Chocolate Mint Chip Cookies

Well, the son took some of the cheesecake to work, and it was a hit!  I decided to make some cookies to bring to my evening job tonight - so I whipped these up - thank goodness for AC -you can turn on the oven without feeling guilty.

Chocolate Mint Chip Cookies
1 c. crisco shortening
3/4 c. sugar
3/4 c. brown sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
1/3 c. cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking soda
2 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 bag Nestle Chocolate Mint Chips

Mix all your ingredients together.  Bake 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees! 

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake :)

The kids have been asking for a cheesecake, and then the son told his co-workers he would bring them some cheesecake - so I guess I had to buck up and make a cheesecake.  When I moved into this temporary apartment almost 10 months ago, I did bring my spring-form pan, because lord knows it's an ESSENTIAL.  Glad to say I dusted it off yesterday and I must say, as you will see in the pic, we did some taste testing last night! Oh and for those of you who have never made a "real" cheesecake - do not fear - it's not that daunting of a task.

CHOCOLATE CHIP CHEESECAKE
In your springorm pan, stir together 1 1/2 c. graham cracker crumbs, 2 tbsp. sugar and 1/3 c. melted butter.  Stir well and pat down to cover the bottom and a bit up the sides of the pan.  Set in freezer while you prepare the filling.
Preheat your oven to 325.

3 8 oz. pkg. Philadelphia cream cheese,  I used 1 regular and 2 light ones
1 tbsp. vanilla
1 1/4 c. sugar
3 eggs
1 c. sour cream, I used fat free
1 c. mini semi-sweet chocolate chips


Mix together your cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until well mixed and light and fluffy.  Add eggs one at a time and beat well after each egg.  Stir in the sour cream and chocolate chips.  Pour into your chilled crust.  Bake for about 1 hour, or until the middle is no longer jiggly.  Turn off the oven and open the door and let cheesecake rest in there for 30 minutes.  Refrigerate a good 3 hours before eating - more time is even better.  Keep refrigerated.

Picture 1 is before it went into the oven....

Picture 2 is after some sampling occurred :)

Chocolate & Orange Sandwich Cookies~!

This morning I made my hubby his favorite breakfast in the world, simple and easy pancakes!  I can barely eat them anymore but don't tell him that after he left today I did have one - with cool whip & strawberries on it for breakfast.

I have always loved the chocolate /orange combo - in a box of chocolates I am forever looking for the orange cream chocolate :)  So here is a recipe that maybe will quench that craving for you too!

Chocolate & Orange Sandwich Cookies
8 oz. semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
1/3 c. all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp. baking powder
pinch of salt
2 eggs
1/2 c. sugar
Grated zest of 1 orange

Filling: 
6 tbsp. butter
1 c. powdered sugar
Grated zest of an orange and juce of 1 orange

Preheat your oven to 350.  Melt the chocolate and let cool slightsly.  Whisk in the sugar, eggs, and orange zest.  Stir in the dry ingredients.  Spoon small amounts of dough onto a greased baking sheet.  Bake for 10 to 25 minutes - check for firmness.  Cool.
Beat the filling ingredients together .  Spread on a cookie and sandwich with another cookie. 

Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches :)

A simple, perfect, easy treat for all ages for the hot summer weather!  Who doesn't like Ice Cream?  I know I sure do and my waistline unfortunately shows it :(

Bascially make any flavor of cookies you like.  Cool.  Sandwich together with whatever your favorite flavor of ice cream may be - or be free to try variations.  Sugar cookies with Strawberry Ice Cream!  Or Rainbow Sherbet!

Here are the ideas presented in this picture that I found in Redbook Magazine - June 2012 Issue!

Top Sandwich:  Ducle De Leche ice cream between chocolate, chocolate chip cookies!
Second one down:  Strawberry ice cream between chocolate chip cookies
Third one down:  Mint Chip ice cream between chocolate chocolate chip cookes (with mint extract in   the cookies as well!
Bottom Sandwich:  Chunky Monkey ice cream between chocolate chip cookies!

Triple Chocolate Cookies~!

Okay, I seem to do posts more than one at a time - but hey it is how I am productive (I guess!).  Ha!  Here is another yummy cookie recipe - if you love chocolate - this one is for you!

