Valentine's Day Treat: Chocolate Chocolate Chip Drop Cookies

 Have you ever heard of Magnolia Bakery?  Well, it's in New York City and even though I could make a personal trip into the city and enjoy their treats in person... I've never actually made it there.  Guess what?  If you can't make it to their bakery in New York City, all you need is a copy of The Complete Magnolia Bakery Cookbook!

I was the lucky winner of a giveaway from my friend over at Aggie's Kitchen back in January, and when I received this cookbook I was so excited!  There are so many fabulous recipes to try.  I made the blueberry muffins last weekend, but didn't manage to get a photo.  Let me just tell you, a post will eventually come because they were so melt-in-your-mouth-amazing that I will definitely make them again!

We've been in the midst of a major snowstorm, so with the kids out of school on Wednesday and my office closed due to the storm... I had some time to bake.   I paged through the book and found the recipe for Chocolate Chocolate Chip Drop Cookies.  What could possibly be bad about a cookie that has chocolate in it's name not once, but 2 times?  Seriously!

These cookies are so rich and chocolatey!  They got a thumb's up from both of My Boys and stay soft and chewy if you keep them in a sealed container. 

I must tell you all that I enjoyed reading about your favorite Valentine's Day gifts!  I should probably share mine... Well, 8 years ago tomorrow (February 13th), My Oldest was born!  Yep, my favorite Valentine's Day gift arrived 1 day before the holiday.  Before I share the recipe, I know there are some of you who are anxiously waiting to hear who won the $45 Gift Certficiate to Bonefish Grill ... and the winner is....

Meghan who said:  As for a good V Day gift, I have never gotten a gift besides a bag of skittles from my husband.  Even my 1st husband would blow the holiday off.  Just my luck that I pick men who really "get" the holiday! LOL

You totally deserve a night out! LOL!  Send me your mailing information and I'll get the gift certificate sent out to you right away!  Congratulations! 

Now, for those of you who didn't win and still need something sweet for your sweetheart, here's the recipe for those irresistable cookies!

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Drop Cookies
The Complete Magnolia Bakery Cookbook

Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour
6 tablespoons unsweetened Dutch process cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
5 tablespoons solid vegetable shortening
1 cup sugar plus 1 tablespoon (for sprinkling)
1 large egg, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup miniature chocolate chips

Directions
In a small bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt.  Set aside.

In a large bowl, cream the butter, shortening and sugar until smooth, about 3 minutes.  Add the egg and vanilla, and beat well.  Add the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly.  Stir in the chocolate chips.  Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets, leaving several inches between for expansion.  Sprinkle lightly with sugar.  Place the cookie sheets in the refrigerator and chill for 20 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Bake for 10-12 minutes.  Cool the cookies on the sheets for 5 minutes and then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

Makes about 2 dozen cookies (I got about 3 dozen).

Disclosure:  The link for the cookbook will take you to Amazon where you can find more information on it and purchase if you choose.  I receive a small referral fee if you decide to purchase. 

Please note that all photos and content belong to Patsy Kreitman, unless otherwise noted. If you want to use something please ask first.

A Lighter Creamy Spinach Dip

Last weekend, we watched the Super Bowl with some friends and I brought over this Creamy Spinach Dip that I found in the EatingWell 500-Calorie Dinners Cookbook. 

This recipe differs from the usual spinach dip you find at gatherings in that it uses fresh baby spinach, not frozen, chopped spinach.  It also substitutes the mayo and sour cream with cottage cheese, low-fat cream cheese and plain non-fat yogurt. 

Once this dip is combined using your food processor, I highly recommend chilling for for at least 1-2 hours.  It gives the flavors time to meld together.  I do think that next time I make it, I will use less shallot as it does come across as a stronger flavor than I expected it to when I was making it.

For a lighter appetizer, I thought this one was definitely satisfying.  You can serve it with various crudites or some whole wheat crackers.  I had picked up a couple of baguettes at the store, so I sliced them and served them with the dip.  You can find the recipe at Eating Well's website HERE.


Don't forget to head over to my Bonefish Grill Gift Certificate Giveaway post today!  All entries must be in my Midnight TONIGHT!

