Brownie Chunk Peanut Butter Cookies.  They were okay.  I should have left the brownie bits in bigger pieces, because they do break up when mixing them in.  Speaking of, I saved maybe half a pan of brownies and froze them so I could make the cookies.

Brownie Chunk Peanut Butter Cookies.  
They were okay.  I should have left the brownie bits in bigger pieces, because they do break up when mixing them in.  Speaking of, I saved maybe half a pan of brownies and froze them so I could make the cookies.

The best ever: I’ve probably said this before about a chocolate chip cookie recipe, but I’ve found one that is infinitely better.  The recipe calls for cake and bread flour (instead of all-purpose), and it does wonders for the texture.  My cake flour was thrown out, but a substitution worked just fine!  The baking time was way too long at 18-20 minutes.  Thankfully I checked the first batch before then, but they were still overbaked.  I had to store them in a container with a slice of bread so they would soak up its moisture!  Ten minutes is a more realistic baking time, pictured.Oh, and I used dark chocolate chips, YUM.New York Times Chocolate Chip Cookies  

The best ever: I’ve probably said this before about a chocolate chip cookie recipe, but I’ve found one that is infinitely better.  The recipe calls for cake and bread flour (instead of all-purpose), and it does wonders for the texture.  My cake flour was thrown out, but a substitution worked just fine!  
The baking time was way too long at 18-20 minutes.  Thankfully I checked the first batch before then, but they were still overbaked.  I had to store them in a container with a slice of bread so they would soak up its moisture!  Ten minutes is a more realistic baking time, pictured.
Oh, and I used dark chocolate chips, YUM.
New York Times Chocolate Chip Cookies
  

(Source: creativeanchorage)

I bought club soda to make this Honey Chamomile Soda, but was distracted by other drink possibilities.  I mixed pineapple and orange juice and added club soda.  I made old fashioned ice cream soda using homemade chocolate syrup (because Hershey’s is gross).  I remembered about the honey chamomile drink with just enough soda to make a half recipe, which was fine seeing as I didn’t want to use a whole cup of honey.  I only used half of the honey in the halved recipe (1/4 cup), and it was still very sweet.  It’s different.  It’s good.

I bought club soda to make this Honey Chamomile Soda, but was distracted by other drink possibilities.  I mixed pineapple and orange juice and added club soda.  I made old fashioned ice cream soda using homemade chocolate syrup (because Hershey’s is gross).  
I remembered about the honey chamomile drink with just enough soda to make a half recipe, which was fine seeing as I didn’t want to use a whole cup of honey.  I only used half of the honey in the halved recipe (1/4 cup), and it was still very sweet.  
It’s different.  It’s good.

(Source: creativeanchorage)

Chocolate chip cookies with oats in them- yum!  I haven’t made this recipe in a while, but the original one has semi-sweet and peanut butter chips in it…not that you need a specific recipe for that.  Anyway, I used chocolate for half the dough and white chocolate and macadamia nuts for the rest (delicious!). Oh, and in the cup is hot chocolate chai, as in, hot chocolate with some chai mixed in.  It’s chocolatey but not overwhelmingly so.  Also good is chai with maybe 1/2 tsp of hot chocolate mix stirred in.  It’s spicy with a hint of chocolate. Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies3 cups flour1 teas. baking powder1 teas. baking soda1 teas. salt1 cup butter, softened1 cup brown sugar1 cup granulated sugar2 teas. vanilla extract2 eggs1 1/2 cups quick oats1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips1 cup peanut butter chipsPreheat oven to 350˚F.  In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  In a mixer bowl, cream butter and sugars.  Mix in the vanilla and eggs.  Mix in the flour, then the oats and chips.  Spoon evenly onto cookie sheets and bake for 10-12 minutes. (I ground the oats in the food processor, and use less granulated sugar.  More like 3/4 cup.)

Chocolate chip cookies with oats in them- yum!  I haven’t made this recipe in a while, but the original one has semi-sweet and peanut butter chips in it…not that you need a specific recipe for that.  Anyway, I used chocolate for half the dough and white chocolate and macadamia nuts for the rest (delicious!).

Oh, and in the cup is hot chocolate chai, as in, hot chocolate with some chai mixed in.  It’s chocolatey but not overwhelmingly so.  Also good is chai with maybe 1/2 tsp of hot chocolate mix stirred in.  It’s spicy with a hint of chocolate.

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
3 cups flour
1 teas. baking powder
1 teas. baking soda
1 teas. salt
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 teas. vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups quick oats
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup peanut butter chips

Preheat oven to 350˚F.  In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  In a mixer bowl, cream butter and sugars.  Mix in the vanilla and eggs.  Mix in the flour, then the oats and chips.  Spoon evenly onto cookie sheets and bake for 10-12 minutes.

(I ground the oats in the food processor, and use less granulated sugar.  More like 3/4 cup.)