Triple Chocolate Cookies
1 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. baking powder
pinch of salt
1/2 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 c. white chocolate chips

Mix together as cookie dough.  Stir in your chips.  Drop onto baking sheets and bake @ 350 for 12-14 minutes.  EAT! 

Pizza Cookie~!

I got to see my niece yesterday :)  And my dad too for Father's Day!  So it was a great day.
Here is a yummy recipe for you to try!  Hope you are having a great summer so far.

Pizza Cookie
1/2 c. butter, softened
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 c. flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda

Preheat the oven to 350!  Spray your pizza pan with Pam spray.  Mix the ingredients together to form a sugar cookie dough.  Spread onto the pizza pan.  Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until lightly golden brown.  Remove from oven.  Cool.

Topping:
1/2 c. butter, softened
2 c. powdered sugar
1/2 c. cream cheese, at room temp.
1 tsp. vanilla
Sprinkles
Candy of your choosing! 

Beat together the butter and cream cheese, add 1 tsp. vanilla.    Stir in the powedered sugar.  Spread over the cooled cookie crust.  Top as desired!  You can use m & m's, mini m & M's, skittles, Chopped up candy bars, etc.  Possibilities are endless! 

3rd Post of the day - Coconut Wedges

I'm on a roll  :)  Hey saying that makes me wish I had a cinnamon roll, warm and gooey from my oven, cannot anyone out there send me one quick?  It sure would make my day!  Instead of cinnamon rolls, however, I have this recipe to share with you.

Coconut Wedges
1 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1 1/2 c. flaked coconut
1/2 c. rolled oats
3/4 c. chopped pecans
1/2 c. canola oil
3/4 c. pure maple syrup
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla

Pre heat your oven to 350.  Grease and line a 9 x 13 pan with parchment.
Stir together your dry ingredients, including coconut and pecans.
Beat together the oil and maple syrup.  Add the eggs and vanilla.  Stir in your dry ingredients.  Spread into the pan and bake for 12-15 minutes.  Cut into wedges and cool.

Applesauce Cookies

Blog post #2 of the day  :)  I seem to be going in streaks these days - it's either all or nothing, as you can attest too.  I was going to blog last night, but I was busy watching the Bachelorette..........soooooooo here I am today - doing more than one!

Applesauce Cookies
1/2 c. butter
1/4 c. light brown sugar
1 egg
2 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. baking soda
pinch of salt
1 c. unsweetened applesauce (or whatever kind you have)
2 tbsp. water

Preheat your oven to 350.  Beat the butter and sugar together and add in your egg.  Stir in the dry ingredients, and then the water and applesauce.

Drop by spoonfuls onto baking sheet.  Bake 12 to 15 minutes. 

Millionaire's Shortbread :)

Just so you know, in case you don't , I am not a millionaire, but hey nothing is stopping me from having this yummy treat.  On the other hand - living here in Minnesota we have gone from 95 to 41 in a few days time.  Quite the weather we have here.  Today is National Peanut butter Cookie day - so I may have to do a post for them too, since they have always been one of my very favorites.

Millionaire's Shortbread
1 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. powdered sugar
1 1/2 c. butter
5 tbsp. corn syrup
1  14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp. vanilla
7 oz. semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips
1 tbsp. canola oil

Preheat your oven to 360.  Line a 9 x 13 pan with foil.  Stir together your flour and powdered sugar and cut in the 1 cup of butter unti lcourse crumbs result - press into the pan.  Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until lightly golden.  Remove from oven.
For the caramel:  Melt the last stick of butter in the microwave and stir in the corn syrup and condensed milk.  Microwave on high for 8-9 minutes, stirring every minute or 2.  Stir in the vanilla.  Spread over the shortbread layer.  Refrigerate for about 2 hours.  Melt the chocolate with the tbsp. of oil, spread over the chilled caramel layer.  Chill.  Cut into bars.

Fruit Cream Layer Cake :)

Yet another yummy way to use a yellow cake mix, of course you can create your yellow cake from scratch - but I often find the boxed variety is plenty yummy!

