Saturday, February 25, 2012

White Chip Chocolate Cookies


This was a new recipe to our family.  Avery made these! You can't really go wrong with butter, chocolate and sugar!


White Chip Chocolate Cookies

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
Directions

PREHEAT oven to 350° F.

COMBINE flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels. Drop by well-rounded teaspoon onto ungreased baking sheets.

BAKE for 9 to 11 minutes or until centers are set. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. 

Chicken Tikka Masala

This recipe was adapted from The Pioneer Woman and this photo is hers too. ;) Click her link for step by step photo instructions.

Here's a NEW family fav. It's fun experimenting with ethnic foods. This recipe takes a little concentration the first time around, but is actually a relatively quick dinner once you get the hang of it. I've found that you can use half and half instead of cream for a less rich dish. That being said, the cream is really tasty!

And since the grill will be fired up, you might as well whip up this flatbread recipe and throw it on the grill just as your chicken is finishing.


Chicken Tikka Masala

2-3 whole Chicken Breasts             
Kosher Salt
Ground Coriander
Cumin, To Taste
1/2 cup Plain Yogurt
3 Tablespoons Butter
1 whole Large Onion, diced
4 cloves Garlic
1 piece fresh Ginger
Garam Masala
1 can (28 Ounce) Crushed Tomatoes
1 Tablespoon Sugar
½-1 cup Heavy Cream or 1 cup half and half plus a scoop of plain yogurt
2 cups Basmati Rice
                       
OPTIONAL:
Fresh Cilantro
Chili Peppers
Turmeric
Frozen Peas

Preheat grill. Season the chicken with salt, coriander and cumin. Coat coat the chicken breasts completely with the plain yogurt. Grill chicken through. It should have slightly blackened edges.

Meanwhile, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Saute onions until they are slightly browned. As the onions cook, mince the garlic. Next, cut off the outer skin and mince or grate a 1 by 2 inch chunk of fresh ginger. Add the garlic and ginger to the onions. Season with salt and about 1-3 tablespoons Garam Masala spice. If you like it spicy, add a minced serrano chili peppers. Add the can of tomatoes. Add sugar.  Simmer on medium for about 5 minutes.

After the Tikka Masala sauce has had a chance to simmer for a little bit, heavy cream or half and half/yogurt. Dice chicken breasts and stir into the sauce. Garnish with cilantro.

To a rice cooker add 2 cups Basmati rice, 2 tablespoons butter, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon Ground Turmeric and 3 cups water. Cover, turn on your rice cooker and walk away. If you do not have a rice cooker, cook your rice as usual.  Add some frozen peas into the cooked rice, give them a stir, and allow the heat of the rice to cook the peas.

Serve the rice with the Chicken Tikka Masala over top. Make sure to have some Nann bread handy, too.

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Chocolate Coconut Frosted Graham Crackers

I've been looking for delicious, healthy graham crackers for awhile and my search has come to an abrupt halt. They have been located! I found them at amazon.com for just under $3 a box. And, they are actually made with real graham flour, no hydrogenated oils or high fructose corn syrup. Most "graham" crackers are not :( The oats have kinda thrown my kids for a loop, but my husband and I think they are delish. The only thing that makes them better than a glass of milk is this yummy little concoction. Don't bother measuring, just go do it!!!

Chocolate Coconut Frosting

1 glob coconut oil (sub butter)
about 2 cups confectioner's sugar
about 1 cup cocoa powder
a couple splashes of coconut milk (sub cow's milk)

Mix it all together and spread it on thick!

(I like mine to sit for several minutes to several hours to soften the crackers just a bit.)