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Showing posts with label amateur cook lessons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label amateur cook lessons. Show all posts

Monday, September 5, 2011

Weekend Tidbits

warning: this post is lame but I just needed to write about some mundane activity for my own memory... and because I'm feeling super nostalgic these days and don't want to miss a thing.
Labor Day Weekend: fun.  I don't think Karl & I have had a 4-day weekend, just the two of us, at home, ever.  Normally we take advantage of these long weeekends time off to fly home or go visit family or friends in the area (and by area, I mean 3-4 hour radius) but this weekend has been so nice and long and wonderful!  I feel like the funk of being bored in Sumter wore of a few months ago and we have just been determined to stay busy and find something, anything, to do to fill our time and this weekend has been no exception!  Friday was spent preparing for what has been a continuation of the longest anniversary celebration ever- we had anniversary pictures taken at our home on Saturday so obviously I have been cleaning and 'styling' our house all week and tied up loose ends Friday... and baked these little mason jar cake gems after seeing them on my cousin Lincoln's blog and being challenged by her to try them myself.  So I did.

I'll be posting on those little bad boys later this week because a) it was really fun to make them b) they are delicious and c) I learned a darn good many things in the process because the blog where the recipe originated  was ridiculously vague and for an amateur baker like myself (and unlike Lincoln), I need like detailed step by step with absolutely nothing left out.  

Anyways... the pictures on Saturday went swimmingly and Karl & I had a really awesome time with the photographer, however, we are both SO SUPER awkward in front of the camera that I basically put no stock in how the pictures will turn out.  I will certainly blog more on that when I get the photos back but it's pretty much a crapshoot.  I chose a stranger to shoot them in hopes that we would feel less awkward being all lovey in front of someone we know but whatever, we are just really uncomfortable in that situation no matter what.  I do love the photographer and I prayed that I will love the pics so that's what I'm banking on at this point.  After the pictures on Saturday we went on a date... to Red Lobster.  Yes.  Red Lobster, the nicest restaurant that I'm aware of in Sumter.  And thanks to Shane & Allison, it was freeeeeee for us because we had an awesome gift card from them!  YESSSSS.  It was so nice to eat out with Karl after our long hard day of being models.





Sunday we skipped church.  Heathens.  Well, we mostly skipped church because we knew that the sermon would be on Jonah.  For the 8th week in a row.  That's all I'm going to say about that.  We are struggling with church here.  Rather should I say, The Lord is wrestling with us and church here.  And we are either fighting Him or patiently waiting... not sure but if I know myself, it's the former.  We drove to Columbia and enjoyed walking thru a few stores and then enjoyed the absolutely gorgeous fall-ish weather while we sat outside of Starbucks and indulged in a latte... and maybe a pizza and hotdog at Target.  Then to top it all off we came home and played a rousing game of Phase 10 outside while Karl grilled one of my favorite meals that totally reminds me of home (thanks, Mom!)- Turkey Caribe
4-6 Turkey cutlets
  same number of American cheese slices as turkey cutlets
  same number of bacon slices as turkey cutlets... or double, if you love bacon as much as I do.
  1/2 tsp. garlic powder
  1/2 tsp. onion powder
  1/2 tsp. oregano
       mix the spices together in a bowl.  lay a cutlet out on a cutting board.  top with a cheese slice and sprinkle the spice mixture on top of the cheese.  roll up the turkey and cheese, wrap with bacon, and secure with toothpicks.  Grill or broil until bacon is crisp and internal temperature of turkey reaches 170 degrees.

Just an overall great day in general... except at the end of dinner when Karl & I were talking about this little procedure I'm having on Wednesday (related to the little steak stuck in the esophagus + ER visit = esophageal endoscopy on Wednesday) and the hypothetical situation of my dying came up (thanks, Karl) and I asked what he would do and he said he would probably move to Colorado to be by himself to heal and I burst into tears at the idea of him being alone and I couldn't stop crying.  So yeah, it was a super romantic dinner filled with lots of peace and comfort.

