This recipe dates back to my childhood - my grandmother always mixed butter with shortening for all her cookies. I don't know if that's the secret, but I do know these are a hit whether I am serving them at home, or giving a box of them to friends.
My Mom's Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookies
3/4 cup butter, softened (I use Kroger brand margarine "Better for Baking" 80% vegetable oil)
1/4 cup shortening
3/4 cup sugar (I use Domino's)
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 - 12 oz package mini chocolate chips (I use Nestle)
Cream butter and shortening, gradually adding sugars, and beating well at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla, beating well. Sift flour, soda, and salt, then and add to creamed mixture, mixing well but not over mixing. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop dough by 1/4 cup onto greased cookie sheet. Lightly press down. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 - 17 minutes until light brown. I sometimes sprinkle mine with vanilla sugar - I love the crunch on top!
Of course, if you want smaller cookies, just use a rounded tablespoon - they are just as good.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
I have to tell you about my day - and it includes a dental appointment, an insurance company, and a sex hotline
This blog is meant for food, and I try to keep it on topic; I may mention my personal life, but it's all about gathering around for dinner, especially with working parents, I want to start at least, with a Sunday dinner together - dinner that can be put together with ease, good fresh food and within your budget.
But today, oh my gravy, today was just something else. So I am going to give you the details of my day. It was a new experience for this po-dunk mom in Kentucky.
I've not mentioned this to anyone because I try not to let it define my family; but in November, after almost 10 years with a company, my husband was laid off. It was a shock. We've been through this before, but it was years ago. To put it in perspective, we've been through this in our late 20's; but we've never been through this in our mid 40's. We are blessed but it's been stressful. We've never ever been without insurance. And we have a chronically ill child, so it's extra stressful.
The insurance we had, health, dental & vision insurance was good insurance. We paid our Cobra but it's a difficult process, and the 3rd party benefit company who collects every one's money (ours, the company and the government) only updates once a week. We have a dental emergency, and my husband needs to be seen right away but since it appears our insurance lapsed, we are in a loop of red tape. This morning, I called the benefit company, the insurance company, and one passed me on to the other. I was frustrated, I was almost in tears from"they have to call us" and "no, we don't call them, it's up to them...."
The insurance company (who will remain unnamed, because they are really a great company) has a voice operated system; after four calls to them today, I was pretty well versed in the "customer....eligibility.....dental...." so I quickly dialed the number for the fourth time.
But I didn't get the insurance company.
I dialed one wrong number at the end.
And this po-dunk mom in KY got a sex line. Not just any sex line, a racist, stereotype sex line.
I soon realized saying my script I had been saying all morning, "customer.....eligibility..." would take on a whole new meaning. I passed the phone quickly to my husband who hung up. Upon redial, I saw my mistake so a little worse for wear, I dialed carefully. After getting the information I needed, I felt the need to at least mention the one number difference. So the well meaning, yet awkward conversation went like this:
Insurance Company: Is there anything else we can do for you today?
Po-Dunk-Me: Actually, yes, I just want to mention in case anyone else goes through what I did, do you know if you misdial the last number of your 800 number, you get a very racist, dirty sex line?
IC: Uh..........no.
PDM: No one has ever mentioned that to you?
IC: Uh.....no, no they haven't.
PDM: Well, it's really bad. Terrible, insulting.
IC: So....you like, listened to it?
PDM: Well......yeah, because I was....shocked, confused.
IC: But....you listened to it?
PDM: I......yeah.....didn't mean to.
IC: I see......and it's a.....what? Sex line?
PDM: Oh not JUST a sex line, a horrible stereotypical sex line!
IC: And you know this because you listened to the whole thing?
PDM: Uh.....wait....you don't understand what I've been through this morning. I was taken off guard.....I......didn't understand.
IC: Ok........we.....we will certainly note the account.....
PDM: No, no, don't note my account. I was just warning you!
IC: Yes ma'am, we......understand.
PDM: I was just warning you in case someone else goes through what I did...I mean, it's not like I thought you all diversified or anything and branched out, I just.....misdialed. Really, I misdialed.....I did....
