The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

For as long as I've known how to bake, my go-to cookie recipe has been an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie from my mom's recipe box.  I finally tried this recipe that my sister has been raving about all year, and I think I have found a new favorite.  They are the perfect balance of sweet and salty, plus they are made with whole wheat flour.*  I like to keep them in the freezer - perfect for hot days (and for keeping me from eating too many at once :)

photo via Diary of a Locavore

You can find the recipe here, at Diary of a Locavore.

*Andy thought they were actually peanut butter cookies because of the texture they get from the flour. I still don't think he believes me that they are PB-free!

The Saturday Find - morning granola

Today we have "The Saturday Find" instead of "The Friday Find." Why? Because I was giving these jars of granola away as gifts and I didn't want to ruin the surprise!

This past week I made a huge batch of this delicious granola. It came out crunchy and chewy and sweet (and even a little salty, mmm) - everything you'd hope granola would be. It served as a yummy, affordable gift for a few great people. So far, it is the best granola recipe I have found out there on the world wide web.

 

For those who want to make this granola, the recipe suggests stirring the granola every ten minutes, but I would suggest every twenty minutes. That way you get bigger clusters. If you like crunchier granola, I also suggest turning the heat up to 325 for the last ten minutes of baking.

Enjoy! And have a very relaxing weekend :)

Puppies for your Friday

The Friday Find is being delayed until Saturday (I know, I know, lame), because I am giving today's Friday Find away as gifts to a few special people and I don't want them to read it before receiving their present! So, naturally, instead, this post will be about... PUPPIES!

This past weekend in Cleveland, I spent quality time with my cousin's dog Emma. She is a 130 lb Newfoundland. She has black hair, big paws, and a lot of drool. She is so incredibly mellow and lets you sleep in until 9:30 am without making a fuss; yet, when you want her to be energetic, she is a great hiker and swimmer. My ideal dog in many ways.

Emma chilling with Ben in the car

Emma in a waterfall in the middle of our hike

 

 

The only problem is that when she sees a squirrel, you are screwed. That dog is strong. She could pull you for miles if she wanted too. (She doesn't usually want to, because she's pretty lazy, but you get the point.) So then I got to thinking: What would my ideal dog be? And when can I get one?

How bout you guys? What kind of dog would you want?

Happy Friday :)

Gen Y

This weekend I was at a family reunion in Cleveland and we all got to talking about our jobs and the hours that we work and the things that we like to do at night. I found out that most of my cousins in their twenties, including myself, work a 9-5 (really, a 9-6) job and take as much time as possible for long weekend getaways. We don't like to stay late at night and we make sure to take advantage of any and all work perks - free meals, transportation, etc. The slightly older generation of cousins and relatives (those in their thirties and forties), however, get up at 6 am and work until 7 or 8 pm, work weekends and take minimal vacation.

Image via Zazzle.com

Why is this? What's with the change in work ethic? Are the young adults of Gen Y slackers? Or do we simply "work to live" as opposed to "live to work"? What do you think?

Just some food for thought for your Monday. xo

The Friday Find

Remember two weeks ago when Anna said it was hot, hot, hot in Maine? I have her beat. This is today's forecast for DC:

Via weather.com

Feels like 121 degrees? Are you kidding me? This week's Friday Find will include popsicles, renting DVDs, air-conditioned happy hours, and begging to get a spot by friends' rooftop pools.

Here is our hot, hot, heat guide on a budget:

1) While I would love a Zoku Quick Pop Maker (which makes popsicles in less than 10 minutes), I would rather spend $50 on new shoes. So I will settle for these lemon, lime, and mint slush cups that fit so nicely in the lemon rinds themselves.

2) A Redbox DVD: use the promo code DVDONME and it's free, free, free!

3) If you're in DC, be sure to check out Masa 14 or Mandu before 7 PM for $4 drinks like gin and tonics and mojitos. Or stop by Loriol Plaza for a $6 frozen margarita. Mmmmm.

4) If you don't have friends who can offer you their rooftop pools, you should check out the public pools in your area. In DC there are a whole bunch and they're not gross at all! In fact, they're quite nice! My favorite one is the Foggy Bottom pool at 25th and N NW. Check it out!

I hope you're staying cool. Have a lovely, lovely weekend!

Summer Snacks

Throwing together my breakfast this morning, I stumbled upon a seriously yummy combination.  It's also pretty much the easiest breakfast ever: fill a bowl with cherries and add a dollop of ricotta on the side.  Dip the cherries in the ricotta and pop 'em in your mouth.  Top it off with a creamy iced coffee and you've got breakfast perfection!

Now my mind is racing with other cherry-ricotta recipes...maybe these scones with cherries instead of raspberries?

Also on the docket today: doing something with this pile of garlic scapes.

I'm thinking pesto...any suggestions?

To sweeten your Monday

A cake rolled in Reese's cups?! Are you kidding me?! Unbelievable. I would want to eat a slice right now if it weren't 100 degrees out. I'll opt for a popsicle today but you can be sure I'll keep this in my mind at all times for future birthdays and holidays. Or maybe we could celebrate Cake Day once a year like these guys.

Via Picky Eatings

Want to make this cake yourself? You can find the recipe here.

Hope your Monday is now a little sweeter! XO