How Twitter Changed My Life...sort of

Hello readers,

Thanks for checking out my blog again. I appreciate everyone taking the time out of their day to read about my kitchen endeavors. Today I was scrolling through my twitter feed ( follow me at michaeltedone), and realized I wasn't following the Cooking Channel. I follow various cooking/food brands, and decided to add one more to the list. Soon after I followed the Cooking Channel they posted a link to a recipe called Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies. I was suppose to pack for school, but making an unhealthy, sugary dessert took precedent. The bottom layer of the dessert is a moist, homemade brownie, topped with homemade cookie dough, and drizzled with a chocolate glaze. It's a very rich dessert, but that won't stop you from eating one, two, or three of them. The recipe for these Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies can be found at http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/recipes/chocolate-chip-cookie-dough-brownies-recipe/index.html?soc=tw&hootPostID=7ef7156b8129ab41172362accc6e592d . Here's how I made them.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies

For the brownie:
1/2 C all purpose flour
1 tbsp cocoa powder
1/2 tsp salt
3.5 oz semi sweet chocolate, chopped
1/3 C unsalted butter, cut into cubes
2/3 C light brown sugar, packed
2 lg eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp vanilla

* Preheat oven to 350
* Spray Pam Cooking Spray on an 8x8 inch pan
* Sift flour, cocoa powder, salt in a small bowl. Set aside.
* Melt chocolate & butter in a bowl set over a saucepan of gently simmering water.
* Stir chocolate & butter until smooth. Take off heat.
*Whisk in brown sugar until dissolved.
* Whisk in eggs & vanilla
* Fold flour mixture into eggs mixture, until incorporated.
* Pour brownie batter into 8x8 inch pan. Bake 18 minutes.
* Transfer & let cool.

For the cookie dough:
1/2 C unsalted butter, room temperature
1/4 C granulated sugar
1/2 C light brown sugar, packed
2 tbsp milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 C all purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 C semi sweet chocolate chips

* In a large mixing bowl,beat butter & sugars on medium speed until light & fluffy. This should take 2-3 minutes.
* Mix in milk & vanilla.
* Mix in flour & salt until incorporated.
* Stir in chocolate chips.
* Spread cookie dough over cooled brownies smoothing into an even layer. Refrigerate brownie/cookie dough mixture while you prepare the glaze.

For the chocolate glaze:
3.5 oz semi sweet chocolate, chopped
2 tbsp unsalted butter

* Melt chocolate & butter in a small sauce pan over low heat until melted & smooth.
* Pour chocolate glaze in a thin layer over the cookie dough.
* Chill the chocolate chip cookie dough brownies for 30 minutes.
* Cut into 16 squares & enjoy.

                                                   Bottom layer of brownie.

                                                   Middle layer of cookie dough.

                                                   Top layer of chocolate glaze.

Overall these brownies tasted just as good as you'd expect. The mixture of chocolate & cookie dough is a combination that I am huge fan of. If you make these let me know how they turn out. If you have any suggestions as to what I should make in my last week of summer break leave a comment. Thanks for reading.

Dessert Before Dinner, Always a Winner

Hello readers.

I would once again like to thank everyone for checking out my blog. I really do appreciate everyone taking the time to read up on my cooking endeavors.  It's been a while since I've updated my blog so I wanted to feature a dish that would appeal to a lot of my readers. I'm sure it's safe to assume many of you like chocolate so I decided to create a chocolate dessert that will give you the chocolate fix you're looking for. I made Triple Chocolate Cookies which can be found at http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/healthy-appetite-with-ellie-krieger-/triple-chocolate-cookies-recipe/index.html. Their simple to make, and relatively healthy even though they are a dessert. Here's how I made my triple chocolate cookies.

Triple Chocolate Cookies 
(makes 12)
Ingredients:
1/4 C unsalted butter, softened
1/2 C dark brown sugar
1/2 C granulated sugar
1/4 C canola oil
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 C all purpose flour
1/2 C whole wheat pastry flour
1/4 C unsweetened cocoa powder
1/3 C dark chocolate chips
1/3 C milk chocolate cooks

*Preheat oven to 350 degrees
*Beat butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar in an electric stand mixer until combined.
* Beat in the oil and egg.
* Mix in the vanilla. Set aside.
*In a medium bowl, whisk the flours, cocoa powder, and salt.
* Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.
* Stir in the dark chocolate chips & milk chocolate chips.
* Scoop the batter, with a tablespoon, onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
* Bake cookies for 12 minutes.
* Cool & Serve.

                                                    Drizzle with peanut butter or serve
                                                    on their own. Either way their a hit!

Thoughts on the recipe: I know I say this about every recipe I make, but once again I really enjoyed this dish. Your expectations for a full on chocolate flavor will certainly be met. I recommend using both types of chocolate chips, but if you don't like a certain kind of chocolate leave it out. You can always double up on the kind of chocolate you do like. They will taste great served alone or you can drizzle some melted peanut butter on them. Triple Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies sounds like a pretty good dessert to me. If you try out this recipe, let me know how you like it.

Tips & Tricks: As I've been cooking more often this year, I've picked up little tips & tricks along the way. Knowledge is power so I thought I'd share some things I've learned with my readers. I hope it helps.

1) Everyone has to buy groceries to cook their meals. To save money on your groceries, consider buying store brand. At the end of the day, salt will always be salt, flour will always be flour, and sugar will always be sugar. You cannot tell the difference between the different brands of these products so save yourself some extra cash and go with the store brand. If your wallet could talk, it would thank you.

2)  Recipes are meant to guide your cooking, not limit it. Therefore I recommend to get creative in the dishes you make. The recipe for my triple chocolate cookies can be modified to fit your personal taste. Instead of chocolate chips you could add pecans, walnuts, dried fruits, raisins, or any combination of things I've listed or not listed. You know your palate the best, and should make food you are going to enjoy. Get creative with your food, and really enjoy it.

I hope that you've liked this post for my triple chocolate cookies, and some of the advice I have to offer.  If you have any suggestions as to what I should make feel free to leave a comment. If you are enjoying this blog tell everyone you know about it. Once again, thanks for reading.