Cheeky Kitchen & Slow Cooker Gooey Chocolate Cake I’m meeting a new friend for lunch today. And an old friend for line-dancing tonight. And I’m feeling rather spoiled about it all. I mean, moms shouldn’t have TWO social events on the calendar for the same day, should we? Which brings me to the point of what moms should be doing anyway. For a long time, I measured myself by what I remember of my own mom. The odd thing is, I’ve now reached the age in my life where I am exactly as old as she was. Such is the fate of all moms. And I realized then that everyday is really a bit like living in an imaginary world. Because, ancient people don’t do lunch with new friends. And they definitely don’t join in a on rousing night session of line-dancing with old friends. They don’t make oatmeal in the morning in bare feet and spandex shorts. And ancient people DEFINITELY do not fill their day’s with a slew of other snappy, bodacious activities. See? I’m crazy hip. Whatever are my kids thinking? Ingredients: 4 eggs 1 cup brown sugar 3/4 cup cocoa powder
How To Make Perfect Brownies I’ve tried lots of brownie recipes: Boxes, scratch, frosted, plain, nuts, chips, fudge … Each of them has something to like, but depending on my mood I might want a change of pace. Not any more. My wife found this recipe, and it’s perfect. I’m done looking. This is the brownie recipe that I’ll use from now on. Ingredients 1½ cups sugar ¾ cup flour ¾ cup cocoa powder (see note below) 3 eggs ¾ cup butter, melted ½ teaspoon salt (if using unsalted butter) ¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (see note below) Directions A NOTE ON CHOCOLATE: You’ll notice the list of ingredients is very short. The assembly is about as easy as you can get. Do this by hand, until the dry ingredients are just incorporated into the wet, and stop. Stir in the chocolate chips. Line a 9×13 baking dish with parchment. Pour the batter and spread it out. Bake at 325° for 20-30 minutes. Very carefully lift the parchment out of the baking dish. Peel the edges and let cool for a few minutes before slicing. Like this recipe?
Crème Brûlée Today is a very special day. It’s a special day because I’m sharing with you my favorite dessert on earth. Mmm…Crème Brûlée. It’s even fun to say, even if it is a pain in the neck to type. I included this crème brûlée recipe in my cookbook, and had planned for it to remain one of the cookbook-only recipes in there. “I’m getting ready to make Crème Brûlée and I can’t stand not sharing it on my website.” Cassie replied “I completely agree. This is why I love Cassie. Then she wrote back and said, “You think you could possibly send me those Black Heels edits so we could actually publish the book sometime?” I didn’t answer her. This is Crème Brûlée, my friends. I think I was hitting the sauce when I wrote that chapter. Here’s how you make it. Begin by pouring heavy cream into a saucepan. This! (Note that this ingredient is not required! According to the package, 1 tablespoon of the paste equals the caviar of 1 vanilla bean…so I’m going with that measurement. Add it right on into the cream.
The Way the Cookie Crumbles & Blog Archive & chocolate chip cookie comparison Everyone is always talking about what the best chocolate chip cookie recipe is. Last year, it seemed like everyone was making the Best Big Fat Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie. A few months ago, Cooks Illustrated’s Thick and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie was all the rage. These days, people are testing out the New York Times recommendation to chill the dough for 36 hours before baking. Until recently, I stayed out of this discussion. But eventually, curiosity got the best of me. Because, let’s face it, just about all chocolate chip cookies are good (and certainly the ones I was making would be), Dave and I decided we would need to do side-by-side comparisons to discern differences between the recipes. I wanted to publish this entry with conclusive results. But I just don’t think it’s going to happen. Regarding the overnight rest – it certainly doesn’t hurt, and I find it pretty convenient actually. My favorite was Alton Brown’s The Chewy. We were also very fond of the New York Times recipe.
