Chocolate Sugar Cookies

So a tiny little amount might have passed since I last posted.  I have eaten a ton of good food in the last 11 months, much of it sugar based.  And it all was in the name of serving those who read this blog(all of you I can count on my one hand)!  Even if I didn't blog all the many treats I ate, I thought about blogging them, so really, it is totally a service I was performing.  
The holiday season is upon us and as I was searching for some new cookies to bake and eat, I mean to take to all of my friends, I came across this.  The cookies sounded really good and had a great picture, and let's face it, so much of whether we try a new recipe we see is based on the picture.  But these definitely did not disappoint.  They are full of chocolatey flavor, chewy, and oh so yummy.  And there is no rolling, cutti

ng, flouring, etc.  Which, hello, is a total winner for me.  You know my motto, the easier the better! 

Chocolate Sugar cookies
found on: Mel's Kitchen Cafe

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 14 tablespoons butter
• 1 3/4 cups packed dark brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 large egg plus 1 egg yolk

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350.

In a medium bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and baking powder and set aside.

Put granulated sugar in shallow bowl and set aside.

In a large bowl, melt 10 tbsp of butter carefully, do not overheat.  As soon as it is melted, remove and add 4 additional tbsp of butter and stir until all is melted.  Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes, until it is about 90 or 95 degrees.  If no thermometer, just allow the full 10 minutes.

The butter should be warm but not hot.

Whisk the brown sugar, vanilla, and salt into butter mixture until completely smooth.  Whisk in egg and egg yolk until smooth.  Add flour mixture and stir until just combined.

Roll the dough into 2 tbsp balls, roll in sugar, then place on lightly greased or lined baking sheets.  Using the bottom of a glass, flatten into about 1/4 in and sprinkle additional sugar on top.

Bake for about 12-14 minutes, until they have cracks running along the top, then transfer to cooling rack.

Banana Smoothie

Happy New Year!

 I really like having a place where I can quickly lay my hands on all of my favorite recipes.  So, as part of my New Years Goals, I want to blog more of my favorite food things.  Since eating healthy is always on the top of everyone's Resolutions as well at the New Year, I knew this would be my first post of the year.

I found this smoothie by doing a google search for banana milkshakes.  I was looking for a decadent, fattening, and totally satisfying milkshake.  However, I actually was having trouble finding anything.  I randomly checked a site called Pinch My Salt because seriously, how cute is that name for a food blog?

I was a little skeptical because hello, where was the ice cream?  I decided to try it anyway.  I didn't have any frozen bananas so I just used a regular banana.  And I got banana milk which actually  tasted pretty good.  So I froze some bananas right away so I could try the actual frozen treat.  Total side note, the first time freezing bananas, did anyone else leave the peel on?  Oops.  

Anyway, I LOVE this smoothie.  It tastes seriously good and is so much healthier than the original banana milkshake I was looking for.  You can make it as healthy as you want it, substituting truvia for the sugar and uisng fat free milk.  You can even add protein to it.  But any way, it is delicious!!

Banana Smoothie

from:   Pinch My Salt

One frozen banana, cut into chunks(i just break it into pieces with my hands, I am just that strong)

One cup milk 

1-2 tbsp sugar (I always use just one and it is plenty sweet)

1/8 tsp vanilla

Combine all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth, usually about 15-20 seconds.  Pour into glass and enjoy!!