Tasty Treats ~ Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

I know I have posted other Double Chocolate Chip cookie recipes before but I am going to have to say this recipe is by far my kid’s favorite.  Plus, these cookies were so easy to make!  You got to like that 🙂  I made these cookies last weekend for the kids lunches and they came home asking if I could make more so they could share with your friends at school.  Yes, that is how good these cookies taste.  You should have everything in your pantry to make these cookies now.   The only ingredient you might not have handy is the 4 oz. semi-sweet chocolate.    I used Ghirardelli Chocolate Premium Baking Bar Semi-Sweet.   Delicious!

I found this recipe from Kitchen Simplicity.   The recipe was adapted from Martha Steward.

 

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

Makes 24-30 cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup cocoa powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 4 oz. semi-sweet chocolate
• ½ cup unsalted butter
• 1.5 cups sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 4 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips (or chopped chocolate)

 

Directions:

1. Whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, melt together chocolate and butter. Beat in sugar, eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour mixture until evenly distributed. Fold in chocolate chips.
3. Scoop heaping spoonfuls of cookie dough onto parchment lined baking sheets. Bake at 325ºF for 10 minutes or until cookies are crackly and no longer shiny. Cool 1 minute before removing to wire wracks or paper towels to cool.

Enjoy baking!

Christmas Pajamas are Here!

I just wanted to let everyone know that we have received our first shipment of Christmas pajamas.   Yes, I said Christmas pajamas.   I know the kids just went back to school but before you know it it will be Christmas!  Don’t delay because I am not sure what sizes I will be able to get back in stock as the pajamas start to sell.  I will also be bringing in a couple of footie Christmas pajamas.   These have not arrived yet but I will let you know as soon as they arrive.

My Baby Pajamas has brought in 3 styles from Sara’s Prints Pajamas.    All three styles are 100% cotton long johns.   These pajamas are made to fit snug so if you are unsure about a size I would recommend going up a size just to be safe.

Sara’s Prints Red/White Reindeer Screen Print Christmas Pajamas

 

Sara’s Prints Presents Applique Christmas pajamas

 

 

Sara’s Prints Emerald/Red Stripe Christmas pajamas

Have a wonderful Day!

 

 

Recipe Calorie Calculator

Do you ever wonder how many calories are in your favorite dish you cook?  Or how many grams of fat, sodium or carbohydrates are in your recipe?   About a month ago these facts became really important to my family.

My husband went to the doctor for his annual check up.   It turns out he has high cholesterol.  Not so high that they want him to go on medicine but high enough that the doctor said you have 3 months to change your diet.   Well, I was scheduled for the doctor about 3 weeks later and guess what?? My cholesterol wasn’t where I wanted it to be either.   Turns out a runner’s diet is NOT good for all runners 🙂  So my husband and I are on a mission to lower our cholesterol.  My goal is to cut back on dairy and carbohydrates.   Say goodbye to my cold glass of chocolate milk I enjoyed after my run!  Plus, I realized I ate a lot of carbs.  Now, I know I ran them off but with certain carbs (flour tortillas) come high saturated fat.  Not good for cholesterol!

Anyway, I have been combing through Pinterest looking for new recipes and I noticed that some recipes don’t list their nutrition facts.  Boy, I hate that!    So I went searching online and I found a ton of sites to help me.   After trying a few out, I decided that http://caloriecount.about.com/cc/recipe_analysis.php was the easiest to use.  Many sites require you to search for each recipe ingredient one at a time in their database, which can be somewhat time consuming. On the Calorie Counter website, you just copy and paste the ingredients from your recipe, insert the number of servings, and the recipe is “analyzed” for you. You can also store recipes on the site, and it’s free.

Here is a sample of my No Bake Energy Bites.   Overall Grade was a C.  Not so great!  But I love the new calorie calculator!  If you know of another great website for nutrition facts on recipes, please let me know.

Thanks for stopping by!

 

 

 

 

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 18 g

Amount Per Serving

Calories 82 Calories from Fat 45

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 5.0g 8%

Saturated Fat 2.0g 10%

Trans Fat 0.0g

Cholesterol 1mg 0%

Sodium 28mg 1%

Potassium 74mg 2%

Total Carbohydrates 7.7g 3%

Dietary Fiber 1.2g 5%

Sugars 6.1g

Protein 2.0g

Vitamin A 0% • Vitamin C 0% Calcium 1% • Iron 8%

Nutrition Grade C

* Based on a 2000 calorie diet

Tasty Treats ~ Bakery Style Blueberry Muffins

Bakery Style Blueberry Muffins

Hi Everyone,

I know it’s been awhile again since I posted some of my recipes that I have tried and tested on Pinterest.   Just so you know I have not stopped baking or cooking but I have been really busy with life 🙂  Anyway, I have a bunch of recipes that I want to share with you all.  Also, I have been doing a lot of gluten-free and vegan dinner dishes and sides.   I realized I wanted to amp up my training for the fall running races I have coming up and decided to change my diet to see if I see a difference in my running.   Well, it’s been about a month or so and I feel fabulous!!  Don’t get me wrong I am still eating meat, but to be honest I have never been a huge meat eater.  In fact, I was a vegetarian for about 10 years of my life.  When I was pregnant with my first son, I really started to carve meat.  I guess my body was telling me something because I was low in Iron.   Anyway, I started to eat meat again but never more than 3 oz. at dinner.  I will be sharing all my favorite meals I have been making soon.  But for know I want to post my youngest sons favorite muffin recipe.   These freeze great too!  I keep a couple out for the boys and then freeze the rest and toss one in their lunch.

Bakery Style Blueberry Muffins

Makes one dozen muffins

Recipe from: Dinner Dishes and Desserts

Ingredients:

• 3 cups flour
• 1 Tbls baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ cup butter, softened
• 1¼ cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1½ cups frozen blueberries

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Prepare a 12 cup muffin tin with non-stick spray or liners. Set aside
• In a bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
• In a stand mixer, cream butter and sugar together until fluffy, about 2 minutes.
• Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition. Mix in vanilla.
• Slowly add the flour mixture and yogurt, alternating between the two; until just combined.
• Fold in the blueberries.
• The batter will be very thick. Scoop into prepared muffin tins.
• Bake at 425 for 5 minutes. Reduce heat to 375 and bake for 15 more minutes, or until a tester comes out clean.
• Remove from oven, and set on a wire rack to cool.
• Store in an airtight container or freeze.

Enjoy!

 

Bakery Style Blueberry Muffins