IC: Yes, you mentioned that. We'll note.....we'll......tell someone.
PDM: Okay....you don't have to. Never mind. Forget I mentioned it.
IC: Oh, I don't think.......we won't forget it. Thanks.......for.....uh....have a great day!
I can, with every ounce of conviction, assure you there is a big sign at the insurance company, of me with a big slash through it that says "this woman is a pervert."
What a day. I'm going to go eat a dozen of hot doughnuts from Krispy Kreme and pass out in a sugar coma. It will be the best part of my day. I could lose a limb, and it would make it a better day.
But today, oh my gravy, today was just something else. So I am going to give you the details of my day. It was a new experience for this po-dunk mom in Kentucky.
I've not mentioned this to anyone because I try not to let it define my family; but in November, after almost 10 years with a company, my husband was laid off. It was a shock. We've been through this before, but it was years ago. To put it in perspective, we've been through this in our late 20's; but we've never been through this in our mid 40's. We are blessed but it's been stressful. We've never ever been without insurance. And we have a chronically ill child, so it's extra stressful.
The insurance we had, health, dental & vision insurance was good insurance. We paid our Cobra but it's a difficult process, and the 3rd party benefit company who collects every one's money (ours, the company and the government) only updates once a week. We have a dental emergency, and my husband needs to be seen right away but since it appears our insurance lapsed, we are in a loop of red tape. This morning, I called the benefit company, the insurance company, and one passed me on to the other. I was frustrated, I was almost in tears from"they have to call us" and "no, we don't call them, it's up to them...."
The insurance company (who will remain unnamed, because they are really a great company) has a voice operated system; after four calls to them today, I was pretty well versed in the "customer....eligibility.....dental...." so I quickly dialed the number for the fourth time.
But I didn't get the insurance company.
I dialed one wrong number at the end.
And this po-dunk mom in KY got a sex line. Not just any sex line, a racist, stereotype sex line.
I soon realized saying my script I had been saying all morning, "customer.....eligibility..." would take on a whole new meaning. I passed the phone quickly to my husband who hung up. Upon redial, I saw my mistake so a little worse for wear, I dialed carefully. After getting the information I needed, I felt the need to at least mention the one number difference. So the well meaning, yet awkward conversation went like this:
Insurance Company: Is there anything else we can do for you today?
Po-Dunk-Me: Actually, yes, I just want to mention in case anyone else goes through what I did, do you know if you misdial the last number of your 800 number, you get a very racist, dirty sex line?
IC: Uh..........no.
PDM: No one has ever mentioned that to you?
IC: Uh.....no, no they haven't.
PDM: Well, it's really bad. Terrible, insulting.
IC: So....you like, listened to it?
PDM: Well......yeah, because I was....shocked, confused.
IC: But....you listened to it?
PDM: I......yeah.....didn't mean to.
IC: I see......and it's a.....what? Sex line?
PDM: Oh not JUST a sex line, a horrible stereotypical sex line!
IC: And you know this because you listened to the whole thing?
PDM: Uh.....wait....you don't understand what I've been through this morning. I was taken off guard.....I......didn't understand.
IC: Ok........we.....we will certainly note the account.....
PDM: No, no, don't note my account. I was just warning you!
IC: Yes ma'am, we......understand.
PDM: I was just warning you in case someone else goes through what I did...I mean, it's not like I thought you all diversified or anything and branched out, I just.....misdialed. Really, I misdialed.....I did....
IC: Yes, you mentioned that. We'll note.....we'll......tell someone.
PDM: Okay....you don't have to. Never mind. Forget I mentioned it.
IC: Oh, I don't think.......we won't forget it. Thanks.......for.....uh....have a great day!
I can, with every ounce of conviction, assure you there is a big sign at the insurance company, of me with a big slash through it that says "this woman is a pervert."
What a day. I'm going to go eat a dozen of hot doughnuts from Krispy Kreme and pass out in a sugar coma. It will be the best part of my day. I could lose a limb, and it would make it a better day.