Disclosure:  Please note that the link for the Eating Well cookbook will direct you to Amazon's website for more information.  If you choose to purchase via this link, I receive a small referral fee.
Please note that all photos and content belong to Patsy Kreitman, unless otherwise noted. If you want to use something please ask first.

Brown Butter Banana Bread

Last summer, I had the pleasure of meeting one of my food blogging friends when I went to the Scharffenberger Chocolate event in NYC.  Of course, Jennifer is the one who hooked me up with the invite to the event and I have such fond memories of that day and meeting Jacques Pepin.  Jennifer writes the blog, In Jennie's Kitchen.  She makes so many fabulous recipes and as soon as I saw her post for her Brown Butter Banana Banana Nut Muffins, I just knew I'd have to use her recipe to make banana bread soon!

Well the opportunity to get back in the kitchen and bake finally presented itself on Sunday.  Thank goodness because I am sure some of you were wondering what happened to me last week.  Oh, I was cooking, but nothing interesting enough to share.  Just good old stand-by meals that make everyone happy and don't require following a written recipe.  So I was happy to have some new inspiration come through a friend!

I've used browned butter in a chocolate cookie recipe before and the flavor really can't be beat when adding it to this bread.  I liked that this recipe was different than my usual recipe which has the addition of orange rind and juice in it. This bread has the nutty, rich taste from the brown butter and it takes it to a whole new level.

My Oldest and I loved this bread and it will definitely be making another appearance since I always seem to have an abundance of bananas hanging around.  Please go visit In Jennie's Kitchen for the full recipe HERE.  I'm sure you'll find a few other recipes you'll want to try while you are there!

 Oh, and don't forget to enter my current giveaway!  It's a $45 Gift Certificate to Bonefish Grill!  Head over to MY LAST POST and leave a comment!  I've been enjoying reading about everyone's favorite Valentine's Day gifts, and how they plan to share the gift certificate if they win!  There's still time to enter, so what are you waiting for????

Please note that all photos and content belong to Patsy Kreitman, unless otherwise noted. If you want to use something please ask first.

Bonefish Grill Gift Card Giveaway! (CLOSED!)

 Whether you are married, single or parents who never get out, don't we all need a chance to go out to dinner and reconnect with someone special in our lives?  I find that dinner out with My Husband is a great chance for us to do just that and enjoy some grown-up time together.

I was recently contacted by the PR folks at MS&L about an upcoming promotion that the Bonefish Grill is running.   In conjunction with the Ferrero Company they will be offering every diner in each of their restaurants in the United States a complimentary taste of  Ferrero Rocher^®chocolate and Ferrero Rondoir^® dark chocolate after enjoying their meal on February 14th. What a sweet way to end the meal on a holiday like Valentine's Day!

If you love chocolate, and I have a pretty good idea that most of you do since you keep coming back to read my blog and I get more comments on my chocolate posts than anything else, you won't want to miss a chance to enter their current contest!  You could win a trip to Paris and/or year-long supply of Ferrero chocolates by entering the sweepstakes online HERE at their website.

In the meantime, if you can't wait for the winners to be announced for that fabulous trip to Paris on February 28th... you can enter a giveaway for a $45 gift certificate to be used at a Bonefish Grill near you!  

How do you enter?  Read on for the rules:

Leave a comment telling me your best Valentine's Day gift - whether it was a sweet treat, dinner out or a special gift - it's all good!  

Subscribe to Family, Friends and Food - and leave a comment that you are a new subscriber.  Existing subscribers can also enter, but need to leave a comment as well. 

Leave your email address so that I can contact you if you win!

Only U.S. residents can enter.  Sorry!

Deadline to enter is Wednesday, February 10th at Midnight EST.  Winner will be selected using Random.org and announced by Friday.

 I am not receiving any compensation for this giveaway.  I chose to share the gift card with my readers rather than keeping for myself... because it's February and well, I love that you all keep coming back to read what I have to say!  

Now, leave me some comments so you can be entered to win dinner out! 


Please note that all photos and content belong to Patsy Kreitman, unless otherwise noted. If you want to use something please ask first.