Today Karl plans to smoke ribs all day for our big Labor Day dinner tonight and work on a little woodworking project we've been talking about.  Can't wait to see how i turns out!  ANNND I ordered a planner.  That my mom bought me, even better.  I am obsessed with planners, like, every year LIVE to buy my planner for the next year!  Get this, I haven't even had a planner this year.  Ridiculous for me but I haven't needed one.  We have had such a low-key (read: mundane and sometimes boring) daily schedule that I have had no need for one.  BUT here we are facing a very busy year and hopefully a year with a job so I definitely am ready to have a planner again.  I love expensive, beautiful, efficient planners (as seen by the fact that I blogged about my last favorite one here) and cannot wait for my new planner to get here!  I ordered an Erin Condren planner and am going to be obsessed with it.

Back soon with the cake jar recipe ANNND I never wrote about Callie's visit but I want to include pictures so I will as soon as I have them!  I know all my millions of readers are just beating down my virtual door for the post.
Hannah K.C. Burton

Sunday, July 24, 2011

yummmy Blackened Chicken

Karl & I made this the other night and we really enjoyed it!  I loved it because unlike casseroles and stovetop meals, you can more easily control how much you make... and not make food for 6-8 people.  This is basically just well-seasoned chicken so it was a low-fat meal.

{I cut everything in half}...

  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 4 teaspoons sugar, divided
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning {we didn't have this... I did have"blackening seasoning" so I added some of that}
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper {I used chili powder}
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper, divided
  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves {I pounded them out thin}
  • 1 1/3 cups mayonnaise {I used fat-free}
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 2 tablespoons cider vinegar

  1. In a small bowl, combine paprika, I teaspoon sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, garlic powder, thyme, lemon-pepper, cayenne and 1/2 to 1 teaspoon pepper; sprinkle {a lot} over both sides of chicken. Set aside. In another bowl, combine mayonnaise, water, vinegar and remaining sugar, salt and pepper; cover and chill 1 cup for serving. Save remaining sauce for basting.
  2. Grill chicken, covered, over indirect medium heat for 4-6 minutes on each side or until juices run clear, basting frequently with remaining sauce. Serve with reserved sauce.

This was really delicious!  We had it with oven-roasted asparagus {doy, my fave} and I think this will definitely be a go-to meal here from now on!

Enjoy!

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Uncle Sam, hold on to your hats.

Karl & I had such a fun weekend! Since we found out about South Korea, we have been trying to do extra fun things and not do much sitting around {because Karl would prefer not to- he gets bored really quickly}. SO during the week I've been researching all the free, fun, & unusual activities going on around the state for the weekend! We are definitely doing a lot of driving, but certainly having tons of fun exploring and this weekend was no exception. We had tons of options for fun Fourth activities but we decided to check out the State Farmers Market in Columbia on Saturday with some shopping and a date night, Pawleys Island near Myrtle Beach on Sunday for a day of sand+sun+surf, & Lake Wateree yesterday to celebrate the fourth! It was a blast and made me realize how lucky we are to live in a place where we can be on the ocean one day and a lake the next without more than an hour and a halfs drive

Sunday at the beach was fun and so relaxing, with the exception of losing my hair barrette and modesty to a massive wave in the Atlantic.  Sorry 'bout that children on the beach, you'll understand when you're older.  The drive to Myrtle Beach really isn't that bad, and it's even shorter to Charleston- Karl & I should make it more often- the beaches are BEAUTIFUL with the most wonderfully soft sand and nice warm water!
Pretending like it looks like I have arms and my hair is a little more calm
 hoping he comes across my barrette...

Sunday while we were gone at the beach, I had dinner cooking in the crock pot- it was spicy chicken ranch sandwiches- all uhmerican.  That's one of our favorites here at The Burton household and it's super easy.  I thought I had posted this recipe before but I can't find it, so here it is {again?}.
-2-3 chicken breasts in the crock pot with a packet of Hidden Valley Dry Ranch and 2/3 of a bottle of hot wing sauce and cook on low for 7-8 hours or until fork-tender.
-Remove chicken from the crock pot, shred with forks, return to the crock pot, and stir- adding in 2T of butter
-Serve on toasted hamburger buns or hoagie rolls with ranch + avacado + whatever sounds good to you!
I also whipped up this bad boy the night before and iced+topped it when we got home from our full day- delish!
-Bake a roll of sugar cookie dough on a jelly pan (I lined the pan with wax paper just to be safe) according to package and let cookie cool
-Top with: 1 package of cream cheese {softened} mixed with 1/2 cup sugar and 1T vanilla annnd whatever fruit your little heart desires!- TA-DAH!