This Is Not A Recipe- Potato Soup
Stuck in the house and want a pot of soup? Just don't have time or living out of your pantry or freezer?
I always keep a bag of the southern style hash brown potatoes in my freezer, and a jar of chicken base in the refrigerator. This is what I do if I need something in 20 minutes for my teenage sons.
Put the potatoes in a stock pot; cover with just enough water to cook them, and keep track of how many cups you use. Add a teaspoon of base for every cup of water you used. Add some pepper, maybe 1/2 a teaspoon of dried minced onion, bring to a simmer and cook about 20 minutes or until the potatoes are tender. Taste and add enough salt to taste (don't do it before you taste, some of the bases are salty enough.) Turn off the heat, add about a cup of cheddar cheese (or whatever you have on hand) and stir, put a lid on it and wait about 5 minutes. Serve and enjoy.
Homemade potato soup is wonderful; but don't let that keep you from throwing this together for a quick meal. With a piece of crusty bread, it's warm and filling. And it's ready in the time it would take you to order pizza, or go through the drive-thru. If you don't use chicken base, you can use chicken bullion, or canned chicken broth - I have to say, I probably don't use my good chicken stock in the freezer for this, I save that for my 'from scratch' foods. This is what my grandmother would affectionately call 'speed scratch.'
Enjoy!
I always keep a bag of the southern style hash brown potatoes in my freezer, and a jar of chicken base in the refrigerator. This is what I do if I need something in 20 minutes for my teenage sons.
Put the potatoes in a stock pot; cover with just enough water to cook them, and keep track of how many cups you use. Add a teaspoon of base for every cup of water you used. Add some pepper, maybe 1/2 a teaspoon of dried minced onion, bring to a simmer and cook about 20 minutes or until the potatoes are tender. Taste and add enough salt to taste (don't do it before you taste, some of the bases are salty enough.) Turn off the heat, add about a cup of cheddar cheese (or whatever you have on hand) and stir, put a lid on it and wait about 5 minutes. Serve and enjoy.
Homemade potato soup is wonderful; but don't let that keep you from throwing this together for a quick meal. With a piece of crusty bread, it's warm and filling. And it's ready in the time it would take you to order pizza, or go through the drive-thru. If you don't use chicken base, you can use chicken bullion, or canned chicken broth - I have to say, I probably don't use my good chicken stock in the freezer for this, I save that for my 'from scratch' foods. This is what my grandmother would affectionately call 'speed scratch.'
Enjoy!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
The Only Punch Recipe You'll Ever Need
When I catered bridal, baby, or wedding showers this punch was a hit. The next day, I got so many calls asking for the recipe. It is so easy. Once you make this, you'll be the hit of the party.
1/2 gallon sherbet (or two of the smaller containers) of your favorite flavor
1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream
1 two liter of cold lemon-lime soda or ginger ale + another two liter because you might need about half to get the right consistency
Remove the sherbet and ice cream from the freezer about 20 minutes before you plan to assemble the punch. When you put the sherbet and ice cream in the punch bowl, use a spoon and chop it into smaller pieces. Slowly add the first two liter - gently stir. You'll want to do this about 45 minutes before you need it. You might need to add part of the second two liter before serving, just to brighten it up a bit.
Here is where it gets good - I color coordinated the punch to the event: a baby shower meant either raspberry sherbet making it pink for a girl; I used pineapple sherbet with a little blue food coloring for a boy, but sometimes you can find a blue sorbet to use in place of sherbet which is a perfectly good substitution. And of course, if you didn't know the sex of the baby, I used lime sherbet.
If I was making it for a bridal shower, I tried to use the colors of the bridesmaid dresses - orange sherbet was a hit. And if it was OK to spike the punch, the absolute favorite was pineapple sherbet with rum to taste and a few maraschino cherries floating in the punch. Overall, the pineapple sherbet punch - with or without rum - was the most popular.
Enjoy, play around with the flavors - but the vanilla ice cream makes it the best!
