Guide – My favorite thing in the world is a box of fine European chocolates.
I know it’s a big call but I think I’ve got this right. You want to know it don’t you? If your answer is yes then you can classify yourself as a self confessed chocolate chip cookie addict. A real life cookie monster. OK here it is:
The Recipe
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/8 cup honey
1/8 cup butter
1/8 cup natural peanut butter
1/2 banana, mashed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5/8 cup whole wheat flour
1/8 cup oat bran
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 pinch pumpkin pie spice
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
2 tablespoons sunflower seeds
Guide – It is widely believed that chocolate consumption releases a chemical into your body very similar to what is produced when you are in love.
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a medium bowl, mix together the brown sugar, honey, butter and peanut butter until smooth. Stir in the banana and vanilla. Combine the whole wheat flour, oat bran, oats, baking soda, salt and pumpkin pie spice in a separate bowl. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until it forms a smooth dough. Mix in the cranberries, chocolate chips and sunflower seeds. Drop by spoonfuls onto an ungreased baking sheet.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, until cookies are lightly browned at the edges.
Servings Per Recipe: 12
Although this chocolate chip cookie recipe is not the most basic, I have tried an awful lot before I settled on this one as my favorite. Try it I know you’ll agree. Drop me a line if you want to let me know how you found it. I’m always ready to consider improvements! You will note that I have used dark chocolate chips because I really have a preference for dark chocolate. My kids prefer a sweeter version but I reserve the above recipe as a secret adult one! Once I even made my own dark chocolate by using the very best ingredients I could find. I took a special chocolate making class where I learned the basics. (Yes I’m a real freak!), and then concocted the most exquisite chocolate imaginable then promptly ate most of them just keeping a few pieces which I used in the cookie mix above. It really complemented the cranberries. I have left out the chocolate making part as I think you will find equally good chips in the right stores.
Guide – ‘If you are not feeling well, if you have not slept, chocolate will revive you.
Good luck and I hope you will join the ever increasing crowds of fans of this soon to be famous recipe.
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Michael is the owner of Chocolate Lovers, the BEST site for all things chocolate. You will also find great chocolate based gift ideas at http://www.ChocolateMad.com Guide – ‘Life is like a box of chocolates.. |
Filed under Chocolate Recipes by on Sep 4th, 2010. Comment. 
Guide – It is widely believed that chocolate consumption releases a chemical into your body very similar to what is produced when you are in love.
It is always a good time to make something with chocolate. When the mood seizes you, discovering you haven’t got a crucial ingredient can ruin the mood. Knowing its equivalent or substitution can save the day. Today, Mom helps cooks and chocoholics with tips on chocolate and includes the world’s easiest dipped strawberry recipe.
Chocolate is made from the bean of the tropical cacao tree. In its purest baking form chocolate comes powdered, is usually sold in tins and is called cocoa. There are two types of cocoa in this world; regular cocoa and Dutch cocoa. Dutch cocoa, or alkalized cocoa has reduced the natural acidity of the cocoa bean resulting in a darker, mellower, more chocolaty cocoa powder. For the most part, these can be used interchangeably. Cocoa powder is not to be confused with those packaged hot cocoa drink mixes, which don’t work well in recipes.
Guide – Tassimo from Braun is also one of the better-known appliances available. In addition to many kinds of coffee, this machine can make excellent Suchard Hot Chocolate drink.
Sugar and fat are usually added to cocoa powder for sweetening and consistency – and cake! In our kitchens, fat can be in the form of cocoa butter, margarine, butter, vegetable shortening or vegetable oil. Sugars, either powdered or granulated add sweetness and also add to consistency. Powdered sugar will be smoother. Once we understand the basics of chocolate it makes substituting ingredients much easier. Here are some more definitions and equivalents.
Cocoa: Powdered, chocolate in its most basic form (beyond the bean).
Baking Chocolate: Generally sold in bars and measured in squares of 1 ounce each. Normally has some fat but no sugar content.
Guide – Strawberrys dipped in chocolate can be a delectable treat. Let the excess chocolate drip off. Place the strawberry upside down with the point in the air.
Semi-Sweet Chocolate: Sold in chips or bars. Normally has some fat plus a small amount of sugar.
