Pregnancy Belly | Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies

Yep, I’m back with another delicious recipe!  Chocolate chip cookies are my absolutely favorite cookies in the world.  There is no other cookie like it, that matches up to it, that IS IT!

I've made these cookies going on 4-5 years now.  The one big difference in my cookies rather than traditional chocolate chip cookie recipes is that I use shortening and a bit more vanilla than most recipes call for.

So, without further ado:

• 3/4 cup of Butter Flavor All-Vegetable Shortening
• 1 1/4 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 1 3/4 cups All Purpose Flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 – 1 1/2(6 oz.) package semi-sweet chocolate chips (1 cup)

*The main recipe is adapted from Crisco’s recipe for Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies, but like I said I add a little extra of my fave ingredients like vanilla and chocolate chips.
Directions

1. HEAT oven to 375ºF.
   
2. COMBINE shortening, brown sugar, milk and vanilla in large bowl. Beat at medium speed of electric mixer until well blended. Beat in egg. Combine flour, salt and baking soda. Mix into shortening mixture until just blended. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.
   
3. DROP by rounded measuring tablespoonfuls 3 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheet.
   
4. BAKE 8 to 10 minutes for chewy cookies, or 11 to 13 minutes for crisp cookies. Cool 2 minutes on baking sheet on a cooling rack. Remove cookies to rack to cool completely.

*BONUS* CHOCOLATE DRIZZLE OR DIP

1. DRIZZLE: Melt 1 cup semi-sweet or white chocolate pieces with 1 teaspoon shortening over very low heat. Stir well. If too thick to drizzle, add 1/8 to 1/2 teaspoon more shortening to thin. Drizzle from end of spoon back and forth over cookie. Sprinkle with nuts before chocolate hardens. To harden chocolate quickly, place in refrigerator for a few minutes.
   
2. DIP: Spoon melted chocolate into custard cup. Dip one end of cooled cookie halfway up in chocolate. Sprinkle with finely chopped nuts before chocolate hardens, or drizzle with contrasting white or dark chocolate. Place on wax paper.

As you can see this recipe does not call for any white granulated sugar which is a little different from most recipes I’ve come across.  I find that without the granulated sugar, the result is a chewy, moist, and dense cookie.

These can be made into bars or large rounds, so get as creative as you want with them.

Give them a go, I can assure you that they won’t disappoint!

Happy bumping!

xxoo,

Pregnancy Belly | Quick & Easy Classic Rice Krispy Treats

An oldie, but a goodie!  I was jonesin for this childhood treat and decided to whip some up.  They are super quick and easy, and taste delightful.  I thought I'd share my tasty pregnancy belly craving with you all this week.

The Recipe:

3 Tsp of unsalted butter or margarine

1 bag of large marshmallows

6 cups of Rice Krispies Cereal

Instructions:

Melt butter/margarine for about 30 seconds in microwave.  Add bag of marshmallows to melted butter and toss to coat.  Put butter tossed marshmallows in microwave and heat for roughly 1 min 30 secs.  Take melted marshmallows out of microwave and immediately rice krispy cereal.  Stir until the cereal is well incorporated and coated with melted marshmallows.  Once mixed, out mixture in a lightly sprayed pan.  Let cool sit up, you can let them sit on the counter and cool and sit up at room temp or put them in the frig (like I did) if you want to serve them sooner.  Recipe makes 12-16 squares, depending on how big you cut them.  The will take up an entire 9x13 pan.

Yep, that's all you need, just three ingredients.  You can switch these up and get fancy, making them chocolate, caramel, or whatever flavor your heart desires.  They can even be decorated and frosted with or drizzled with icing.

Happy Bumping!

xxoo,

Tenns