Overnight on Sunday I slow-cooked food for Monday at the lake- sweetened pulled pork for tacos, another of our favorites.  I've posted the recipe before- here. We reheated the pork + heated other taco toppings and tortillas on our camping stove that Karl's parents gave us for Christmas- it was so fun!  Definitely a better alternative to dragging our grill out to the lake and making hotdogs or hamburgers, in my humble opinion.  The lake was really fun!  It's a small area that provides access and a little man-made sand area for military only.  There are nice restrooms, pavilions, and tons of picnic tables.  They had a great band out there and an awesome fireworks show- it was perfect and only about 45 minutes away from our house!  Oh and I can't not mention the people watching- I was in heaven.  All the back tats you could imagine + an embarrassing amount of smoking & drinking + american flag bikinis rampant + southern drawls that were past charming.  More cheetos than I knew could be stocked in one state.  I imagine pray it is much classier out there on a regular/not holiday weekend... 











So thankful for Karl's servant heart and service to the grand 'ol USA & to everyone who has served, is serving, and will serve!  Praising God for how He reigns in this country
Hannah K.C. Burton

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Beer Cheddar Soup

Karl & I enjoy watching The Food Network show, "The Best Thing I Ever Ate."  The show is normally a theme {like "in a bowl," or "cake walk," etc.} and they interview lots of different Food Network stars to find out what their very very tippity top most favorite is of whatever the theme is.  It's such a fun show.  It definitely makes me feel like I haven't 'lived' as far as food goes.  Annnnd it makes Karl & I verrrryyyy hungry and gives us super powers- like the impression that we can cook anything, like the things on that show.  As in, we can cook Bobby Flay's "most favorite thing in a bowl."  Well, we can't.  But we try sometimes and normally we think it's decent.  So on this show someone loved a beer cheddar soup and holy cow it looked good.  Karl and I thought about it for weeks.  Plus the fact that we have a garage-full of sub-par tasting beer was some motivation to make this and get rid of some of it too {remember this post?}.  So I found a recipe that looked similar and we made it last weekend and it was really good!  I know, not a summery recipe at all, but I've been trying to eat more affordably for lunch and stuff while Karl is at work and having this soup to eat with a sandwich this week has been awfully delightful!  So if you love the flavor of beer and cheesyness then this is totally for you!


  • 1 1/2 cups diced carrots {we left this out and added 2 large, peeled, cubed baking potatos}
  • 1 1/2 cups diced onion
  • 1 1/2 cups diced celery {we left this out too, add whatever veggies you like}
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 2 cups beer
  • 1/3 cup butter
  • 1/3 cup flour
  • 4 cups milk or half and half
  • 6 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese {I think using 4c sharp, 1c extra sharp, 1c white cheddar would be great}
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dry mustard

    1. In a large saucepan over medium heat, stir together veggies and garlic. Stir in hot pepper sauce, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper. Pour in chicken broth and beer; simmer {or kind of boil if you used potatoes like we did} until vegetables are tender, about 12 minutes. Remove from heat.
    2. Meanwhile, heat butter in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Stir in flour with a wire whisk; cook, stirring until the flour is light brown, about 3 or 4 minutes {or if you're an amateur like me, this may take more like 7-8 minutes}. Gradually stir in milk, whisking to prevent scorching, until thickened. Remove from heat, and gradually stir in cheese {like really gradually so it doesn't all clump up}. Keep warm.
    3. Stir beer mixture into cheese mixture. Stir in Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and dry mustard. Adjust for hot pepper sauce. Bring to a simmer, and cook 10 minutes. Serve!  You could top with bacon or avocado {mmm, summery!} or toast or croutons or my current obsession, prosciutto. The original recipe recommends serving with lots of popcorn on top!
    Bon Appetite.
    Hannah K.C. Burton

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Homemade Toffee

I've now made this recipe twice and I.love.it. Like, crave it daily. Now, I'm not going to disguise this as healthy, the recipe calls for two sticks of butter. But y'all it is so good. Make a batch and give 2/3 of it away, that's what I do- makes both my taste buds and my thighs happy. Anyway, it's a crowd pleaser, so easy, and you probably already have all the ingredients in your arsenal right now. I'll post the recipe below but click on the recipe link above if you would like step-by-step pictures!



