Search This Blog

Saturday, January 3, 2015

Happy Birthday & Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake

Scarlett decorating the giant cookie for class. 


We love this chocolate chip cake, reminiscent of the big cookie "cakes" we would get from Mrs. Fields at the mall in the eighties growing up. There are a lot of recipes online and they all fall a little short.  This one is tried and true and works every time.  It comes out exactly like a really good chocolate chip cookie. Not cake.  Cookie.  A lot of recipes online fail here.  It can be easily sliced like a pizza.  Kids love it.  Adults love it. What's not to love.  Every year at school kids bring cupcakes, always cupcakes.  This is what we bring. And they all love it, something different.  And it's really delicious. 

I like to ice the cake, piping around the edge and then whatever design you want on the inside.  and Sprinkles!

Now you could use a round pizza pan for baking it.. but I prefer to use a flat cookie sheet.   1st off, it's a cookie and it spreads a bit.  And it really won't maintain the round shape.  In the end the cookie is all misshapen and I trim the edges anyway. You get a perfectly round giant cookie and bonus, you get to extra edges to eat! 

Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake 

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 cups dark chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Prepare the pan.   Either use a (light-coloured) round pizza pan or a flat cookie sheet.  Line a 14" pizza pan with parchment paper, trimmed and grease with butter or coconut oil (or use Coconut Oil spray).   If using a flat cookie sheet see note* below.  

In a large bowl or kitchen stand mixer, cream the butter and then add sugars, beat til creamed.  Add the eggs, one at a time, beat well after each.

In a bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt and mix together with a whisk. 
Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, mix together then mix in the vanilla extract. 
Fold in the chocolate chips. 
Spread across the bottom of the prepared pan and bake until the edges are golden and the cookie is set but the center is slightly soft, 20 to 25 minutes. 
Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer with parchment paper to a wire rack to cool completely.
Trim, if desired.  


*Note for flat cookie sheet:  
Take a piece of parchment paper and draw a circle with a sharpie, the size you want it to be when finished.  Using a large round platter or lid works well.  This will be your guide for placing and spreading the dough.  Flip the parchment paper over and lay on a flat cookie sheet (un-rimmed) or you could use a round pizza pan. 
After cookie is cooled, if you used a flat pan.. you will need to trim it to make a perfectly round cookie.  Using the same platter, plate or lid that you used to make your circle on parchment, use as a guide and cut to size.  The edges will be covered with icing, so don't worry about the cut edge too much.    


Icing Recipe for Cookie Cake

½ cup butter, softened
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon milk

In a large bowl, cream together the butter, and vanilla. 
Add the sugar, one cup at a time, beat well after each addition. 
Add in the milk, and continue mixing until light and fluffy. 

Cover with plastic wrap until ready to use. 



and the 7 year class cake! Frozen-inspired 

with the 7 year old! And you can see our homemade "pizza" box to carry
the cookie cake.  Usually we keep a clean pizza box just for this, but
somehow forgot this year! 


My beautiful blessing! God is faithful, merciful and gracious to me! 

Happy Buche Noelle Birthday to You







We love this cake and she wanted it for her birthday.  Shaped like a log, with meringue mushrooms.. it's delish.  Add some fairies and voila.. Birthday Cake for my sweetie. 


#buchenoelle #ScarlettGiulia 

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Hoppin' New Year!



Here's to a good new year! In the southern United States, eating HoppinJohn on New Year's Day is thought to bring a prosperous year filled with luck.  Whether it's true or not and there seems to be some debate about it, I choose to do it! Why? Because I'm superstitious? No.  Just an excuse to have a tradition and eat some good ol' southern food. And did I mention they are delicious? 

Super easy. Totally a pantry recipe.  Don't forget to soak the beans.    


Hoppin' John Black Eyed Peas

4 slices of bacon
1 medium onion, chopped
1 t. salt 
1 lb. dried black eyed peas (soaked overnnite) 
1 (16 oz) can of diced tomatoes w/ chilis 
1 t. chili powder
1/2 t. black pepper
3 cups water or broth (Chicken or vegetable)

In a large saucepan, cook bacon til crisp, remove.  

In bacon fat, sauté onion over med high heat until tender adding salt.    

Add the peas and, tomatoes, spices and water (or broth).  

Cover and cook over medium heat for 45 minutes to an hour (until peas are tender). Adding additional water or broth if necessary.  

Serve garnished with crumbled bacon.  
Shot of hot sauce (optional)

Monday, December 22, 2014

Brown Bread in a Can




Teaching Scarlett about the finer things in life.  Lol  Have you had this? Don't knock it til you try it.  Toast it and top with cream cheese... ugh, it's the best! 

I need to try and make this from scratch.  It's super molasses-y.  Yes, that's a word.  A really good, yummy word.  

#northeaster #breadinacan #brownbread

Friday, December 19, 2014

Reindeer


How cute is that?  I love it.  Her school entered her in the district for this piece.  My little artist.  

#ScarlettGiulia

Thursday, December 18, 2014

God is Working in our Waiting


We may not know why we are where we are. May even feel this is not where I'm supposed to be. This is not how I planned it. Or even God has forgotten me. 

Be encouraged in this advent season, where we see that God is in the waiting, always working for us. What He desires is an obedient heart in the places we often feel just "shouldn't be this way". In that obedience and faithfulness, He is working His plan in us, sanctifying us. Just like the shepherds.. "watching over their flocks by night".. a lowly of low jobs, outcast on the side of a hill in the desert as hired help, on the graveyard shift.. yet faithful in keeping watch in the lowly duty they were given. Then the most important message was sent to them one dark night, long ago.. Christ has Come! Emmanuel, God is with us.

Wherever you are today, lift up your eyes.. your Savior has come and God is with you. 


#advent2014

Friday, December 12, 2014

Cookie Exchange



Ooh baby! Might not make it to the cookie exchange! 

#christmas2014 #baking

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Merry Christmas Card



Love how these cards turned out! Simply to Impress.. great deal and good quality.  

#ScarlettGiulia

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Christmas Tea

We had our annual women's ministry Christmas Tea and one of my favorite parts of the tea is getting to decorate a table.  This year I went with rustic, country charm. 

A printed burlap square over a vintage white bed cover
with embroidered edge was a quick and easy table cover.
 A cut birch logs gave height and dimension.  A tiny tree with antique
mercury ornaments in all their faded luster and glory.  So much fun.
My newly toothless helper! 

I think the odd use of Scarlett's toddler cowgirl boot was my favorite! 


My friend Sarah's "mad hatter" table

Monday, December 8, 2014

Princess of the Little People



Sorting all the little people she doesn't want to let go of any.. What's a mama to do?! Gotta make room for Christmas! 

#growingupishard #ScarlettGiulia #blurryphotobutIstillloveit