1 square (1oz) of baking chocolate = 3 tablespoons cocoa + 1 tablespoon butter or margarine
1 cup (one 6 oz package) of semisweet chocolate = 6 tablespoons cocoa + 7 tablespoons granulated sugar + 1/4 cup shortening
1 cup (one 6 oz package) of semisweet chocolate = 6 oz or (6 squares) of semi-sweet chocolate
Classic Chocolate Dipped Strawberries
Guide – Make your own chocolates. It’s easy to make many chocolate delights yourself, with the exact ingredients you want.
This will also work with cherries or any other fruit with a skin. Use about 18 large fresh strawberries, room temperature and patted dry plus 1 pound semi sweet (or any type) chocolate pieces, coarsely chopped.
1. In a double boiler, melt the chocolate and shortening, stirring occasionally until smooth. Or heat the chocolate at 50% power in 30 second intervals in the microwave, carefully checking temperature until it is smooth.
2. Using the berry stem or a toothpick, dip the strawberries into the chocolate.
3. Cool the berries on wax paper, or put the toothpicks into styrofoam (or a potato).
More Chocolate Tips: Make sure the strawberries are completely dry. Even a drop of water in the melted chocolate can cause it to “seize” and make the chocolate grainy. This recipe will produce tempered chocolate, or chocolate that dries to a hard shine. If the chocolate becomes too thick to work with, add drops of vegetable oil, small amounts of vegetable shortening or cocoa butter (butter and margarine contain water) stirring until it becomes the right consistency. For more of Mom’s kitchen tips and apron humor visit her on the web at http://www.MomsRetro.com. Happy cooking!
Guide – The largest chocolate bar ever made weighed over 5,000 pounds and was made in Italy in 2000. The largest slab of fudge was over 2,000 pounds and was made in Canada.
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Laura Zinkan is a freelance writer and artist living in Los Angeles, California. She puts the Mom in MomsRetro with kitchen tips and humor on her website for busy cooks http://www.MomsRetro.com She also cultivates a gardening website at http://www.theGardenPages.com with plant profiles, growing tips and lore about succulents and California native plants. Copyright |
Filed under Chocolate and Health, Chocolate Recipes by on Sep 1st, 2010. Comment.
Guide – The largest chocolate bar ever made weighed over 5,000 pounds and was made in Italy in 2000. The largest slab of fudge was over 2,000 pounds and was made in Canada.
Delicious peanut butter chocolate chip cookies recipe
This is a very good recipe for all you peanut butter people! This will surely leave a lasting impression on everyone once it’s inside your mouth. Give it a try!
Guide – ‘Life is like a box of chocolates..
Here are the ingredients that you will need to make this Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe.
Ingredients:
* 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
* 1 tsp baking soda
* 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
* 1/2 cup softened butter
* 1 egg
* 1/2 cup peanut butter
* 1/4 tsp salt
* 1 cup (6 oz. package) semisweet chocolate chips
* 1/2 cup sugar plus 1 tbsp for making tine marks
* 1 tsp vanilla
Here’s how you prepare the Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Preparations:
* Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
* Combine sugar, brown sugar and margarine in a large bowl. Beat with an electric hand mixer until fluffy.
Guide – If one swallows a cup of chocolate only three hours after a copious lunch, everything will be perfectly digested and there will still be room for dinner.
* Add peanut butter, vanilla and egg. Blend well.
* Add flour, baking soda and salt to dough mixture and mix well.
* Stir in chocolate chips.
* Take small dollops of dough and shape, with your hands, into 1-inch balls.
* Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. (Cookies will spread.)
Guide – In 1842 Cadbury’s in England created the worlds first chocolate bar.
* Dip a fork into sugar and flatten the balls lightly with the fork in a crisscross pattern.
* Bake cookies for 6 to 9 minutes, or until golden brown.
* Remove cookies from sheets immediately and place on wire racks to cool thoroughly.
Well I hope the first has already made your day, but for a change you can always try this alternative recipe which you may find is a better peanut butter chocolate chip cookie recipe.
Ingredients:
* 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
* 1/2 cup chunky or smooth peanut butter
* 1/2 cup granulated sugar
* 1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
* 1 egg
* 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
Guide – Chocolate is a perfect food, as wholesome as it is delicious, a beneficent restorer of exhausted power. It is the best friend of those engaged in literary pursuits.
* 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Preparation for Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies:
Preheat oven to 375
Filed under Chocolate Recipes by on Aug 20th, 2010. Comment.