1/2 gallon sherbet (or two of the smaller containers) of your favorite flavor
1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream
1 two liter of cold lemon-lime soda or ginger ale + another two liter because you might need about half to get the right consistency
Remove the sherbet and ice cream from the freezer about 20 minutes before you plan to assemble the punch. When you put the sherbet and ice cream in the punch bowl, use a spoon and chop it into smaller pieces. Slowly add the first two liter - gently stir. You'll want to do this about 45 minutes before you need it. You might need to add part of the second two liter before serving, just to brighten it up a bit.
Here is where it gets good - I color coordinated the punch to the event: a baby shower meant either raspberry sherbet making it pink for a girl; I used pineapple sherbet with a little blue food coloring for a boy, but sometimes you can find a blue sorbet to use in place of sherbet which is a perfectly good substitution. And of course, if you didn't know the sex of the baby, I used lime sherbet.
If I was making it for a bridal shower, I tried to use the colors of the bridesmaid dresses - orange sherbet was a hit. And if it was OK to spike the punch, the absolute favorite was pineapple sherbet with rum to taste and a few maraschino cherries floating in the punch. Overall, the pineapple sherbet punch - with or without rum - was the most popular.
Enjoy, play around with the flavors - but the vanilla ice cream makes it the best!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Hot chocolate everyone will love!
This is one of my best purchases ever. This makes the best hot chocolate you've ever had, right in your own home.
I start out with the hot cocoa mix from GFS, or your local foodservice; Nestle, or Swiss Miss is good too. Your Cocomotion will make 4 servings at a time, so make sure you measure the hot chocolate mix according to package directions. I use milk; you can use water, it's your preference. But what I do which I think, makes mine stand out, is using 1/4 cup of marshmallow cream. Add that to the milk and cocoa mix, turn the machine on and in about 10 minutes, you will have hot cocoa like you did when you were a kid.
And in the end, isn't that what it is all about? The things you do today are the memories your kids will look back on. It will remind them, when times get hard, of a soft place to fall. Doesn't everybody want that for their kids?
Now, go play in the snow!
Monday, January 18, 2010
Easiest Tomato Soup!
I used to get a bowl of tomato soup from a great sandwich shop almost 20 years ago when I was a working girl. As I always do, I asked the owner how they made it; most people will be honest, but you've got that one person, who either doesn't want you to stop paying $4 for a cup of soup, or they don't want to admit cooking can actually be easy. Either way, they gave me the instructions on how to make this soup, starting with expensive canned tomatoes. It took me almost $50 later and 3 failed, awful batches of soup when I finally gave up. I was destined to never have the soup at home, settling for one cup a week at work - in my dress clothes - even during the winter, when I was all comfy in my robe and fireplace going at home.
A few months later I went to the restaurant for my weekly cup of soup and I told the young girl at the take-out counter how this was something I looked forward to but the one thing I duplicate at home. She said "I don't cook, and even I can make this soup. Want me to give you the recipe?"
Come to find out, evidently the owner either didn't want to give up the secret, or didn't want anyone to know his expensive, fancy restaurant sold soup - by the cup for $4 - started out with a can of Campbell's Tomato soup.
It's so good, you can't believe how easy it is.
1 can Campbell's Tomato Soup (10 3/4 oz can)
1 teaspoon pesto*
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup water
Salt and pepper to taste
Combine all ingredients in saucepan; over low heat, whisk until combined. Heat until hot but not boiling.
That's it. This is a very rich soup, so you only need a small cup. I love crusty bread with mine, or buttery crisp croutons. Refrigerates well, so you can reheat it during the week. It makes an excellent dipping sauce for grilled cheese.
*Back 20 years ago, I used pesto. But my now 12 year old son is allergic to tree nuts, he can't have pesto since it has pine nuts. So I substitute a teaspoon of grated Parmesan cheese, a small clove of garlic minced, a pinch of parsley and just a drop of olive oil. Plus the pesto, at my local store, is very expensive - and in my region so is the fresh ingredients of pesto.
Snuggle in and enjoy your soup!
A few months later I went to the restaurant for my weekly cup of soup and I told the young girl at the take-out counter how this was something I looked forward to but the one thing I duplicate at home. She said "I don't cook, and even I can make this soup. Want me to give you the recipe?"