Better-Than-Crack-Brownies I’m sorry for doing this to you. I really am. But see, last Friday while I was on a 10-hour road trip heading for vacation, I received this recipe from a reader named Liz. Liz, I love you. I was tortured by this recipe for a full 8 days before I could make it. So it was the first thing I made when I returned home. These are an absolute sin. I really don’t have any words, other than you must try them. They may also change your waistline too. But that’s okay. It’s all in the name of chocolate. Better-Than-Crack Brownies 1 batch brownies (boxed mix or oooey gooey brownies) 1/2 cup salted peanuts (if don’t have salted, add sea salt) 1 cup chopped Reese’s peanut butter cups 1 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips 1 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter 1/2 tablespoon butter 1 1/2 cups Rice Krispies Cereal Mix brownies according to directions, and bake for 20-25 minutes in a 9 x 13 baking dish. While they are finishing baking, melt chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter. Refrigerate for 2 hours before serving. Mr.
freutcake Mini Peanut Butter and Nutella Cheesecakes | Just Everyday Me 28 Dec 2011 One of the perks of being a student (and right now as I’m in the middle of college applications and interviews there don’t seem to be many) is that you get a long Christmas break. This is what I’ve done since Christmas: Stayed in my PJs all day. I got new pajama pants for Christmas (a tradition in my family). Today I am hoping to finish up my second to last college application (maybe both of them! But that’s enough about boring college stuff! I just have to point out the adorable little snowman cupcake wrappers! Peanut Butter/Nutella Mini Cheesecakes Adapted from Snappy Gourmet . Ingredients: 1 cup finely crushed chocolate graham crackers 3 tablespoons unsalted butter or margarine, melted 2 (8oz.) packages cream cheese, softened 1/2 cup peanut butter or 1/2 cup nutella or to make half a batch of each, 1/4 cup peanut butter and 1/4 cup nutella 2/3 cup granulated sugar 1 tablespoon flour 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 eggs For the Ganache: Note : I had a ton of ganache left over. Directions:
Nutella Mug Cake Bring Your Child's Favorite Characters to Life with These Disney-Themed Lunches Healthy Mickey-Shaped PB&J Muffins: A Breakfast the Whole Family with Love A Yummy Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Recipe Even the Pickiest Eaters Will Love This 3-Ingredient Coffee Fudge Is the Best Morning Pick-Me-Up Three Safe-to-Eat Cookie Doughs: Chocolate Chip, Sugar, and Cake Batter! I’m siiiiick. If you follow Willow Bird Baking on Facebook or Twitter (you do, right?), you’ve probably heard me whining about it lately (okay, maybe this isn’t the best way to encourage you to follow). It started with a sore throat and has turned into a beastly, phlegmatic ogre of a cold that has taken up residence in my chest and commenced hanging draperies and such. I have protested this development with various hot teas, soups, and my favorite home remedy suggested by readers: complaining. Three Safe-to-Eat Cookie Doughs: Chocolate Chip, Sugar, and Cake Batter! I know my students are to blame for this plague! I can’t stay home until I’m better, but I do tend to baby myself when I’m sick. And I’m not even going to mention the amount of this cookie dough I consumed over the weekend. If nothing else, cookie dough is good for the soul. And now, look how far I’ve come: this weekend I made not one, but three kinds of cookie dough! So, in summary: I’m sick. Safe-to-Eat Sugar Cookie Dough
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake Smooth, creamy, decadent cheesecake studded with sweet morsels of cookie dough and bursts of mini chocolate chips? All atop a chocolatey, buttery crust? Garnished with sweetened whipped cream and more chocolate chips? Oh baby, sign me up for a cookie dough cheesecake IV. Immediately. Hands down one of the best cheesecakes I’ve ever tasted. P.S. One Year Ago: Cookie Dough Topped BrowniesTwo Years Ago: The Best French Bread Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake Note: this cheesecake, like any good, baked cheesecake, tastes best after being refrigerated overnight. Ingredients Crust: 4 tablespoons butter, melted 2 1/2 cups chocolate cookie crumbs (I like to use chocolate Teddy Grahams but you could use any chocolate wafer cookie or even Oreos) Filling: 4 (8-ounce) blocks cream cheese, softened to room temperature 1 cup sugar 4 large eggs 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup sour cream (I used light and it worked just fine) Cookie Dough: Garnish: Directions For the cookie dough: