pinterest wins

i've found that finding recipes through pinterest is pretty hit or miss.

there have been a few dishes i've tried that haven't ended up as favorites, but today i wanted to focus on the winners.

below are three categories: super easy, super yummy, and super desserts.

the first three can be prepared so quickly, they're perfect for nights when you don't feel like doing much of anything. these second (duh), are just really delicious meals. they take a bit more effort, but i've had great success with all of them. the last group are some of the best desserts i've found through pinterest. the sugar cookie bars (middle) are my new favorites. they're ridiculous.

above all else, these are all incredibly satisfying meals. they'll leave you with a smile on your face every time. and i wanted to pass on some of those good vibes to you today.

easy: 1 | 2 | 3
yummy: 1 | 2 | 3
desserts: 1 | 2 | 3

enjoy! and have fun in the kitchen. 

s'more goodness

s'mores are one of my favorite things about summer. 

there's just something extra awesome about topping off your bbq with some roasted marshmallows, gooey chocolate and crispy graham crackers.

so when i came across their cookie equivalent on pinterest the other day, i was dying to try them out.

i already strongly endorse these amazingly soft chocolate chip cookies made with vanilla pudding and these gooey butter cookies my grandma used to make are a classic favorite for me, so i was curious to see whether this new recipe would be awesome enough to become a favorite.

omg.

these cookies are amazing. 

for me, one of the biggest must-have characteristics for cookies is softness. i know some people like a crunchier cookie, but those people are crazy. ;)

i like them soft. and i like them to stay soft long after they've cooled down. 

the original recipe used cinnamon graham crackers, but i went the traditional route since i'm a s'more purist like that.

i can't say that they truly capture the feeling of holding a warm s'more in your hand, but it's a less-messy alternative that i'm going to be making again soon.

you should too.

gooey butter cookies

 if you like to cook or bake, you probably have a few recipes in the arsenal that just work for you. they win every time.

these cookies that my late grandmother used to make are on that list of go-to recipes for me.

they're easy to make, they're light, fluffy and moist and have the best flavor.

i made these for a mother's day bbq my husband's family had last weekend, and i decided i should share the wealth.

these cookies are the truth.

i like to cook these on my silpat. i usually end up baking mine for just about 10 minutes and thirty seconds. that seems to work for my oven. they might look a little jiggly if you pull them out that early, but i promise they'll harden up once they cool. and i really prefer these cookies on the less done side. lightly golden brown on the bottom and soft all the way through.

yum.

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edited to add: the cream cheese and butter must be at room temperature. forgot to add that!

in case of emergency

the other night, i was desperate for something sweet.

i was done with dinner and i needed dessert. but it was late. and since there's still no late-night dessert delivery service (come on! invent that already!) and nothing's open past 8 p.m. in dc,* i begrudgingly turned to the contents of my pantry, totally expecting to come up short.

until i found this brownie recipe via pinterest.

you guys.

first of all, i like to make a lot of stuff from scratch, but for whatever reason had never attempted brownies. after making this insanely easy one, i'm sold.

before we dive into the actual recipe, let me say one more word about brownies: i like them soft. not so gooey that your stomach hurts after a single bite, but soft. and moist. i'm not a fan of brownie edges/corners so if you are, this may not be the recipe for you.

but if you enjoy a softer brownie (that stays that way even overnight!), then please. make these.

pics by me

you can check out the full recipe here.

let's just say that i made these twice in a span of three days. yikes. but so good.

make these, people. you're in for a treat.

_ _ _

*ok that's an exaggeration. but i've always hate how early things close in this town. grrrr.

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 if chocolate chip cookies are more your scene, check out my all-time favorite recipe for them here. delicious!

yay + yikes

i'm constantly pinning new recipes i want to try. 

some get lost in my boards and i forget about them for months, some become new favorites, some just don't work out.

i'm here to talk about the last two:

new faves

+

total flops

_ _ _

let's start with the flop. which, i should clarify, was a flop because of my inability to execute. not because of a bad recipe.

i posted this sweet potato fry recipe back in november. 

guaranteed crispy sweet potato fries?

ok.

sounded great to me.

and since i'd picked up a mega-sized sweet potato at the takoma park market on sunday, i thought it would be fun and easy (ha.) to make fries later in the week.

fast forward to last night and my too-soggy-to-stand-up-straight fries.

ugh.

but this recipe has potential. i think my problem was adding WAY too much cornstarch.

srsly, mine looked like powdered sugar sticks when i was through with them.

not anything like this, which is what we shoulda been going for:

via the art of doing stuff

oops.

they weren't...horrible. the texture and crunch were just not there.

but i'm a determined one. and i'm going to try to make this recipe work. 

stay tuned for part deux.

_ _ _ 

now let's talk about some success. success in the form of these cookies:

pic by me

i'm a little picky about my chocolate chip cookies. i like them to be supermoist. so moist that they're still like that the next day. even once they've cooled completely.

i want them soft and i want them buttery.

i've tried so many recipes. but through trial and error, i've found the perfect recipe for me. and i'm excited to share.

it calls for the most (three!) sticks of butter i've ever seen in a cookie recipe.* but maybe that's what makes them so good. it also calls for an insane amount of flour. maybe the flour makes them so good.

who knows. what i do know is that these cookies are my number one.

just remember to heed the contessa's advice and leave your butter and eggs out overnight. having those ingredients at room temperature makes all the difference in the final product.

_ _ 

and there you have it. two of my yay/yikes kitchen moments.

do you have a go-to recipe that you love? one that you can't seem to master?

i'd love to hear all about it!




_ _ _


*the recipe wants you to use these milk chocolate chips. but i find that's a little too sweet for me. so i use mini semi-sweet chips. mmm. mmm. mmm.

last bite

thursday night: "guys guys guys, we gotta save at least two slices so i can post about it."

friday: "yeah have another piece, but just try to leave a piece big enough for two slices."

later friday: "i mean a single-slice shot won't look so bad."

saturday through sunday:  nom nom nom

sunday night: "ok fine. maybe this last bite will just drive home my point about how good this cake is?"

texas sheet cake.

have you had it?

my mother would make this all the time when i was a kid. i haven't had it in years, but decided to get the recipe from mom for a beloved-yet-extremely-picky sibling of mine.

_ _ _

here's my version of the recipe

2 cups flour

2 cups sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda
2 sticks butter
4 tbsp cocoa powder
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 cup water
2 eggs






1. combine flour, sugar, salt, baking soda in large bowl. sift if you like. set aside.


2. melt butter in large saucepan. add cocoa and water, bring to boil.


3. pour boiling mixture over dry ingredients; mix until blended.


4. add vanilla and eggs. mix some more. mix it good.


4. pour batter into greased jelly roll pan and bake at 350 for 20 minutes.




now let's talk icing.


1 stick butter
6 tbsp buttermilk
4 tbsp cocoa powder (don't be shy! heap it if you have to!)
1 box powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla


1. melt the butter on low heat.


2. add buttermilk until it's thoroughly mixed in with the butter.


3. add the cocoa + powdered sugar. keep stirring until everything's melted.


4. right before turning off the heat, add the vanilla.




spread immediately over warm cake.
dust with powdered sugar, if desired.


trust me, you DO desire.


_ _ _ 


both the cake + icing call for buttermilk. nasty old buttermilk. but it gives the cake such a fantastic tang. i just love it.




the pioneer woman has a step-by-step with pictures. her process is a little different, but i imagine the end result is the same.


it really is an awesome cake. so glad i made it. maybe next time, i'll leave enough for a pretty pretty picture.




maybe.