Raspberry M and M's and Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies

I saw this package of M and M's and who could resist the beautiful pink packaging. Also, who could resist the combination of raspberry and dark chocolate. Not me, I tell you that. 

So I thought I would toss these into some cookies with the always delicious mini chips and they turned out pretty great.  Fun treat for the weekend. 

You will see that I used cold butter. That's because I didn't have any softened and I was decided to make cookies. I just slice the butter into 1 Tablespoon servings and cream that with the sugar. It may take a bit longer to get it creamy, but it works just as well for the end result. ~Bake away.

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• Raspberry M and M and Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies
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• Ingredients:

1 stick salted butter, can be cold, cut into 1 Tbsp squares

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 large egg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste,or vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

3 Tablespoons vanilla instant pudding mix

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 package of raspberry M & M's

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F. 

In a large mixing bowl cream the butter and sugars together until well combined. Add the egg and vanilla, mixing to combine. Add the flour, pudding mix, baking soda, stirring to combine.

Stir in the mini chips and the M & M's.

Scoop dough onto cookie sheet 1-inch apart from each other. Bake for 10-14 minutes until cooked through. Let cool on the cookie sheet for about 10 minutes before transferring to cooling rack.

I made 2 1/2 dozen.

~Michelle

Strawberry and Lemon Bundt Cake

In my never ending search for delicious dessert recipes I came upon this moist and tasty bundt cake recipe. Fresh strawberries and fresh lemon juice made this the perfect dessert for Easter lunch.  I think that it would also make a great dessert for Mother's Day too.

I don't have any pictures of the whole cake because I took it for Easter lunch and then the leftovers to work that night, yes I worked on Easter, so all I had to photograph were a few slices.  I guess it was a hit.

 Easter Flowers

They are really blossoming. 

Just a sample of our Easter Eggs.

Strawberry and Lemon Bundt Cake

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened

2 cups granulated sugar

3 eggs

3 Tablespoons lemon juice, divided

Zest of 2 lemons

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

8 oz plain or vanilla, Greek style yogurt

12 oz. fresh strawberries, diced

1 cup powdered sugar

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375F. Grease and flour a 10-inch bundt pan. Sift together the 2 1/4 cups of flour, baking soda and salt. Mix in the lemon zest and set aside.

With an electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in 1 Tablespoon of the lemon juice. Alternate beating in the flour mixture and the yogurt, mixing just until incorporated. 

Toss the diced strawberries with the remaining 1/4 cup of flour. Gently mix them into the batter.

Put the batter in the bundt pan. ( my batter was nice and thick). Place in the oven and reduce the temperature to 325F and bake for 60 - 70 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

Allow to cool at least 20 minutes in the pan, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely. Once cooled whisk together the remaining 2 Tablespoons of lemon juice and the powdered sugar. Drizzle over the top of the cake.

I'm thinking next time even more strawberries!

~Michelle

original recipe from here

Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies

I'm ALWAYS searching for recipes, especially desserts. I use cook books, magazines, the internet and family. I really think that so many dessert recipes are just different combinations of the same ingredients. I found an interesting recipe on Pinterest and while I was looking it over I decided to click back to see where the recipe came from...


It all started with this recipe that I saw on Pinterest. for Salted chocolate bark, which I have not made.
I saw on the bottom of the page "you might like this" and that is where I saw the recipe for cream cheese chocolate chip cookies. here.
Then I saw where that recipe came from and that was here.
Then I saw where that recipe came from and that was here.
Then I saw where that recipe came from and that was here.

The cookies are really wonderful. They are soft and thick and have just the right amount of chocolate in every bite. The recipe is also egg free. I was thinking of tossing in at least one egg, but the recipe doesn't even need it. Great for egg allergies. 

Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

6 ounces cream cheese, softened
12 Tablespoons butter, melted and cooled
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups plus 3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups semi-sweet and milk chocolate chips combined

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 325F. and line baking sheets with parchment. In a large mixing bowl or bowl of stand mixer, cream together the cream cheese, melted butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Mix in the vanilla. Add the dry ingredients and mix until mostly combined and no dry streaks remain.

Scoop or roll dough into 1 to 1 1/2-inch balls and place about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake the cookies for 12-16 minutes until the edges are just barely golden brown. Let the cookies cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet and then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Makes about 3 dozen.

(the original recipe calls for you to just flatten the cookies slightly with the palm of your hand, do not flatten it all the way.) I did not do that this time and the cookies came out just fine. You can find the recipe that I followed here.

Happy Baking
~Michelle

Accessorize. February 21

Well, this day I thought I would choose some special items. The necklace is just a stretchy band with some beads on it. Doesn't sound too special? Well, my son used some of his money and went to a garage sale around the corner from our home. He brought me back this necklace. I couldn't believe how thoughtful that was. He said he knew how I loved jewelry. Awww. The watch is from my other son. He picked it out for me for Christmas one year because he thought I would love to wear it on our boat. 

The earrings were a gift from my husband many years back, and the ring I made for myself. :) Awesome stuff

~Michelle

Accessorize. February 20

Oh, This combination turned out great. I chose my Brighton jewelry necklace, my silver band Anne Klein watch, 3 bangle bracelets with turquoise coloring, these are from my resale store. Other accessories are available via Shoplocket here on the blog.  Also, I found some small silver earrings in my drawer and I thought they matched pretty well.

~Michelle

Accessorize. February 18

Today I wore my Anne Klein watch with the silver band, silver with a twist earrings from Lia Sophia, my Brighton bracelet and an awesome necklace that was a gift. 

The necklace is a long sterling silver chain with a heart pendant. The pendant has a picture of my boys etched on it. I love it so much. What a wonderful gift. (look below for a close-up of the charm)

~Michelle

Accessorize. February 19

This is a fun set. Just a plum watch from Gossip at QVC, a handmade bracelet, and some black and silver twist earrings from Lia Sophia. Be sure to check out my line of awesome bracelets at my Etsy shop.

~Michelle