My Monkey

I have a pet monkey at work.

Isn't he cute.

Someone didn't listen and gave him bananas....people never listen *sigh*

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Not sure where I got this recipe but I think its from Alton Brown. I really like this recipe because it uses melted butter instead of softened. That means I don't have to plan ahead or try to figure out how to soften that butter because I forgot to lay it out.

Chocolate Chip Cookies:

8 oz unsalted butter, melted

2 1/4 cups flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 cup sugar

1 1/4 cups brown sugar

1 egg

1 egg yolk

2 tbsp milk

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

2 cups chocolate chips

1 cup walnuts (opt)

1 cup toffee (opt)

Mix together flour, salt, and soda. Set aside. Mix sugar, brown sugar, and the melted butter. Add egg, egg yolk, milk, and vanilla. Mix well. Slowly mix in flour mixture. Stir in chips and any other mix ins like nuts or toffee. Scoop onto parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake at 350 F until the edges turn golden brown (around 10-15 mins).

The orginal recipe says to chill the dough before scooping and baking. If you chill the dough it won't spead as much. I usually don't chill mine because I like thin cookies. Either way makes a really good cookie. Try doing it both ways and see which you like best.

I dipped the bottoms of mine in tempered chocolate and placed them on a transfer sheet to get that cool pattern on them. Transfer sheets are plastic sheet which has been sprayed with colored cocoa butter to form a pattern. When tempered chocolate is placed on the sheet and allowed to cool the pattern transfers to the chocolate.

Exciting News!

I'm a daring baker (again). I can't wait to get started on my first challenge. You can check out the daring kitchen at http://thedaringkitchen.com/.

Part two of my exciting news. I'm in the process of starting a chocolate business. I'm going to rent a kitchen and then sell the chocolates out of some stores around town. I'll keep you posted on how it goes. lol.

Pretzels

Fresh made soft pretzels are just so darn good...and easy to make.

Pretzels:
10.5 oz water
.33 oz yeast
16 oz flour
.1 oz salt
.3 oz sugar
Soda wash:
8 oz water
1 oz baking soda

Make soda wash. Mix water and soda. Bring to a simmer.

While that is heating. Mix water with yeast and sugar. Let sit 5 mins. Mix flour and salt. Mix yeast mixture with flour. Once dough has came together knead for a couple of mins. Scale into 5 oz pieces and shape. Dip into soda wash. When they float take out and place on sheet pan. Sprinkle with coarse salt. Bake at 500 f for 8 -9 mins. Brush with melted butter. I like to sprinkle mine with parm cheese :-)

Black forest ham and swiss puffs

One of the blogs I frequently read is Joy the Baker. She had a recipe for prosciutto dijon and gruyere puffs that I just had to try. You can find her recipe here.

I used blackforest ham and swiss cause thats what I had.

Orange Basil Sorbet

This has to be my all time favorite sorbet. It has such a wonderful flavor.

Sorbet:
1 pt orange juice (fresh squeezed is best)
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1/2 cup sugar

Heat juice, basil, and sugar. Bring almost to a boil. Then turn off heat and let steep for 15 - 30 mins. Chill for a few hours..overnight is best. Then turn in ice cream maker.

Place in a container and freeze for a couple of hours.

Pomegranate Sorbet

My ice cream maker. Just look.....don't touch. ok?

Pomegranate Sorbet:

16 oz pomegranate juice

1/2 cup sugar

Heat juice and sugar until the sugar is dissolved. Let cool. Turn in ice cream maker.

Put in a container and freeze for a couple of hours.

Then eat...yummy.

Pom Wonderful

Yay..my computer is all better. Life without the net is just kinda odd.

I was contacted by the folks at Pom Wonderful. They sent me some of their pomegranate juice to try. Sadly I had never tried pomegranate anything. Where have I been? lol It really is good stuff...if you haven't tried it go do it now. No wait. Fishish reading my blog first.

First I made a pomegranate vinaigrette.

Pomegranate vinaigrette:

3 tbsp balsamic vinegar

6 tbsp Pom Wonderful

11 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp honey

salt and pepper

Mix together balsamic, juice, honey, salt and pepper. Slowly mix in olive oil.

This is good on any salad but I made a salad of bib lettuce, strawberries, toasted almonds and grilled chicken.

oh no.

havin computer problems. should be back up and running by next week.

No Bake Cookies

Ok I really really love these things.

2 cups sugar

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup milk

1/3 cup cocoa powder

2/3 peanut butter

3 cups oatmeal

2 tsp vanilla

1 tsp salt

Bring sugar, butter, salt, and cocoa to a rolling boil. Remove from heat. Add peanut butter and vanilla. Mix well. Add oats. Spoon onto parchment paper and refrigerate until set.