1 c butter
1 c brown sugar
1 sleeve saltines
1/3 c peanut butter (I want to try this with Nutella instead sometime, I think it would be better!)
2 1/2 c semi-sweet chocolate chips
topping of your choice (peanut M&Ms, pretzels, chopped Hershey Hugs, whatever)- all smashed or crunched up... this time I used Hugs on half & pretzels on half
nonstick foil or parchment paper
amateur cook lesson: wax paper is not the same thing as parchment paper. mmhmmm, nope.

-Preheat your oven to 400
-Line a cookie sheet with lips (so liquid doesn't spill out) with the nonstick foil or parchment paper and lay out the saltines salted side up leaving a small amount of space in between each one
-Bring brown sugar & butter to a boil. Once the whole thing is boiling (not just the edges), boil for 3 minutes and don't stir it, then pour mixture on top of the saltines
-Bake for 5 minutes
-Put dollops of peanut butter on top and return to the oven for 1 minute to make the PB more spreadable
-Spread PB all over
-Top with chocolate chips
-Return to oven for 1 minute
-Spread chocolate all over
-Top with the topping of your choice & freeze toffee for at least an hour, then remove foil or parchment paper and break into pieces

en.joy.
Hannah K.C. Burton

Friday, May 6, 2011

Easter

I realize I'm back tracking with this post but I don't want to miss it because I have become horrible at taking pictures of Karl & I and things we do and I finally did ANNND because this is our first married Easter together so WHYY not talk about it?!?  This was the first holiday that involved a large meal and Karl & I not being with additional family and let me tell you, it was kind of rough, as in boring.  There is nobody I would rather be with than Karl but cooking for like 5 hours, sitting down at the table with one other person and eating for 20 minutes, then cleaning up your mess for an hour is kind of overrated.  Maybe it is even if there are 30 people involved and I just never knew it because I've never had to cook before?  Or clean up afterward?  I'm not sure.  BUT I missed my cousins and Gammy and Pa and my parents, sisters, aunts, & uncles.  Since the Easter meal doesn't normally involve as much hoopla as Thanksgiving & Christmas, I was glad this was our first trial run as far as holidays with just the two of us go... if we ever have to do Thanksgiving or Christmas meals just the two of us it will A) be MUCH more rough B) I will know what to expect C) we will probably eat out... whoops.  We just need a dog.  Or somebody else's baby to play with when we are bored.  I mean, is it normal for newlyweds/couples without pets or children to be this bored?  Like have nothing to do.  OK so far this sounds like we had a horrible day.  Not true at all: the food was great!  It was seriously so fun to spend all afternoon cooking with Karl and having quality time with just him.  I now have a serious appreciation for my Aunt Sally that makes green bean bundles for every family meal.  They took forever to make and I do not have the patience for that kind of tedious cooking and prep annnnnd mine were not as good as hers are.
    amateur cook lesson: 1) use thinly cut bacon for green bundles and ask Aunt Sally what her secret is before you waste your time again 2) as good as the The Honey Baked Ham Co. hams are that Gammy buys, my Bi-Lo ham + glaze were adequate (I, not kidding, had plans to drive an hour to Columbia to the THBHCo. store. 3) not having enough poppy seed for strawberry poppy seed salad did matter. ew.


Onto other Easter related news/thoughts... I loved getting to worship next to Karl on Easter Sunday.  Sometimes I think my thoughts related to Karl are similar to what my thoughts about my kids will be... for example, ever since saying "i do," I find myself doubly thankful for the cross- praise Him for Karl's salvation and for the eternity that Karl has waiting for him.  (In other child-like thoughts, I worry so so so much about Karl when he drives to work early or late or runs errands or when I go out of town and he has to fend for himself... I mean, is he my 16 year old son or my husband?).  I mean WHAT ON EARTH would it feel like to be unsure of Karl's eternity or to know that we wouldn't spend our eternity in the same place?  I mean, if I think I'm neurotic now... geeze, y'all would have to commit me.





