Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

Here's a recipe from Nestle that I thought was appopriate for a Wednesday. Sorry, there's no mid-process picture as I had flour, cocoa and baking soda explode all over one counter. Note to self - keep mixer on low speed until ingredients are mostly mixed.

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour


• 2/3 cup NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Baking Cocoa


• 1 teaspoon baking soda


• 1/4 teaspoon salt


• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened


• 3/4 cup granulated sugar


• 2/3 cup packed brown sugar


• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract


• 2 large eggs


• 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Premier White Morsels

Preparations:

1. COMBINE flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in small bowl.


2. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy.


3. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.


4. Gradually beat in flour mixture.


5. Stir in morsels. Drop by well-rounded teaspoon onto ungreased baking sheets.
   

BAKE at 375 for 9 to 11 minutes or until centers are set.

Martha Stewart's Pecan Pie

I used to think that making pies was the epitomy of hard work in the kitchen. Well, that was before I actually tried making a pecan pie. Turns out, it's really not that difficult (especially if you by a ready made crust :).

Here's a recipe based on Martha Stewart's Pecan Pie.

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups pecan halves
• 4 large eggs
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1 cup dark corn syrup
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 ready made graham cracker pie crust

Preparations:

1. Coarsely chop 1 1/4 cups pecans; set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, combine eggs granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Whisk to combine.
3. Add dark and light corn syrups, butter, vanilla, and salt. Whisk until well combined.
4. Add chopped pecans, and stir to combine. Pour into prepared crust.
5. Top with remaining pecans.

Bake at 350 for 50 - 55 minutes (or until knife comes out clean). Top with whip cream and serve.

Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes

If you're cooking a big meal for a bunch of people, one of the best things you can do is make dishes ahead of time. Make Ahead mashed potatoes are easy, tasty and will lessen stress!

Ingredients:

• 5lbs peeled potatoes
• 1 cup sour cream (I used low fat for less calories)
• 1 8 oz package of cream cheese
• 1 stick of butter, divided
  

Preparations:

1. Boil potatoes on medium heat for approximately 45 minutes or until they fall apart.

2. Drain potatoes.

3. Mash potatoes and add half of your stick of butter. (I used my Kitchen Aid to do the mashing which is a huge time saver)

4. Add sour cream, cream cheese and remaining butter. Mix well.

5. Salt and pepper to taste.

6. Store in refrigerator

7. Heat at 400 for 30 minutes before serving

No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

Here's a recipe for Super Bowl Sunday. These bars are easy to make and they taste so good I ate two!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups peanut butter - divided use


• 3/4 cup butter or margarine


• 2 cups powdered sugar


• 3 cups graham cracker crumbs


• 2 cups (12 ounce package) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mini Morsels - divided use

Preparations:

1. Take a rolling pin and crush graham crackers on hard clean surface. (Each box of graham crackers comes with three individual packets of crackers. It will take two of these to make 3 cups of crushed graham crackers.)


2. Beat 1 1/4 cups peanut butter and butter in large mixer bowl until creamy. Gradually beat in 1 cup powdered sugar.


3. With hands or wooden spoon, work in remaining powdered sugar, graham cracker crumbs and 1/2 cup chocolate chips.


4. Press evenly into greased 13 x 9-inch baking pan. Smooth top with spatula.


5. Melt remaining peanut butter and remaining chocolate chips in medium, heavy-duty saucepan over lowest possible heat, stirring constantly, until smooth.


6. Spread over graham cracker crust in pan.


7. Chill for at least 1 hour or until chocolate is firm; cut into bars. Store in refrigerator.

Super Bowl Party Recipes

It's almost game day so get your shopping list ready and go team!

I did some research on super bowl party recipes and found this website - http://www.cooksrecipes.com which offers easy to make, good tasting recipes.

Check back later to see how my version of some of these tasty items turned out!

What to Do for Dinner Tonight

Cooking dinner night after night can be really trying. It's hard to cook the same thing over and over again and it's even harder still to find new recipes that are easy to cook and not expensive to make.

Here are my top five recipes that can help you answer the question - what's for dinner tonight?

1. Crockpot Chili
2. Beef Enchilada Casserole
3. Ken's Pasta
4. Chrissa's Taco Salad
5. Easy Lasagna

The beef enchilada casserole was a huge hit with the teenage boys that I teach Sunday School too. I've come to the conclusion that anything with Velveeta is usually well received. :)

Pioneer Woman Cooks - Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Cookies

Ever wonder if a cookbook is worth the $15 you pay for it? Yeah, me too. Wouldn't it be nice to see a test run of those recipes before you hand over your hard earned cash?

My thoughts exactly. So here's a test run of Pioneer Woman Cook's Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Cookies. To see the receipe on her blog, click on the name of the cookies. If this recipe is any indication of her book, it's worth the $14. 47.

The cookies are easy to make, they have a wonderful flavor to them and they are healthier alternative to the same old chocolate chip cookie I'm so fond of eating....I mean making. :)

Ingredients:

• 1-½ cup Butter, Divided


• 2 cups Old Fashioned Oatmeal


• 2 whole Bananas


• 1 cup Light Brown Sugar


• ⅔ cups Granulated Sugar


• 1 cup Crunchy Peanut Butter


• 1 teaspoon Vanilla


• 1 teaspoon Sea Salt


• 2 teaspoons Baking Soda


• 1 cup All-purpose Flour


• 1-½ cup Whole Wheat Flour

Preparations:

1. Take one stick of butter (1/2 cup) and melt it over low heat.


2. Add two cups of oatmeal to melted butter, toast for five minutes.


3. Got a kitchen aid? Toss your two bananas in there and set on 3rd notch until mashed.


4. Add sugars and vanilla to bananas.


5. Add peanut butter. (I was out of crunchy so I used smooth)


6. Let toasted oatmeal cool. Add to peanutbutter/banana mixture.


7. Separately combine both flours, sea salt and baking soda.


8. Combine both mixtures and mix well.

Bake at 375 for 11 minutes.