...and what I'm sure you all are listening to too. JT's new song went viral on Friday and it has been on repeat 24/7 since then. I am 100% going to abuse listening to it to where I get sick of it, but for now it seems worth it. If you haven't listened to Can't Stop the Feeling, welcome to your new obsession.
Annie
First week of work down, and I'm slowly getting back into the swing of things. It was harder than I thought to fall back into a routine. I'm kind of having that feeling when I first started my job last year after graduation. Do you ever get those moments when you are driving to work and think, I'm really going to do this everyday for the rest of my life? Everyday wake up, get ready, go to work, repeat. It can seem daunting but when I think harder about it I love the commitment and the responsibility of reporting to work and taking care of business. It's productive and accomplishing and gives me a sense of confidence. Just a little thought bite for you to nosh on this morning.
-Started the week on a sweet note celebrating a great friends birthday!
-Tacos all week in prep for Cinco de Mayo. Used my carnitas meat mixed with some BBQ sauce and pickled onions for a barbecue spin!
-Finally found my go-to CCC recipe and I still haven't gotten over it. You have to check out this recipe!
-So cool seeing people recreate my recipes. Libby really killed it with this one-thank you!!
-Missed our calling at flower arranging.
-Friday fiesta.
-Dinner at one of my favorite spots in town.
-Mother's day Grapefruit Moscow Mules. This just became my summer drink.
-Love getting to celebrate my momma on this day and everyday.
Annie
You guys, I did it. I finally found my perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe. If you have been reading this blog over the past few months you will know I have been on the hunt for a go-to CCC recipe. After several attempts, the test has come to an end. All previous recipes deserve some attention, but this one is it. Check out my recipe testing here, here and here.
I wanted my cookies to be full of chocolate chips, just crisp on the bottom and around the edges, cooked but still soft on the inside, pretty to the eye and about 3 inches in diameter. I am pleased to tell you, I have achieved it.
I also wanted my CCC to be no fuss. This was the most important aspect for my cookie recipe. No secret ingredients, no refrigerating, no weird flours, just a to the point recipe that makes excellent cookies. I promise you this recipe is easy and full of basic ingredients you already have in your cabinet.
One of my favorite parts of these cookies is not having to wait for your butter to come to room temperature. Simply cut up 2 sticks of unsalted butter and melt it over low heat. You don't even have to let the melted butter cool, it just goes straight into the other ingredients. This is everythingggg.
One little spin I did do (which is optional) was chopping up my chocolate chips slightly. It's nothing crazy, I just like getting those little small flecks of chocolate throughout the dough.
Keep reading for the steps on how to make these perfect, no fuss, chocolate chip cookies.
Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies
yields 32 cookies, adapted from Seven Spoons by Tara O'Brady
Ingredients:
1 cup unsalted butter, diced
3 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 1/4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups light brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
12 ounces, semi-sweet chocolate chips, chopped (optional)*
Directions:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
Place a saucepan on low and melt your butter, stirring occasionally. Make sure the butter does not get too hot to where it sizzles or bubbles.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. In a large bowl mix both sugars. Pour the melted butter into the bowl with the sugars and whisk until smooth. Add the eggs, one at a time, whisking to combine. Stir in the vanilla.
Slowly add the dry ingredients into the butter sugar mixture. I found a wooden spoon to be the easiest for this job. Once the dough has almost come together, but still a little floury, add the chocolate chips.
*I roughly chopped my chocolate chips, so I could get more chocolate in each bite. I also love those little shavings of chocolate sprinkled through the dough!
Form 2-3 tablespoon size balls. I used a standard size cookie scoop, but would scoop twice, then roll them together to form one big ball of dough. Place them on a cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Do not overcrowd the pans. I got 8 balls of dough on a pan, at most.
Bake for 9-11 minutes, rotating the pan around halfway through. Bake until just slightly golden.
They are almost bakery-perfect in my opinion. I was soooo happy with how they came out. I'll be coming back to this recipe from now on.
I solicited a lot of taste tasters to make sure I wasn't just dreaming on how perfect they were and all came back saying, "this is it." The test is over. These CCCs are here to stay!
I mean just look at that. Full of chocolate chips, a crispy bottom and perfectly cooked but still soft inside.
