more chocolate chip cookies

These were made following the famous Neiman Marcus Cookie recipe. I'd make these again.

Neiman Marcus Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 sticks butter, softened
2 c. light brown sugar
1/4 c. granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 tbs. vanilla
3 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 tbs. instant espresso powder
3 c. semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Cream the butter and sugars at low speed for about 15 seconds. In a mixing bowl, sift together dry ingredients, and beat into butter mixture at low speed. Stir in espresso coffee powder and chocolate chips. Beat in eggs and vanilla.

Drop 2 tablespoons batter onto greased cookie sheet, about 3 inches apart. Bake for 20 minutes, or until nicely browned around the edges.

shake shack

Shake Shack makes unbelievable burgers and frozen custards. So good.

chocolate chip cookies

The search for the ultimate chocolate chip cookie continues. These were much thinner than I'd like, but they made good ice cream sandwiches!

Chocolate Chip Cookies
From Gourmet, October 2003

3 c. all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2 sticks butter, melted and cooled slightly
1 1/2 c. packed light brown sugar
1 c. granulated sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 1/2 c. semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment or Silpat.

Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl. Beat together butter and sugars in a large bowl until pale and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Add eggs to butter mixture, beating with mixer until creamy, about 1 minute. Beat in vanilla. Reduce speed to low, and mix in flour mixture until just blended, then stir in chips.

Scoop tablespoonfuls of batter on prepared sheets. Bake until golden, about 8 minutes. Transfer cookies to a rack to cool.

mini quiches

I made these mini quiches to serve as hors dourves. I used a round cookie cutter to cut out pie crust. I placed the dough rounds in a mini muffin pan, and filled each pastry with my standby quiche filling.

chicken poppers

One of my little sister's guilty pleasures is chicken poppers. She flipped over these!

Chicken Poppers

Boneless chicken breast
1 c. buttermilk, well-shaken
2 tbs. Sriracha sauce
1 c. flour
Salt and pepper
Canola oil

Heat 3-4 inches of canola oil in a heavy pot.

Cut chicken breast into bite-size pieces. Place buttermilk and Sriracha in large bowl. Season flour with salt and pepper, and put in a paper bag. Drop chicken in buttermilk, and dredge in flour.

When oil is hot, carefully drop in chicken poppers. Fry until golden brown. Transfer to paper towel lined baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper.

pecan pie muffins

These were tasty little bites. As promised, they were pecan pie in muffin form.

Pecan Pie Muffins
From allrecipes.com

1 c. packed light brown sugar
1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. chopped pecans
2/3 c. butter, softened
2 eggs, beaten

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 18 mini-muffin cups.

In a medium bowl, stir together brown sugar, flour, and pecans. In a separate bowl, beat the butter and eggs together until smooth. Stir into dry ingredients, and mix until just combined. Spoon the batter into prepared muffin cups.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Cool on wire racks.

popovers

These are great, right out of the oven, with butter and jam.

Popovers
From Gourmet, January 1991

1 c. sifted all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1 c. milk
melted butter for brushing the popover pans

Into a bowl, sift together the flour and the salt. In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs and the milk. Add the milk mixture to the flour mixture, stirring, and stir the batter until it is smooth. In a preheated 450 degree oven, heat a 6-cup popover pan for 5 minutes, or until it is hot. Brush the cups with melted butter, and fill them half-full with the batter. Bake the popovers in the middle of the oven for 20 minutes. Reduce the heat to 375 degrees, and bake the popovers for 20 minutes more, or until they are golden brown and crisp.