Dear Cookie (this is what Karl calls my mom) Easter Bunny, thank you for sending us Easter goodies.  I know you had to hop an awfully long way to South Carolina to get us some fun things like new Rainbows and K's new swim trunks & the bubble bath he is obsessed with.  I bet you didn't know you got him bubble bath.  Sorry, you did.  Sorry if that's a weird thing for you to get him...

annnnd welcome to the world where you can never get a good picture because your husband is a baby sensitive when it comes to sunlight + pictures.  squinty galore.
Please look at the purple egg with the tree.  Callie has always tried to one-up my sisters and I when it comes to eggs (and other projects that make us look bad... like sending our grandmothers nice things) so I thought I escaped that when I married Karl.  No.  He hand painted a pretty tree on his egg.  Obviously.
 Happy to continue to bask in the wonderful gift of Jesus Christ and praying the "high" of Easter continues to tug on the hearts of those unsaved that may have celebrated Easter a couple of weeks ago. 
 "5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”- Matthew 28:5-7


Hannah K.C. Burton

Saturday, April 2, 2011

yummy pasta & bragging rights


I do not like italian food, namely pasta, very much at all... like I hate it.  BUTTT  I like one dish at a restaurant Karl & I like to eat at in Texas- Johnny Carinos.  It's called like Bowtie Festival, or something.  AND it has bacon in it.  And creamy cheesy buttery sauce.  And I really really like it.  Anyways, I decided to abandon Emealz this week [remember this post??] and branch out on my own so I was meal hunting and came across this recipe that looked awfully (and by awfully, I mean deliciously) similar to Johnny Carino's version.  Done & done.  Totally on my menu for the week.  Anyways, it was AWESOME and totally getting put in my recipe box to repeat sometime next week in the near future.  I would totally recommend it.  AND my lesson as an amateur cook: next time I will double the sauce recipe because I prefer things extra saucy.  {Take that as you will}  Anyways, the sauce just kind of barely covers the 1 lb. of pasta that it calls for so... make and don't double at your own risk.

Secondly, but more importantly, I just have to publicly proclaim how great I think Karl is.  Today is Saturday and he is approaching hour 12 of working today after 5 12-hour work days this past week.  Not a complaint out of his sweet mouth, nope, not one.  He is just such a hard worker and I am 100% grateful for his work ethic and his attitude.  He will maybe work tomorrow, for maybe 12 hours.  He will most likely put in 12 hour days throughout next week, and he is most likely working through next weekend as well.  No extra pay, no pat on the back. Sometimes I have to remind myself how extra special the work that he is doing actually is- these aren't average 84 hour weeks, these are like super american 84 hour weeks.  So so infinitely and extravagantly proud of him.

Hope you have a particularly patriotic weekend, as I apparently am?
Hannah K.C. Burton

