Carrot Cake Cookies with Currants and Coconut

My favorite cake, in cookie form.  Half chewy, half crisp, with all sorts of fruity, nutty textures throughout.  As much as we enjoy good-for-you foods, there’s always room for something sweet in my day.  Does wonders for my spirit – and blood sugar!

Recipe here.

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Simple Ganache Frosting

The easiest, failproof, and decadent frosting.  Simple dip your baked goods in the frosting, or drizzle it liberally for a smooth and silky finish.  Or, for a different texture whip the frosting until airy.  Either way, it is sure to delight.

Simple Ganache Frosting

12 ounces chocolate pieces
1 cup half-and-half

1. Heat the half-and-half until hot to touch, but not boiling. Pour over chocolates and stir until fully incorporated.

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Marshmallow Cream Cheese Frosting

YUM.

Recipe here.

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Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies

Recently, our dear friends Dennis and Patsy came for dinner.  Dennis is our closest friend from law school.  The first friend we told about Rice Kernel; the only friend who’s ever babysat Rice Kernel!  In fact, our little boy was Dennis and Patsy’s ringbearer last summer. Dennis and Patsy are both as kind-hearted, good-humored and generous as friends get.  We are thrilled that they are expecting their first child this summer.

Dennis and Patsy happen to be great cooks and hosts.  They host yearly BBQs, crab bakes, and “pork-a-paloozas,” as Dennis calls them.  When it comes to dessert, their tastes are simple – sundaes and cookies.  Having endured her share of pregnancy symptoms, I knew Patsy would appreciate these little nuggets of buttery delight for dessert – and to take home.

I’ve added pudding mix to cookies before -  they provide a chewy, soft texture to the cookies, which we prefer.  With a hearty dose of old fashioned oats (you can use quick cook), these boast a crispy, nutty exterior and a soft, buttery, chocolately middle.  They are perfect. 

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies, adapted from Baking and Boys!

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
3.7 ounce package instant vanilla pudding
2 large eggs
3 cups oats
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour or white whole wheat
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
Any mix of chocolate chips, nuts, raisins you’d like (original recipe)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugars for 2-3 minutes. Scrape sides of bowl. Add the eggs and beat another 2 minutes. Mix in the instant pudding.
3. Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl and whisk together. Add the the dry ingredients to the mixer and beat just until combined.
4. Fold in the chocolate/mix-ins by hand.
5. Scoop the dough into tablespoon sized balls on the baking sheets and bake for 10 minutes.
6. Let cool on wire rack

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Cod with Tomato Cream Sauce

When it comes to eating protein, I’m pretty predictable – non-dairy milk or whey protein in my oatmeal, egg whites or Applegate-brand cold cuts, any and all nut butters, and chicken breasts.  I dabble in the meat selections for the boys – sausages, beef, pork, shrimp, etc. – but I honestly don’t eat more than a few bites.  (I’ll eat whatever surrounds the sausage/beef/pork by the spoonful, though, since it usually involves pasta, grains or vegetables!)  I’m a creature of habit, what can I say.  My Dad and in-laws, though, eats tons of seafood and fish, in particular.  Over the years, I’ve tried to cook more fish.  It’s good for you, right?  But Rice Kernel isn’t that enthusiastic.  Unless there’s ketschup.  Or panko.

I don’t do that red sauce.  I can’t ever bear the smell.  And while I love crispy, pan-fried foods, there’s only so much panko-breaded salmon and white fish you can eat before your mouth longs for something juicier.  So I started searching for recipes.  This is the first I’ve tried.  I figure the sauce was red… like ketschup.  That didn’t do it for my little boy, though.  Fortunately he was happy with “naked fish,” as he dubbed it (sans sauce).  And I was happy with “dressed fish,” aka tomato cream sauce.

Cod with Tomato Cream Sauce

Recipe here.

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