Joy in the Kitchen!

Is there really anything better than a good chocolate chip cookie , Other than TWO good chocolate chip cookies?  That's an emphatic NO!  There are so many recipes for chocolate chip cookies out there and I've tried quite a few of them.  I've posted a few already on my blog.  This is one of my favorites.  I got the recipe at a church dinner from Margaret.  Margaret has 7 children... 5 of those are boys.  They're all grown now, but I'd bet you that when they were all home, she knew how to cook a big batch of a lot of foods to keep those tummies happy!   This makes at least 6 dozen average sized cookies. (I use a normal sized cookie scoop - or about a walnut sized piece of dough rolled into a ball)  If you don't need to EAT 6 dozen cookies today, go ahead and roll the dough into balls and freeze.  If you'd rather, you can roll the dough into logs and freeze.  When you're ready to bake, just thaw a few minutes and sl...

Jaylyn and I wanted to make some kind of cookie to take camping but we were low on regular chocolate chips so the usual chocolate chip cookies were out.  We DID however have several packages of Hershey's Mint Chocolate Chips we bought last fall to use for Chocolate Mint Fudge.  While trying to decide if those would tasted good in a regular chocolate chip cookie, we noticed the recipe on the back of the package for Double Chocolate Mint Cookies.  (of all the places to find a recipe!  lol )   We don't try new cookie recipes often, but since we needed to use these chips up - we gave it a whirl.  Jaylyn did most of the mixing and used the cookie scoop to put the dough on the cookie sheets.  They didn't take much time at all. They are DELICIOUS!!!  Soft and moist, perfect amount of chocolate and mint.  Mmmmm!  We doubled the batch and ended up with 6 dozen cookies. If you'd like to try this recipe & need the ingredie...

Dinner tonight is White Bean Chili!   What better side dish fora steaming bowl of chili than a nice big piece of cornbread!   I love the way cornbread is porous and lets the butter and honey soak right in.  Mmmm! Now, I realize that some of you don't recognize this type of cornbread as the REAL stuff since it is sweet and light, but, it's what folks in my neck of the woods are familiar with.  If you're looking for a light, sweet, moist cornbread, you'll enjoy this one.  This recipe makes a 9x13 pan full.  It is moist, and delicious.  If you can't use it up when you first serve it, it reheats in the microwave really well. Cornbread 1 C. melted margarine or butter 1 1/3 C. sugar 4 eggs, beaten 2 C. buttermilk 1 tsp. baking soda 1/2 C. plain yogurt or sour cream 1 tsp. salt 2 C. all purpose flour 2 C. corn meal Heat oven to 375 degrees.  Mix the sugar and melted butter together.  Add eggs and...

Need a dessert that will dress up any occasion? How about a light main dish for a special luncheon? Cream Puffs fit the description perfectly!  They look as delicious as they taste and are really, really, easy to make. We like to eat large ones filled with a creamy chocolate filling, or we've made small ones to serve at wedding receptions. They make a delightful main dish by filling with a fresh chicken or seafood salad.  Any way you fill them, they are YUMMY! Today is our "Engagement Anniversary"!  Just a mere 28 years ago my husband proposed over a lovely Japanese dinner he cooked for us.  The proposal was hidden in fortune cookies he served at the end of dinner.... no wonder he was so insistent when I didn't take one the first time he offered them. LOL  I'd never enjoyed fortune cookies before like I did that evening. :)  No time for a special celebration dinner tonight, so chocolate filled cream puffs will be what makes our celebration special. No...

Yummy Enchilada taste for a family without the fuss!  It seems that this casserole  fixes up a bit different each time because I often use up a few left over or lonely items that are nearing their life expectancy. ;)  It is ALWAYS good though and easy to do.    Tonight I am using hamburger and black beans.  I usually use the burger, but sometimes the beans are kidney beans or small red beans... whatever I have on hand and catches my fancy when I'm cooking.   Tonight I used shredded cheddar cheese, but if I had some jack cheese or whatnot, I'd make a blend.  Right now my only variety to blend would be mozzarella and I have plans for that later this week.   It's easy to add in a few chopped veggies as well...  use your best judgement.... in addition to the onion I've enjoyed finely diced potato, summer squash, corn, and spinach or chard finely shredded.  Not all of those at once though - the kids get suspicious when they notice too...

I've been wanting to make cupcakes for a while now.  Seems like I think I have to wait for a special occasion for some silly reason.  My special occasion for these are twofold....  two of the sisters I visit teach have birthday's this week (Happy Birthday SteviKay and Lorraine!) AND Valentines Day is coming up next week. I used a basic no egg cake recipe... it is more dense and holds up better with a load of frosting on top.  I used my Whacky Cake recipe .  For the frosting, I used the Creamy Chocolate Frosting recipe on my blog for the base under the yellow flower cupcakes, and a Raspberry Cream Cheese Frosting for the Valentine cupcakes.  That's the recipe I'll post here.  I thought they turned out fairly tasty. :)  Wesley, who is 3, really loves them.  He only wants to eat half though..... the TOP half.  Funny boy. Raspberry Cream Cheese Frosting 4 C. powdered sugar 1 C. softened butter 4 oz softened cream chee...

  Living in the middle of potato country, we eat a LOT of potatoes.  One of our favorite ways to eat them is mashed with gravy.  Once in a while we have leftover mashed potatoes.  I don't enjoy them reheated as much as fresh since they are often dry, but this recipe using leftover (or fresh) mashed potatoes is so tasty I purposely make extra mashed potatoes now so we can have this later in the week!  I love all the delicious toppings on a baked potato, and that is what I added to create this dish.  I think chives would be good on it as well - but we'll try that in the summer when my chives are growing and fresh. "Real" mashed potatoes are best.... but in a pinch you could use instant.  Here in Idaho it's just a shame to not use fresh potatoes though.  Loaded Mashed Potatoes 3 C. mashed potatoes (leftover or freshly mashed) 1/4 C. melted butter 1 C. sour cream 1 1/2 C. shredded cheese, reserving 1/2 C. 1/4 C. fried & crumbled bacon, more i...