Sinful chocolate cookies

Holy delicious cookie guys...I was really in the mood for a chocolate cookie that was easy too so I searched online and combined a few recipes to make what I think it probably the best cookie I've ever had.  I'm not just tooting my own horn, they are so easy and so delicious!!!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Farenheit.  Also grease 2 baking sheets with cooking spray.
• Put the confectioners' sugar into a little container and set aside as you will use this later to coat the cookies.
• In a medium bowl, mix flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt
• In another bowl, using your mixer, beat butter and sugar until it's combined and creamy.  Add one egg at a time and mix until blended.  Then add your vanilla to this mixture.
• Add the two mixtures together and beat until blended
• Using a tablespoon, scoop some of the dough out
• Roll the dough into small ball's using your hands (time to get dirty guys!)
• Roll the ball in the confectioners' sugar that you set aside in the beginning
• Place the balls on the baking sheets (12 on each) about 2 inches or so apart
• Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until they are cracked and puffed!

In other news, I'm sick

I feel like I have been missing in action this week and I sincerely apologize for disappearing for a bit but guys...I.am.so.freaking.sick.  Tim was sick earlier last week and he really didn't seem that bad (I know some women say that men are wimps when they are sick, but Tim is a champ.  I never can tell when he's feeling particularly awful.)  Anyway, I was convinced that I would beat whatever Tim had and then, just as I feared, last Sunday I started feeling sick.  We were out at the hitting range on a little date and I started to get a sore throat.  Well...it's Thursday now and I have no voice, an awful cough, a stuffy nose, body aches..the works! I feel awwwfffffullllllll.  Maggie came over last nice since I'm home house sitting and as a nursing major/best friend she did her best to keep my spirits high.

In other news, I experimented this morning with a new pancake recipe and it was yummy but still missing something.  I added vanilla this time around to give it a little kick but they still feel like they need more!  Do you guys have any suggestions for great pancake recipe's?!

In other other news, I want to take cooking classes for my birthday this year and have been trying to do some research online to find the best place.  Have any of you taken a class in the city and recommend a good place?

So sorry that this was such a random post, but I didn't want to leave you guys hanging while I try and beat this cold!

Perfect spring frittata!

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that Tim and I cooked  brunch for my family the Saturday before Easter. I put up a few of the recipe's from brunch but totally forgot to put up this amazing ham, broccoli and cheese frittata!

Ingredients:

• 8 large eggs
• One package of steamed broccoli
• 1/2 pound of deli ham
• 1 cup of sharp cheddar cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 teaspoons olive oil

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Heat oil in at least a 10 inch skillet over medium-high heat
• Add broccoli and ham to the the skillet
• In a large bowl, whisk eggs, cheese, salt and pepper together and pour into skillet.  Make sure that everything is covered.  You want to cook this until edges are slightly set (about 1-2 minutes).
• Transfer to the oven and bake until center is set, check at 20 minutes.  Do not put your skillet into the oven if it has a plastic handle.  I transferred mine, after the edges were set, to a quiche dish which ended up working perfectly!

Enjoy!

Easy, delicious crumb cake

When I decided that I wanted to make Easter brunch for my family with Tim I knew that I wanted to stick to breakfast foods.  I also knew that I wanted to find a simple dessert to balance all the intense, rich flavors of the other dishes.  What I decided to make was crumb cake.  If anyone has every working with crumb cake before you know it's unlike anything else.  It's a thick, dough-like batter that is difficult to spread and work with.  Having never had experience making it before I got frustrated and left most of the spreading, crumb making and cake baking to Tim, but the recipe is mine!

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons canola oil, plus more for 9x12 pan
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup of milk
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 cup unsalted butter
• Confectioners' sugar for dusting
• 2 tablespoons sour cream

Directions:

• Preheat oven and spray baking pan with canola oil, set aside
• Mix together 1 1/2 cups flour, sugar, baking powder and salt
• In a second bowl, whisk together egg, sour cream, milk, canola oil and vanilla
• Mix dry and wet ingredients together gradually
• Spread batter into prepared pan and set aside
• In another bowl, mix together remaining 2 1/2 cups flour, brown sugar and cinnamon.  Pour melted butter over mixture and toss until crumbs form.  Sprinkle over batter
• Bake in oven for 10-20 minutes or until a fork comes out clean
• When cooled, dust with confectioners' sugar

Delicious Blueberry Muffins

Is anyone planning on cooking brunch for Easter?  Whether you are or aren't this easy-to-make muffins can be changed to your liking (chocolate, strawberries, bananas, etc...) What I've created is an simple muffin base that can change depending on the day you want to eat them!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 cups flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 milk (I always add a splash more but you really have to eye this one.  Don't let them get to watery, but don't let them be too dry)
• 1/2 tsp  vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups chopped blueberries (or something else if you'd prefer that)

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees and spray muffin pan to set aside.  You can either cook these in cupcake holders or without, it doesn't matter
• Mix butter and sugar together in a mixing bowl.  Add in egg and beat.
• Add flour, baking powder and salt into the bowl and mix.  Add in your milk and then vanilla.
• Gently stir in your choice of fruit (or chocolate)
• Sprinkle some sugar on top!
• Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean!

Enjoy!