Yum! The Beginnings...

Summer is birthday season around my house.

My mother's birthday was my first 24-hours-in-the-kitchen ordeal:
With Beef and Rice-Stuffed Red and Yellow Peppers, roasted asparagus and my favorite salad: spinach, strawberries, almonds, goat cheese with white balsamic dressing. And a coconut cake for dessert!
For Claudia's birthday, a triple-layer chocolate bourbon cake with whipped cream and strawberries.

Bread and Honey's Crinkle Cookies!

I made these on Sunday and they were delicious and easy and big hit with the fam. But I would recommend making a few changes to the recipe. Here's my revised version:

Chocolate Crinkles:

Ingredients:

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon of almond extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

Directions:

In a medium bowl, mix together cocoa, white sugar, and vegetable oil. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla and almond extract. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt; stir into the cocoa mixture. Cover dough, and chill for at least 4 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Roll dough into one inch balls. Coat each ball in confectioners' sugar before placing onto prepared cookie sheets.

Bake in preheated oven for 11 minutes. Let stand on the cookie sheet for a minute before transferring to wire racks to cool.

Thanks to Bread and Honey!!

Perfect Chocolate-Chip Oatmeal Cookies

I know it's cliché, but don't take my word for it, just bake them and you will see.


1 cup butter

1 cup white sugar

1 cup packed brown sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups all purpose flour

2 1/2 cups rolled oats

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

4 ounces milk chocolate grated

1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts

1. Preheat oven to 375 F

2. Measure oats into blender and blend to a fine powder.

3. In large bowl cream together butter and sugars. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla.

4. In a separate bowl mix together flour, oats, salt, baking poweder, and baking soda.

5. Stir dry ingredients into creamed butter and sugar.

6. Add chocolate chips, grated chocolate, and nuts.

7. Drop by rounded teaspoon onto ungreased cookie sheet.

8. Bake for 6-8 minutes.

Courtesy of Amit Gupta