Have I not posted this on Tumblr before?  I’ve been making Amish Baked Oatmeal for a few years now (this is a picture from my old blog), but I’ve added some much-needed ingredients.  I would link to the original recipe, but the site doesn’t exist anymore.  Here’s my recipe: Baked Oatmeal1 1/2 cups quick oats1/4 cup brown sugar, packed1 teas. cinnamon1/2 cup milk1/4 cup butter, melted1 egg1 teas. baking powder2 teas. vanilla extractPinch of salt1 apple, chopped (I leave the skin on)Raisins Preheat oven to 350˚F.  In a bowl, combine oats, brown sugar, and cinnamon.  In a separate bowl, combine melted butter, milk, and the egg.  Add to the oat mixture.  Mix in baking powder, vanilla, and salt.  Stir in apple chunks and some raisins.  Pour into an 8 x 8” pan and bake for 25-30 minutes.  Top with vanilla yogurt!  (Heat first if not fresh from the oven.  It tastes better.) I made this last night with chopped dried cranberries instead of raisins.  Yumm.

Have I not posted this on Tumblr before?  I’ve been making Amish Baked Oatmeal for a few years now (this is a picture from my old blog), but I’ve added some much-needed ingredients.  I would link to the original recipe, but the site doesn’t exist anymore.  Here’s my recipe:

Baked Oatmeal
1 1/2 cups quick oats
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 teas. cinnamon
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 egg
1 teas. baking powder
2 teas. vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
1 apple, chopped (I leave the skin on)
Raisins

Preheat oven to 350˚F.  In a bowl, combine oats, brown sugar, and cinnamon.  In a separate bowl, combine melted butter, milk, and the egg.  Add to the oat mixture.  Mix in baking powder, vanilla, and salt.  Stir in apple chunks and some raisins.  Pour into an 8 x 8” pan and bake for 25-30 minutes.  Top with vanilla yogurt!  (Heat first if not fresh from the oven.  It tastes better.)

I made this last night with chopped dried cranberries instead of raisins.  Yumm.

This Lighter Chicken Cordon Bleu was pretty easy/good.  On the right is the magazine picture and on the left is the only good shot I could get before hungry hands grabbed plates away.
I used sliced Provolone and leftover Gruyère instead of Swiss cheese, and excluded the salad ingredients.

I made a Croque-Monsieur!  (Basically a fancy grilled ham & cheese sandwich)
It’s pretty easy to make but since cooking doesn’t come naturally to me (baking, yes) it took me forever, and I had to run the white sauce through a sieve because it was chunky.

The recipe is from a magazine in the bookstore…I think it was Martha Stewart Living.  I used dried thyme instead of fresh, excluded the mustard, and used Fontina instead of Parmesan.  Oh, and I didn’t use all of the ham…it was way too much.

Croque-Monsieur
1 1/4 c whole milk
2 tbsp unsalted butter
3 tbsp flour
3 tbsp fresh thyme leaves, divided (1/2 tsp dried)
salt & pepper
1 long loaf rustic bread (Ciabatta)
3 tbsp dijon mustard
3/4 lb sliced ham
4 c Gruyère cheese (8 oz)
1 c finely grated Parmesan cheese (1 oz) 

1. Preheat oven to 400˚F with the rack in the bottom third of the oven.  
Heat milk in saucepan on medium heat until hot, 5 minutes.  Melt butter in another saucepan on medium heat, then add flour and whisk.  Cook 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Add half of the thyme, gradually whisk in milk.  Simmer 2 minutes, whisking.  Remove from heat and add 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper.

2. Slice bread in half horizontally.  Spread the bottom half with mustard, ham, and half of gruyère.  Toast on baking sheet until cheese is melted and top is golden.  

3. Preheat broiler*.  Spread sauce on top and sprinkle with remaining cheese.  (I think this goes over the top crust, which I didn’t realize.)  Broil until golden brown and bubbling, 6-7 minutes.  Remove from oven and garnish with pepper and remaining thyme.  Sit 10 minutes before cutting.

*Use the lower setting.  I set it on high and the crust browned way too fast.

(Source: creativeanchorage)

I’ve had this apple spice cake twice this season!  Yum yum.  Look at those apple chunks!
Post/recipe

Banana Caramel Bundt Cake is definitely going on my favorite cakes list.  This is the second time I made it…I forgot how good it is!  The first time I followed the recipe and poked holes into the cake to pour the hot caramel in, but it didn’t actually seep into the cake like it was supposed to.  I ended up with a hard layer of inedible caramel on top.  
This time I didn’t bother, but melted some caramels to glaze the slice in the photo because it looks nice (though too hard to eat).  The cake doesn’t need anything on top though with all its delicious flavor! 

From Crepes of Wrath
My recipe changes:
- A bit extra cinnamon & almond extract
- No chocolate chips or butterscotch chips, instead I use cinnamon chips 

(Source: creativeanchorage)

I’ve made chocolate-filled double delight peanut butter cookies before (and the original peanut butter), but this time I tried it with rolos.  I didn’t have quite enough and made the chocolate filling for the remaining dough, but the rolo cookies were so much better I didn’t want to eat the regular ones!

I’ve made chocolate-filled double delight peanut butter cookies before (and the original peanut butter), but this time I tried it with rolos.  I didn’t have quite enough and made the chocolate filling for the remaining dough, but the rolo cookies were so much better I didn’t want to eat the regular ones!

I'm Beth. I like to document the food and crafts I make. Please don't remove my credit from posts if you reblog!