Fruit Cream Layer Cake
1 box yellow or even white cake mix
2 c. strawberries or raspberries
3 tbsp. confectioner's sugar
2 c. cold heavy whipping cream

Preheat oven to 350.  Mix your cake mix as directed.  Pour batter into 8 or 9" cake rounds (2 of them).  Bake.  COOL.  Whip your cream until soft peaks form, beat in the sugar and a dash of vanilla.  Whip until stiff peaks form.  Stir in your berries, sliced thin.  Put bottom layer on cake plate, top with half of the whip cream mixture.  Top with additional cake layer.  Top with remaining whipped mixture.  Refrigerate.

Chocolate-Vanilla Marble Loaves :)

I am trying to punch out the posts today - these are chocolate-vanilla marble loaves.  Yummy and simple too, who doesn't love that combination. 

Chocolate-Vanilla Marble Loaf
1 box Yellow Cake Mix
1/2 c. unsweetened cocoa powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray your Mini Loaf pans with Pam.  (I used 2 of them).  In a bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder and 6 tbsp. hot water.  Set aside.
Prepare the cake mix as directed on the box.  Divide in half.  Stir the chocolate mixture into 1/2 of the batter.  Spoon 2 dollops of batter into pan next to each other, 1 chocolate and 1 vanilla.  Repeat twice, alternating layers.  Swirl.

Bake until done. 

Cappuccino-chocolate Cupcakes!

Cupcakes - ala - Martha Stewart  :), adapted from a recipe I found with her name on it!  Can't go wrong with most of her recipes.  I hope you will give these a try - you won't be disappointed.  P.S.  The PSA of the day is House-hunting is NOT a fun thing to do.

Cappuccino-Chocolate Cupcakes
3 tbsp. cappuccino drink mix powder ( I used french vanilla)
5 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chopped (or use mini chips)
1 box yellow cake mix
Cream Cheese Frosting (homemade of course)  + 2-3 tbsp. cappuccino drink mix powder stirred in. 

Prepare cake mix as directed on the package.  Stir in the cappuccino powder and chocolate chips.  Bake @ 350.  Cool.  Frost with Cream Cheese Frosting (which has more cappuccino powder stirred into it.  Can top with chocolate shavings!

2 Posts in One Day :)

Found this recipe in the Midwest Living, June 2012 issue.  On the cover was a stack of S'more's - who doesn't love S'mores?  I know I sure do - As I logged on to post today - I see that all year my blog posts have been going down month by month - so I am vowing in June to try and bring the number back up - will see how I do!

S'More Pie a la Marshmallow Creme
6 oz. chocolate, finely chopped
1/4 c. whipping cream
2 tbsp. dark Karo syrup
1/4 c. water
2 tsp. vanilla
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 c. whipping cream
1/2 c. powdered sugar
1 c. mini-marshmallows
Graham Cracker Crust
Topping

In a saucepan mix chocolate, 1/4 c. cream, corn syrup and water.  Heat and stir over medium heat until smooth.  Remove from heat and add vanilla.  Cool 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
In a bowl mix chocolate mixture and cream cheese.  In a separate bowl beat the 1c. whipping cream until peaks form, blend in powdered sugar.  Using a spatula, fold this into the chocolate/cream cheese mixture.  Place mini marshmallows in the bottom of the crust.  Spoon in the chocolate mixture.  Chill at least 4 hours.  Spoon the topping on and serve!

TOPPING:  1    7 oz. jar marshmallow cream and 1 tbsp. milk, stir these together and spoon over the top of the pie - SERVE!

Saw this in Better Homes & Gardens Magazine :)

Beautiful day here in Minnesota :)  Sunshine, a little breeze who can complain?  I won't be!  I already have salsa chicken in the crockpot for supper, hubby and I will both be working but the kids will be set! 
I saw this recipe and picture in my Better Homes and Gardens magazine and thought, A:  SO CUTE and B:  Sounds SUPER yummy~!

Tarts
Heat your oven to 400 degrees.  Cut packaged piecrust into 3" squares.  Spread with Jam or pie filling of your choice.  Cover with another square.  Crimp the edges together with a fork.  Bake 9 minutes on a cookie sheet.  Top with a simple icing and sprinkles  :)