K is for Kitchen

I love to cook and bake. While doing dishes isn't my favorite thing in the world, to be creative in the kitchen and to enjoy the fruits (pun intended) of my labor is a joy for me. When my husband and I got married, I began cooking for two people every day instead of one and loved it. We got a recipe book from one of my best friends with some of her favorite recipes all ready to go and I just had to try them out (on a side note: what a fantastic wedding gift! Really from the heart!).  I really care about our health and knowing that what he's eating is good for him and also delicious (ahem) makes my day. What I didn't expect was that he joined me in the kitchen.

I didn't know this until we got married: my husband is an excellent cook and he loves to do it too. Give him a recipe for potato gnocchi and it'll come out perfectly. We now share this passion, watching Food Network, trying out new recipes and grocery shopping together. It's a fantastic way for us to bond. This past year has introduced us to so many different types of foods and cooking methods, with some (hilarious) failures and (delicious) successes. All to create great memories for our family. I can't wait to share this passion with our children and grandchildren one day!

Here's a recipe for chocolate cake that I got from allrecipes.com. If you haven't checked out that website, I'd really recommend it! (I'd also post my mother's world-famous recipe for chocolate icing, but that's a Sheridan family secret, unfortunately.)

Too Much Chocolate Cake

Servings: 12

Ingredients:

1 (18.25 ounce) package devil's food cake mix
1 (5.9 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix
1 cup sour cream
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1/2 cup warm water
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2. In a large bowl, mix together the cake and pudding mixes, sour cream, oil, beaten eggs and water. Stir in the chocolate chips and pour batter into a well greased 12 cup bundt pan.

3. Bake for 50 to 55 minutes, or until top is springy to the touch and a wooden toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool cake thoroughly in pan at least an hour and a half before inverting onto a plate If desired, dust the cake with powdered sugar.


Enjoy!

Not Your Grandma's Scones

Little Monkey and I spent last night creating a delicious recipe for Chocolate White Chocolate Strawberry scones.  The results were mouthwatering, blissful, and completely incredible.  

Don't they just scream "Tragic Romance"?  Definitely the perfect snack to bring to your Twilight Eclipse movie premier party next weekend.

"Not Your Grandma's" Scones 

(recipe by Chantal and Little Monkey)

4 oz of grated dark chocolate, or 1/2 cup of dark chocolate chips (crushed in a food processor)

1/4 cup cocoa powder

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour

3 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

6 tbsp cold butter

1 egg

3/4 cup half and half cream

1 cup of white chocolate chips

3/4 cup of diced strawberries

1.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees

2.  In a large mixing bowl, mix dark chocolate, cocoa, sugar, flour, baking powder and salt.

3.  Cut the cold butter into the mixture.

4.  Add the white chocolate chips into the mixture.

5.  In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg and milk.  Add it to the dry ingredients.

6.  Gently stir in strawberries.

7.  Kneed the dough (it should be dry and crumby).  Roll into 1/4 cup balls, and place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.

8.  Bake for 14-15 minutes.

9.  ENJOY!

Applesauce Oatmeal Cookies

(Posted at Robyn's request)

I got this recipe a while back. It goes great with a cup of coffee in the morning or a glass of Pinot Noir at night. I'd recommend putting some Nutella on it. It's excellent. Enjoy!

Applesauce Oatmeal Cookies

INGREDIENTS

1/3 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 egg
1/2 cup applesauce
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (I substituted whole grain pastry flour)
1 1/4 cups rolled oats
(I also added 1/2 cup of shaved coconut and 1/2 cup of mini semi-sweet chocolate chips)


DIRECTIONS

In bowl beat butter till creamy. Add brown sugar, cinnamon, and baking soda. Stir until combined. Mix in applesauce and egg. Add flour, a little at a time. Stir in oats.

Drop dough onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Bon appetit!

Attention All Chocolate Lovers...

You absolutely have to try this. I definitely will! It sounds too good to be true.