Chocolate Chip Cookies

These are hands down the GREATEST chocolate chip cookies that will ever reach your mouth. Ever.

½ cup butter
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
½ tablespoon vanilla
1 ½ cups flour
¼ cup quick oats
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:
Cream butter and both sugars.
Mix all dry ingredients (flour, oats, baking soda and salt) in a separate bowl.
Add egg to creamed ingredients. Add vanilla. Mix well.
Add dry ingredients a little at a time until it's all well incorprated. (Mixture should be really thick and not real sticky. If too sticky, add extra flour 1 T. at a time until dry enough that you can pick up the dough and roll it without it sticking to your hands.).
Mix in chocolate chips.
Roll dough into balls and bake at 350 for 12-13 minutes. Take them out just as they are barely beginning to brown. Do NOT over-bake. I can't emphasize this enough.

Make these. Trust me, you definitely will NOT regret it.

You are absolutely divine, my dear!

One of my favorite things about baking is when other people eat what I create and love it.  Or give me requests to make something and they just light up when they get it.  My mom, when she was just a young lady, used to eat divinity all the time.  Well, I'd never heard of it.  She gave me the recipe and said I should make it sometime.  Boy, oh boy, am I happy I did.  It's delicious!  It just melts in your mouth...

A few things before you attempt this: 1.) You really do need a candy thermometer.  I know a lot of recipes call for one, but you can usually get away with it based on the change in the ingredients, but better safe than sorry.  2.) You are not supposed to make this candy if there is even the slightest bit of humidity in the air (okay okay, I've heard under 40%).  However, living in the Pacific Northwest, that is pretty much impossible, so use 1 to 2 tablespoons less water.

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup white sugar
• 2 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons light corn syrup
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1/2 egg whites
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons and 2-3/4 teaspoons chopped walnuts and pecans

Directions

1. Cook sugar, corn syrup, and water in a 2-quart pot over low heat, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved.  Cook, without stirring, to 260 degrees on candy thermometer (or hard ball stage).
2. Beat egg whites in 1-1/2-quart bowl until stiff peaks form. Continue to beat while pouring hot syrup in a thin stream into egg whites. Add vanilla; beat until mixture holds its shape and becomes slightly dull. (Mixture may become too stiff for electric mixer). Fold in nuts (if you choose).
3. Drop from buttered spoon onto waxed paper. Let stand at room temperature, turning candy over once, until outside of candy is firm--at least 12 hours. Store in airtight container.
   
   I'm pretty sure I'll be making this again
    
    
   
    p.s. I'm sorry my photos are so awful, my amazing camera was stolen.. :(  I'll get a good one again.  One day.

baker's dozen

I've been baking a lot lately.  Trying to keep my mind busy (always nice to get away from every day problems when things get tough.  I just lost an Uncle and it hasn't been easy.)  With that, comes a lot of food!

I have been trying to use up the potatoes we have.  So, I made some garlic fries.  Now, sometimes garlic can make me want to die and other times it's all i want.  These fries were SO garlicky, but amazingly delicious.  I think I just may be making them again.  Yum yum yum.

The second thing I baked were these Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies.  I don't like brownies too much, but I thought these would be good.  I've been trying to watch what I eat so I only had one, but I liked it.  It is definitely a acquired taste.   Some people in my family really liked them and others... well, didn't, haha.

Cinnamon Bread

I made cinnamon bread a week or so ago.  It was delicious.  I gave one loaf away, but the remaining was plenty.  I would like to get better at rolling, so I may work on that, but I'd much rather try more things.

I'm certain I am meant to be a stay at home mom... determined, even.  At least for a few years after I have kids...

Puppy Chow

I haven't had this in sometime, but I do have fond memories of it.  So good.  And SO easy to make.  Try it, you won't regret it.

Puppy Chow Recipe
Ingredients:
9 cups Combination of Corn, Rice, and Wheat Cereal squares (Chex) *For gluten-free, omit the wheat chex.
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup butter
2 teaspoon vanilla *make sure to check vanilla for gluten-free
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 1-gallon ziplock bags

Directions:
Place cereal in a large bowl and set aside. In a medium microwavable bowl, add chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter. Microwave on High for 1 minute and stir. Microwave 30 seconds longer and stir mixture until smooth. Stir in vanilla. Pour sauce over cereal and stir until evenly coated. Spoon half of the mixture in each 1-gallon resealable ziplock bag. Add 3/4 cup powdered sugar to each bag, and seal. Shake the bag until everything is coated. Spread on waxed/parchment paper to cool. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.