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

14 Layer Cake, I'm not in Kansas anymore, and Maggie Riggan


Topic A) Karl and I had a couple over the other night to celebrate the husbands birthday.  I've been eyeing this recipe on Bakerella for a few weeks- its a 14 Layer Cake!  Like literally, you bake 14 layers... as in, 14 cake pans.  My desire to make this gem stemmed from how beautiful the picture of the cake looked!  So, what better occasion than a birthday to pull out all the stops and make this cake?!  Well, in the interest of full disclosure I would add that I wouldn't make this recipe again.  It was indeed a beautiful cake and very moist.  AND it was fun to make [if you have, ya know, 4ish hours to play & toil in the kitchen].  The flavor just wasn't there for all the effort it took.  I would revamp this recipe- maybe incorporate the 14-layer idea by doubling a cake batter + ganache recipe that I know are hits, even use a couple boxes of cake mix.  Because who wouldn't love a staggeringly tall cake??
Amateur cook lesson: don't bake something just because it looks pretty.  And, be patient if your ganache doesn't look thick enough.  A thin ganache will not cut it.
B) A few friends and most of my family knew that I was supposed to be in Texas now/for the past week/for the next couple of weeks while Karl was supposed to be working in Las Vegas.  Well, long story short, I'm not in Texas and Karl isn't in Vegas.  We're both back in SC as I was after a short 3 days after arriving in Texas.  It's stinky because a) I love to be in control b) I'm such a planner- long term, short term-- all of it c) I had been mentally preparing to be away from Karl and be with my family for months and then in like less than 12 hours I found myself on a plane back to SC.  I want to be in Texas enjoying some much needed Cuppett & friend time but I feel grateful to be getting days with Karl that I didn't think I would have.  I had also planned a trip to Arkansas to visit with friends that I have been missing so much it hurts.  Anyways, needless to say, here we are facing another lesson in "I am not in control, my plan isn't necessarily The Lord's."
C) "B" brings me to this... last night I booked a flight to Little Rock for a weekend trip for one of my very best friend's weekend wedding shower extravaganza.  I knew there was a slim chance that I would be able to get to Arkansas for this, especially with the time Karl & I were facing away from each other with Vegas + my planned trip to AR during my time home in Texas.  Well, since all of that was flushed down the toilet, getting to LR for her bridal shower became like so super important to me.  So, Karl & I talked about it and (in Oprah voice) I'M GOOOOOOINNNNNGGGGGGG!!  It [seems] to be working out perfectly.  It's a short amount away from Karl that both of us are comfortable with!  I know the weekend will feel like the shortest/biggest tease/whirlwind ever but I cannot wait.  I have been looking forward to the Riggan/Chism nuptials for months.  MONTHS.  Come July, wedded bliss for two of my favorite people + reunion with some of my favorite people + Karl will be joining me (praying this doesn't change, PRAYING.  Please please, Jesus)!  WOOOOO HOOOOO
Who wouldn't be excited to see this face?

Reminding myself that this "plan" isn't really anything but a joke... and a way to keep plane tickets from costing me a fortune by "planning" more than a couple weeks in advance. For anyone who knows me, I'm sure you are just reading this and laughing at the lack of "planning" this major Type A girl is facing during this season of life.  Well laugh away, because if I don't, I'll certainly cry.
Hannah K.C. Burton

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Pillow Cookies & Black Eyed Pea

Last night was our night to take snacks to life group and my snacks were a hit.  The first time I took snacks I felt like a total dud.  We were 30 minutes late, it was only our 2nd time to life group and around these new friends of ours, and the food was a miss.  Woof.  Well last night I actually prepared the snacks prior to an hour before leaving and 2 cups of vegetable oil weren't involved so I thought I would share the recipe successes.
I found a wonderful hot black eyed pea dip recipe from The Pioneer woman

It was realllly delicious... so delicious that I made a second batch when I got home because it was inhaled at life group.  Story- I didn't eat any at small group because I envisioned myself coming home and sitting down with the platter of leftovers.  Well, that would've been great if there had been leftovers.  I was so fixed on eating this dip that I made Karl take me to the grocery store on our way home to buy a can of black eyed peas so I could make more.  Well, in this recipe The Pioneer Woman notes that if you can buy BEP with jalepenos already in the can, do it.  It will save you having to buy jalepenos separately.  The second time I made the dip that wasn't available so I added the jalepenos from a seperate can- bad idea.  amateur cook lesson learned: use can of BEP with jalepenos in them.  if that isn't available, forget the jalepenos.


For something sweet I made the Pillow Cookies I found on Bakerella.

Yes, you see correctly.  That is a brownie inside of a chocolate chip cookie.  These were really really good and I would totally make them again, very easy.  They made GIANT cookies, like 7 inches wide.  The brownie is from a boxed mix and the cookie dough is homemade.  I would absolutely make plain chocolate chip cookies with this dough again- to die for, and I don't even have a very demanding sweet tooth!

Both times that I have taken snacks I brought this last fruit dip and it is such a hit.  It is so basic and I thought everyone and their dog made this on a regular basis but it is apparently a foreign recipe to some.

A whole block of cream cheese (must be Philadelphia!), a whole jar of Jet Puffed marshmallow fluff, and a teaspoon of vanilla- all blended to sugary perfection and served with fruit... I could eat it by the spoonful.

Happy cooking, or drooling.
Hannah K.C. Burton