Now go make yourself some of the best chocolate chip cookies. Bonus points if you make them for your momma for Mother's Day this weekend. Please share with me on social media if you do! #takeabite
Annie
Above I have rounded up my favorite kitchen essentials. These are products I either love or couldn't live without. While my kitchen is still in the process of being stocked with all the proper appliances and tools any standard cook should have, I long for the time when I will get married and get to register for all the things I've been dying for. But let's be real, that'll be a while. Things like a full knife set, a matching set of dishes, proper pots and pans... okay enough day dreaming and back to the things I have now, and think you should too!
Entree Bowls I'll eat out of a bowl any day over plate. I think it's something about being able to get the food out of a bowl easier than scraping it up off a plate. I don't know, but pro-bowl over here. It's all I really ever eat out of. Salads, soups, curry, rice, chicken and veggies, it's the perfect hybrid. These are only $27 for a set of 4 from Target. (Target has great cheap but cute dishes).
10-Piece Glass Mixing Bowls You need these. I think everyone in my family has these bowls. The fact that you get 10 bowls for $40 is fantastic. This is one of the pieces Ina Garten recommends everyone to have in their kitchen. I agree. I use them for everyyyyyything. The large bowls for cookie dough, the small bowls for making sauces or marinades.
Kitchen Aid Mixer My pink mixer is like the landmark in my kitchen. It proudly sits on my counter for everyone to see. You just can't really bake without a Kitchen Aid mixer. They are pricy but last for forever. My mom has had hers for 30+ years...
Oven Mitt Don't risk burning your fingers off by pulling hot pans out of the oven with a flimsy hand towel. Make sure your kitchen has a few oven mitts, you'll use them daily. Anthropologie has the cutest!
Cookie Scoop This is one of my favorite tools. It looks like and ice cream scoop, just a little smaller. If you want pretty, uniform cookies, invest in a scoop. I suggest about a 1.5 tablespoon size.
Wooden Cutting Boards I have a three-piece set similar to these that I love. You need some plastic cutting boards for things like poultry and fish, but I use my wooden ones daily. I even use them for backgrounds in my food pictures or even as a plate! Wooden cutting boards can also be used as a cheese board.
Non-stick Roasting Pans and Cookie Sheets You need at least two of each, you just do. My cookie sheets get used all the time, but the roasting pans probably get used even more. Roasted veggies, baked fish, sweet potato chips, I have a million ways to use these. When I am making big batches of cookies they even get used as stand-in cookie sheets!
Canisters I use these canisters to store my flour, sugar, brown sugar and coffee right on my counter. They have an airtight sealant on them keeping everything fresh. I love having these essential ingredients right at arms reach.
Dessert Stand I was gifted this dessert stand customized for me with "Take A Bite" etched on the outside. It sits on my counter and I love to use it as an excuse to bake, so that it is always filled with treats. I would recommend some kind of stand like this with a lid. It's an easy way to display and store homemade goodies!
Le Cruset Dutch Oven My Le Cruset is the newest addition to my kitchen. I had to get pink too so that my Kitchen Aid had a friend. A dutch oven can be used for things like roasting a chicken, making homemade spaghetti, a big batch of curry, a Sunday roast, soup, mashed potatoes, the list goes on. There really isn't a pan to replace it. It's on the pricy side, but also lasts forever.
Do you have any go to kitchen items you couldn't live without? Let me know!
Annie
It's the first day of school again! Not really, but today is the first day of my new job. I got a sneak peek last week by getting to help out here and there with a current project. It ended up being way less work and way more fun. All signs are pointing up with this new gig.
We had our first run in with spring tornado weather last week. But in typical Oklahoma fashion it was all about the hype with little to no action. A total let down for this storm geek. I love a good nader watch!
I squeezed in just enough to my last week of funemployment. It's been nice, but I'm a little ready to step back into reality.
-The ethnic food vibes are still going strong after this recipe.
-Taking my hand at homemade matcha lattes. Still have some work to do, but it will work for now.
-A sunny green smoothie bowl inspired by my new Lemon Pistachio Michele's granola.
-Taking bites, on set! The new job is already off to a great start.
-Bring on the summer salads.
-Y'all I did it! I perfected my CCC recipe!
-On a serious matcha latte kick.
-Enjoying our city from all perspectives. Like from the middle of the street.
-Proud Chick-Fil-A card members.
Annie
