Thursday, May 26, 2016

Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

  1. These are the best Chocolate Chip Cookies ever! Pretty much fail proof too as far as I'm concerned since i've always had a struggle with chocolate chip cookies in the past being flat. I originally found the recipe here http://tastesbetterfromscratch.com/2015/02/perfect-chocolate-chip-cookies.html but like usual I adjust things or do it a little different so I rewrite the recipe some or make some comments that will hopefully help you in baking them! I also think this would be a good base recipe for other kinds of cookies or to add different things to as well. 

  2. Chocolate Chip Cookies
  3. Yields: 24 cookies

  4. Ingredients:
  5. 2 cups plus 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
  6. 1/2 tsp baking soda
  7. 1/2 tsp salt
  8. 1 1/2 sticks real unsalted butter, softened
  9. 1 cup brown sugar
  10. 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  11. 1 large egg + 1 egg yolk
  12. 2 tsp vanilla extract
  13. 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips

Directions:
  1. Heat oven to 325 degrees F.
  2. In a medium bowl mix together flour, salt, and baking soda..
  3. Mix the butter and sugars together in the kitchen aid  until well blended. Add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla. Mix in the dry ingredients until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips. The dough will be soft.
  4. Gently scoop dough into balls using a large cookie scoop and place on a cookie sheet. Bake for 13 minutes or until the bottoms are golden brown and the tops are slightly soft still. Leave the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes and then transfer to a cooling rack to completely cool. Store in an airtight container.

Friday, May 13, 2016

Cauliflower Chowder

This soup is super yummy! It's basically just like a potato chowder but healthier so it's a great substitute! Even my husband and kids loved it. I always love me some good soup and this was definitely a good one. :)



Cauliflower Chowder

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 cloved of garlic, minced
1 onion, diced
2 carrots, peeled and diced
2 stalks celery, diced
1/4 cup all- purpose flour
4 cups chicken broth
1 cup 2% milk
1 head cauliflower, roughly chopped
1 bay leaf
salt and pepper to taste
4 Slices bacon, diced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves

Directions: 
Preheat oven to 350. Prepare baking sheet with a sheet of parchment paper and cook bacon for about 15 minutes or until baked. Or cook on the skillet over medium high heat for about 6-8 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate, set aside to cool. 

Melt butter in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add garlic, onion, carrots and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in cauliflower and bay leaf. Cook, stirring occasionally, until barely crisp-tender, about 3-4 minutes.

Stir in flour until lightly browned, about 1 minute. Gradually stir in chicken broth and milk and cook, stirring constantly, until slightly thickened, about 3-4 minutes.

Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until cauliflower are tender, about 12-15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. If the chowder is too thick, add more milk until desired consistency is reached. I didn't have a problem with this though so it should be fine.

Serve immediately and garnish with fresh parsley and bacon! Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm

Thursday, April 21, 2016

Red and white lasagna

This is by far my new favorite way to make lasagna! This is just your normal lasagna but you add Alfredo sauce to the top and it is to die for! How did I just find out about this?!


Red and White lasagna
Ingredients:
1 box lasagna noodles
1 lb sausage
24oz can of Hunts garlic and herb spaghetti sauce (or marinara sauce)
1/2-1 jar of Ragu Garlic Parmesan alfredo sauce (depending on how much you want. The recipe called for a whole jar but I had a half of a jar in the fridge and I thought it turned out perfect!)
15oz ricotta cheese
2 eggs
2 cups mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, divided 
Dash of parsley 

Directions:
Cook lasagna noodles according to directions on package. Usually it's boil the noodles for 10 minutes and then lay out on wax paper. 
Layer 1: Spread 1 cup of sauce in a 10x13 baking dish/cake pan. 
Layer 2: 4 noodles
In a large bowl mix the ricotta, mozzarella, and 2 tablespoons of the Parmesan cheese and eggs together. 
Then add half the cheese mixture and spread over the noodles and spread another cup of the spaghetti sauce on. Then spread all of your cooked sausage on. 
Layer 3: 4 more noodles and the rest of your cheese mixture and then the rest of the sauce. 
Layer 4: 4 more noodles and then spread on Alfredo sauce. Sprinkle a little parsley on top and the rest of the Parmesan cheese. 
Bake covered at 350° for 40 mins. Then uncover and cook anothe 10-15 minutes or until browned and bubbly.
Let sit 10 mins before serving.
Enjoy!!!