Tag: desserts

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Whatever it is you’ve been thinking about today. Stop. Clear your mind and imagine walking barefoot down a gravel road. You can feel the bits of rock press into your heel and nudge between your toes. You hear an unclear voice in the distance. A sound of comfort. A familiar sound. You walk up a set of creaky steps that lead to a creaking porch. The screen door opens as if involuntarily inviting you in. Your nostrils overwhelmed with the aroma of something sweet. The warmth of the oven glides up the side your leg and there sitting atop an old checkered kitchen towel are cookies. Not just any ole cookies. Grandma’s chocolate chip cookies. The same ones that you’re parents ate when they were kids. That’s what chocolate chip cookies do to me when I see them. They take me down that nostalgic road to Grandma’s house.
Chocolate Chip Cookies
So naturally, last week, when I went on the search for a chocolate chip cookie recipe. I had to do my research. There are so many cookie recipes out there and a lot of them. Well, just don’t measure up. One might be too salty and another might be too dry or runny. But not here friends. We have the perfect combination of salty, sweet and chewy or crunchy. depending upon your preference. This recipe is an adaptation of The White on Rice Couple’s Recipe. And if you’re not familiar with Diane and Todd’s work, then shame on you. They’re passion for food and photography is truly inspiring. But anyways, enough of me being a groupie. Enjoy these cookies and if you haven’t grabbed a Father’s Day gift yet. Well, you’re welcome.

I made a few changes of my own to this recipe because I was trying to avoid a trip to the grocery store. And well, thanks to this recipe. Crisis averted! I used semi-sweet chocolate chips as opposed to the dark chocolate. I also used bleached flour but left the baking soda in addition. No harm, no foul. Now off to the kitchen.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

  • 3/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup + 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 2 sticks unsalted Butter
  • 2 medium eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
  •  3 cups all-purpose, unbleached flour
  • 1 teaspoon  baking soda
  • 1 1/2 cups Chocolate Chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375° F (350° for convection ovens)

  1. Beat the butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar until light and fluffy or 3 to 4 minutes after you no longer hear the sugar scrape the sides of the bowl. (assuming that you use a  standing  mixer).  Add eggs, vanilla extract, and  salt.
  2. Mix the flour and baking soda together.  Stir into batter, then add chocolate chips and stir until well combined.
  3. Roll into 1 1/2″ thick logs.  If not using soon, freeze the logs for future use, otherwise cut the cookies into equal portions, about  3/4″ thick.
  4. Pat the discs even and circular then place on a cookie sheet or lined sheet pan. Spread your cookies out so they have personal space, no one wants rub elbows in a hot oven.
  5. Bake at 375° F for 8-11 minutes, and check them so that they are still a little undercooked in the center. Unless you prefer a crunchier cookie.  After the cookies cool for a minute, transfer to a cooling rack and grab a glass of milk. You deserve it.

S’mores Bars…Hello Nostalgia!

S'mores Bars     I mean, seriously? Who doesn’t love a good s’more on a rainy and wet or cold day? This is the perfect snack to satisfy your sweet tooth! While I was in the process of making these bad boys I felt myself fall in to the vortex of nostalgia. In the days where mom and dad were assisting you in putting your marshmallows on to the tip of your skewer, or coat hanger. (Hey!, whatever works!)
My sister and I would sit on the back porch and make S’mores while watching the deer run around our backyard. Dad would start a fire inside a couple of empty cans. We both had our own set-ups on a plate and off we were to a place where the fingers were sticky and your cheeks were smeared in chocolate.(Heaven)
The graham cracker crumbs trickling into your lap and for a moment all your worries dissipated into every crunchy, creamy, gooey bite of divine perfection. Now, onto the recipe.

S’mores Bars
2 c. crushed graham crackers
1 1/2 c. chocolate chips
1/4 c. heavy cream
5 T. unsalted butter
2 c. marshmallows

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. You can use crushed graham crackers if you prefer. But I bought the whole ones and crushed them in the food processor until fine ground. Set aside in bowl. Melt butter in microwave for 15-20 sec. You do not want the butter to start boiling. So take a peak and remove, just as it starts to break down. This will make it easier to handle when mixing in graham cracker crumbs.

2.Combine graham cracker crumbs and butter together until the mixture holds together when squeezed in the palm of your hand.Spray the 8×8 in pan lightly with cooking spray. Spread crumbs evenly and press down until you have a solid base with no holes. Bake for 15-25 min. (oven times may vary) Bake until crust is firm and set. Allow to cool for 20 min. Turn on your broiler and allow to heat while you melt your chocolate.

3. While you are waiting on your crust to cool. Prepare a double boiler.(a small pot of water and stainless steel bowl)On medium heat allow water to come to a soft boil and turn down the heat to a simmer. You just want steam to come off the surface of the water. pour heavy cream into bowl and stir until heated through, about two minutes. Add chocolate chips and stir, incorporating the heavy cream into the chocolate. In 30 second intervals, remove the bowl from pot and stir for 15 secs.(you don’t want the chocolate to seize)Repeat this process until you have a homogenized mixture. Pour chocolate into the center of your crust and spread evenly to the sides.

4. Quickly before the chocolate begins to harden. evenly distribute your marshmallows over the top of your chocolate. Then, lightly with your palm, press down so that one-third of the marshmallow is in the chocolate. This is a good time make sure there are no holes, you want a majority of the chocolate to be covered by marshmallows to keep the chocolate from burning under the broiler.

Toasted Marshmallows

5. Place pan under broiler for 3-4 min. max. I left the oven cracked and watched the marshmallows reach the desired level of char. I advise you do the same. DO NOT. I repeat. DO NOT. walk away. Once the top is charred, allow to cool in the fridge for 20 min.I prefer to remove the whole bar and cut into strips on a cutting board. do whatever feels comfortable for you. If you would like to cut them inside pan first and then remove them, so be it. Using a icing spatula, prod around the sides to release your bars and Enjoy! Don’t forget your glass of milk.

S'mores Bars

Recipe Suggestions:
-Feel free to customize this recipe to your own child hood memories:
*Two Tablespoons of peanut butter spread across the crust before adding chocolate would be a nice twist.
*The addition of a 1/4 c. of crushed nuts into your chocolate mixture for a crunchier texture.
*Or you can even substitute the plain milk chocolate for an artisan bar of some sort…upgrade!