Back to School Cookies

It's "Off to School" in my house. That's right, it's my 4 year old son's first year in JK. We have spent an hour at the school with him, and he has been for one morning session with a few kids from his class. On Tuesday, he is fully immersed with the whole class of 22 other 4 year olds. I wish him luck.

I am really looking forward to him being in school full time (well, full time mornings), I hope he will love it too.

In celebration of him going to school, we baked up a batch of cookies for him to take as his snack. No ordinary chocolate chip cookies here, these are chocolate chip smartie cookies - and he got to pick what went into the dough. Super simple, nut free, and on the healthy side of a chocolate chip cookie - at least I know that everything that went into them is good wholesome food (well, aside form the smarties).

The original recipe contains only chocolate chips, and that was out only adaption.

Back to School Cookies
Makes 2.5 dozen
Adapted from a recipe by King Arthur Flour

180g butter, at room temperature
150g brown sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 egg
2 & 1/4 cups flour
1 cup smarties
1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375F.

Beat the butter, brown sugar and corn syrup together until fluffy. Beat in the vanilla, baking powder, salt and baking soda, and then mix in the egg. Beat well.

Beat in the flour, then stir in the smarties and chocolate chips.

Scoop (I used a 3/4 oz ice cream scoop) cookie dough onto parchment lined baking sheets. Bake for 12 - 14 minutes, just until lightly browned at the edges. Do not overbake.

Cool cookies for 5 minutes on baking sheets before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Store in an airtight container.

Enjoy!

Packaged Cookies

As I sit here and eat yet another cookie from the other day, I decided it's time to give some away before I eat the entire batch of 30. Not that I couldn't, and that I don't want to, it's just that I probably shouldn't. I have already put on 30lbs with this pregnancy, and with technically another 12 weeks to go, that could balloon to almost 50lbs before I know it. In the back of my mind, there is always the dreaded thought of how long it will take me to get back to my normal size. 

Fairly simple packaging, I just used up some leftover Christmas Contempo DSP and some Old Olive cardstock (Stamping Up) and wrapped it around, tied it up with some Old Olive ribbon and hey presto, magically wrapped cookies - ready for giving!

Now the question is who will be the lucky recipients?

Happy New Year!

It's been a while since I have had the time, or the energy, to cook and then sit down and write here. I feel bad, I really enjoy doing it, but something had to give. The reason is, we are expecting (again), and this time we were quite shocked to learn that we are having twins! I know, major freak out for a couple of days, with thoughts running through our heads - will we need a new car to fit three car seats, three kids in diapers - holy crap (literally), two new cribs, more clothes, more bedding, another mattress, baby formula and then the big kicker for me....bye bye personal time!
Now that we are over the shock and surprise, we are really happy and excited to welcome one boy and one girl in March.

Seeing as we just woke up to a new year, one of my resolutions is to be more productive and consistent on the blog, and my other one is to be a better wife to my husband - who does absolutely everything possible to make my life easier. I figured, it's time to give a little more back. I'll try. Really hard. I promise.

So, seeing as it's New Years Day, and there's not much going on in our house (except for some serious potty training for our 2 year old son), it's a good day for good old Chocolate Chip Cookies. It's something I can do with my son, while I wait and watch for the signs that it's time to "go".

These are fairly simple, they have a couple of different ingredients, but they make for an excellent light and crisp cookie - especially fresh and hot out of the oven.

Chocolate Chip Cookies
(from Cooks Illustrated, I think - this recipe has been in my handwritten book for a while now)
Makes 30 x 1oz scooped cookies

2/3 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup white sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/4 teaspoon almond extract (optional, I put it in, you can't taste it, it just adds another layer)
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 large egg
2 cups flour
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375F. Line baking sheets with parchment.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine sugars, butter, shortening, salt, vanilla, almond extract, vinegar and baking soda and mix until light and fluffy and well combined.
Add egg and mix well, scraping down sides before adding flour and chocolate chips. Mix gently, but well.
Portion dough into 1/4" balls (I used a 1oz ice cream scoop), place on baking sheets and flatten slightly.
Bake for 10-12 minutes, rotating halfway through cooking. You want the edges to be browned and the tops to be blonde in colour.

Santa would be proud, Enjoy!