help.  I had to take matters into my own hands.  


::Opens up pantry::  Peanut butter! Pumpkin!  Bananas!  Oh my! And some chocolate chips,  why not ;)


Seriously?  I questioned whether I could pull it off, but after some searching online I found an adaptable recipe and got down to business. 


Pumpkin PB Nanner Chip Cookies
adapted from Angela at Oh She Glows

1 cup oats
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 tsp cinnamon
handful semi sweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup pumpkin 
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup chunky peanut butter
small banana chopped up
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 flax egg (1 tbsp flax meal + 2 tbsp warm water)



- Preheat oven to 375
- Make flax egg and put aside
- Mix dry ingredients in a medium bowl and set aside.
- Mix wet ingredients in small bowl.  Add flax egg.
- Add wet ingredients into dry and mix well.
- Use tbsp to scoop dough onto cookie sheet and bake for 12 minutes. 


These cookies have a lot goin' on, but they were just what my indecisive taste buds needed.