Come to find out, evidently the owner either didn't want to give up the secret, or didn't want anyone to know his expensive, fancy restaurant sold soup - by the cup for $4 - started out with a can of Campbell's Tomato soup.
It's so good, you can't believe how easy it is.
1 can Campbell's Tomato Soup (10 3/4 oz can)
1 teaspoon pesto*
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup water
Salt and pepper to taste
Combine all ingredients in saucepan; over low heat, whisk until combined. Heat until hot but not boiling.
That's it. This is a very rich soup, so you only need a small cup. I love crusty bread with mine, or buttery crisp croutons. Refrigerates well, so you can reheat it during the week. It makes an excellent dipping sauce for grilled cheese.
*Back 20 years ago, I used pesto. But my now 12 year old son is allergic to tree nuts, he can't have pesto since it has pine nuts. So I substitute a teaspoon of grated Parmesan cheese, a small clove of garlic minced, a pinch of parsley and just a drop of olive oil. Plus the pesto, at my local store, is very expensive - and in my region so is the fresh ingredients of pesto.
Snuggle in and enjoy your soup!
Monday, January 11, 2010
This Is Not A Recipe
Last night, I took a large container of plain yogurt, let it drain overnight in a coffee filter (you can use your choice of method to strain.) Make sure you put a bowl under it that won't overflow into your refrigerator - sometimes you get a lot of liquid, sometimes not. Depends on the brand and how long it sits.
This morning, I threw away the liquid, took the thick yogurt mixture and added a teaspoon of Penzeys vanilla, half the zest of an orange, the juice from the half of orange and 2 packages of Sun Crystals (5 calories per package) mixed with a dusting of nutmeg and cinnamon, refrigerating until this afternoon.
About mid-morning, I took some fresh strawberries, cut them in half and tossed them with a teaspoon of sugar and a tablespoon of balsamic vinegar.
When I crave a creamy snack, I layer the yogurt (I flavored myself exactly like I like it) with the strawberries - and don't limit yourselves to strawberries. I love raspberries, blueberries, whatever is available in your area and is afforable. Plus I make my own granola also affordable - just oats, coconut, almonds sweetened with honey, exactly what I like - none of that pesky granola full of cheap peanuts and fake maple flavor. Just watch it in the oven, boy it burns quickly!
That's the best part of making your own things at home - it's how you like it, at no extra charge. Plus when you make it yourself, you know it's not going to be wrong when you get home and opened the wrapper.
The only way I could get my young son to eat yogurt was to take the thick yogurt mixture, and instead of adding the stuff I liked, I added a package of the sugar free grape drink aid mix normally added to a bottle of water (and, it's not half bad!)
See, it doesn't always have to be a recipe!
This morning, I threw away the liquid, took the thick yogurt mixture and added a teaspoon of Penzeys vanilla, half the zest of an orange, the juice from the half of orange and 2 packages of Sun Crystals (5 calories per package) mixed with a dusting of nutmeg and cinnamon, refrigerating until this afternoon.
About mid-morning, I took some fresh strawberries, cut them in half and tossed them with a teaspoon of sugar and a tablespoon of balsamic vinegar.
When I crave a creamy snack, I layer the yogurt (I flavored myself exactly like I like it) with the strawberries - and don't limit yourselves to strawberries. I love raspberries, blueberries, whatever is available in your area and is afforable. Plus I make my own granola also affordable - just oats, coconut, almonds sweetened with honey, exactly what I like - none of that pesky granola full of cheap peanuts and fake maple flavor. Just watch it in the oven, boy it burns quickly!
That's the best part of making your own things at home - it's how you like it, at no extra charge. Plus when you make it yourself, you know it's not going to be wrong when you get home and opened the wrapper.
The only way I could get my young son to eat yogurt was to take the thick yogurt mixture, and instead of adding the stuff I liked, I added a package of the sugar free grape drink aid mix normally added to a bottle of water (and, it's not half bad!)
See, it doesn't always have to be a recipe!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
