The Best of the Best Chocolate Chip Cookie from Rebecca Rather / The Pastry Queen

I know that everyone has their favorite recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookies. We believe that the Original Toll House Cookie tops the list.
However, there are also decadent recipes for them and I honestly believe this recipe could be it!

This is another recipe from Rebecca Rather, The Pastry Queen from Fredericksburg , Texas.

Rebecca says..... " They are not too chewy and not too crunchy - they are just right".
This recipe makes about 5 dozen 3 1/2" cookies.


1 1/2 C walnuts
1 1/2 C pecans
1 C (2sticks) butter, room temperature
1 C firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 C granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 TBS vanilla
2 1/3 C all purpose flour
1 1/4 tsp baking soda
1 scant tsp salt
3 C chocolate chips (I use Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Chips)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Arrange nuts on a baking sheet in a single layer and toast for 7 - 9 minutes.
Cool completely and coarsely chop

Line sheet pans with parchment paper or Silpat
Use a stand mixer with a paddle attachment

Cream, for 1 minute, until creamy:
butter
brown sugar
granulated sugar
Add:
eggs
vanilla

Add:
eggs
vanilla
Beat on medium speed for 1 minute

Add: (See Note Below)
flour
baking soda
salt
Mix on medium-low speed until well incorporated.

Stir in, by hand:
walnuts
pecans
chocolate chips
The dough will be very stiff...... use your muscles!

Use a 1 3/4" cookie scoop, spacing the dough 2" apart on a baking sheet.
Bake for 10 - 12 minutes until medium brown around the edges.
As long as the edges are brown, the soft middle will disappear as they cool
The cookies will spread to about 3 1/2".

Cool on the sheet pan for 10 minutes and then transfer to a cooking rack until completely cool.

Note:
Here's Rebecca's Tip,
If you have a heavy duty stand mixer with at least 525 watts, Add the flour, baking soda, salt, walnuts, pecans and chocolate chips all at once with the paddle attachment and turn the mixer on and off every 5 seconds or so until completely incorporated.

We have the Kitchenaid 6 quart, 590 Watt Mixer. It does all the work!

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Fudge Pecan Bundt Cake or Cupcakes

Wow, this one is amazing. I got this recipe from one of my favorite Pastry Chefs, Rebecca Rather.
Rebecca had a Restaurant in Fredericksburg, Texas.

She said , about the cake:
"I do know that I've never met anyone who didn't fall for this cake"


Fudge Pecan Cake:

1 C (2 sticks) butter
1/2 C unsweetened Dutch Process Cocoa Powder
3/4 C water
2 C sugar
2 large eggs
1 C buttermilk
2 TBS pure vanilla extract
2 C all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt

Glaze:
1 C pecan halves
1/2 C (1stick) butter
1/4 C whole milk
1/2 C the best quality dark cocoa powder that you can get, such as Scharffen Berger
2 C sifted confectioner's sugar (sift first, then measure)
1 TBS vanilla
1/4 tsp salt

You'll need:
1 10-12 C Bundt Cake Pan.
Grease it well with my Pan Release Mix. ( equal parts of Flour, Shortening, Vegetable Oil) Mix well, brush into the intricate design of a Bundt Pan.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
Cupcakes can be made . Line standard muffin pans with paper liners or my Pan Release Mix.

Cake:

In a Saucepan:
Melt butter on low heat
Add cocoa and whisk until smooth
Add water and continue to whisk until smooth
Do not let the mixture boil

Remove from heat
Add:
sugar
eggs
buttermilk
vanilla
Add these ingredients all at once and and whisk until smooth

Add all at once:
flour
baking soda
cinnamon
salt
Whisk until all ingredients are well incorporated
There may be a few lumps and that's OK

Pour the batter into the Bundt Pan
For Cupcakes, fill 2/3's full

Bake cake at 350 degrees for 40 - 45 minutes
Cupcakes, check after 20 minutes

Let the cake cool on the pan for 20 minutes
Cupcakes, 10 minutes

Make the Glaze:
Arrange Pecan halves in a single layer on a sheet pan.
Toast in  350 degree oven for 7 - 9 minutes, until golden brown.
Roughly chop them when they cool

Melt butter on low heat in a saucepan.
Add:
milk
cocoa
confectioner's sugar
Whisk until glossy
Remove from heat and whisk in vanilla, salt and pecans.

Allow cake to cool, overturn onto a serving platter.
Spoon the glaze over the cake covering it thoroughly allowing it to pool inside and around the base of the cake.

Cupcakes:
Remove from pan, peel off the liner.
Invert onto a platter and cover with glaze.


Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Hippy in the Kitchen Hummus and Homemade Tahini

Hippy in the Kitchen Hummus and Homemade Tahini:

Back to my roots, back to the 60's, back to basics. Hummus!
This recipe makes 1 1/2 C...... double or triple as needed.

2 cloves of garlic, peeled
1 can (15oz.) Chickpeas or Garbanzo Beans, rinse and drain
1/4 C fresh squeezed Lemon Juice
3 TBS Water
2 TBS Tahini (Sesame Seed Paste) Purchase or make your own, recipe to follow.
1 tsp Ground Cumin
1/4 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Black Pepper

Pita Bread Chips,
Carrot Sticks, Celery Sticks, Cucumber Sticks, Broccoli, Cauliflower

Spread on a Vegetarian Sandwich Wrap

Or make a Hummus Sandwich:
Whole Wheat Bread
Hummus
Cream Cheese
Provolone Cheese
Avocado
Bean Sprouts
Toasted Sunflower Seeds


Terry's Hippy in the Kitchen Hummus:

In a Food Processor:
Garlic, until minced
Add:
Chickpeas
Lemon Juice
Water
Tahini
Cumin
Salt and Pepper
Cover and process until creamy smooth.
Transfer for a bowl

Home made Tahini:
Makes 4 Cups

5 C Sesame Seeds
1 1/2 C Vegetable Oil
Toast the seeds on a baking sheet at 350 degrees for 5-10 minutes. Stirring often. Do not allow the seeds to brown.
Cool completely
In a Food Processor:
Seeds
Oil
Process for 2 minutes.
Consistency should be thick and pourable.
Add additional oil if needed.
Can be refrigerated up to 3 months in a jar or sealed container.


Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Orange and Lemon Marmalade

I found this recipe on a blog that I follow called Mennonite Girls Can Cook.
I made a new recipe of Jalapeno Jelly for Christmas and it was a success. It was really delicious, not too hot and a great Jalapeno flavor.
We also love English Marmalade but it can be a bit expensive. Making my own was very intriguing.
I like this recipe for it's simplicity and flavor. I may consider adding Lime to it the next time I make it.

4 large Oranges
2 medium Lemons
5 C sugar

Remove seeds, leaving the peel on the Oranges and Lemons.
Cut fruit into chunks and finely chop them in a food processor.

Pour into a stock pot, stir in sugar with a long wooden spoon.
Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce the temperature to medium -low and cook until it thickens.
About 20 minutes.
Stir carefully
Ladle into canning jars, wipe the edges of the rims clean.
Place the lids on and let them sit until the lids pop.
Refrigerate when completely cooled.


Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Goat Cheese Quesadillas

Goat Cheese Quesadillas:

This recipe is not specific. I just put these together with ingredients I had in the refrigerator. They are delicious. In Texas, we eat plenty of Quesadillas and there are many variations. We all have our favorites. My favorites are Fresh Spinach Quesadillas and Roasted Poblano Pepper Quesadillas.


Goat Cheese Quesadillas:

I made a mixture of mayonnaise and Adobo seasoning in a small bowl.
I also made a mixture of Goat Cheese with some Chipotle Ketchup in another small bowl.
I used flour Tortillas.
I spread half of each Tortilla with the Mayonnaise mixture and the other half with the Goat Cheese mixture.
I topped them with shredded Queso Quesadilla Cheese. You can use any kind of shredded cheese.
Fold the Tortillas in half and grill them on a  Cast Iron Griddle until both sides are browned and the cheese melts.
Serve with a side of Chunky Salsa.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Holiday Milk Punch with Brandy and Rum

Holiday Milk Punch with Brandy and Rum:

This recipe makes 1 serving.
2 tsp confectioner's sugar
2 tsp water
2 oz. brandy
1 oz. rum
1/4 C whole milk
2 TBS eggnog
Ice
Nutmeg

In a bowl:
sugar
water
Stir to dissolve sugar completely
Add:
brandy
rum

In a cocktail shaker :
Milk
eggnog
ice
Add:
Rum mixture
Shake and strain into an Irish Coffee Glass
Sprinkle with nutmeg

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Baked Bruschetta

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
A Sheet Pan lined with Foil.

15 Roma Tomatoes, diced well.
12 Fresh Basil Leaves, cut into Julienned Strips.
2 Garlic Cloves, minced.
1 TBS Onion Powder
1 tsp Olive Oil
1 tsp Soy Sauce
1 tsp Black Pepper
Half of 1 French Baguette, thinly sliced at an angle.

In a Mixing Bowl:
Tomato
Basil
Garlic
Onion Powder
Olive Oil
Soy Sauce
Pepper
Mix well.

Place the Bread slices on the Sheet Pan in a single layer.
Top with some of the mixture.
Bake 8 - 10 minutes, until the edge of the Bread is Golden Brown.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen