Chocolate Cookies with Sea Salt Caramel Chips

I usually bake for election night at work. Election night is a long and stressful evening and we always order food. My contribution is baked goods. The tradition continues.  I saw this bag of chips as I was shopping at a local grocery store. Sea salt caramel?? What?? That sounds like an amazing combination and would be awesome for the night.

I was so right.

I used the recipe on the bag and they came out great. These chips are creamy with a hint of salt. Delicious. I don't know if they are a limited edition or something. So get out there and pick some up today. I posted an affiliate link at the bottom of the page. You WILL want to stock up on these chips. Add these cookies to your Christmas platter this year.

Working Hard.

recipe from the bag
Ingredients:

1/2 C (1 stick) butter softened
3/4 C packed light brown sugar
1/2 C granulated sugar
2 eggs
1-1/2 C all-purpose flour
1/2 C Cocoa
1/2 Tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 10-oz package HERSHEY'S Sea Salt Caramel
flavored Baking Chips


Directions:
Preheat oven to 350F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease.
Beat butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar and vanilla in large bowl until well blended. Add eggs; beat well.
Stir together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; gradually blend into butter mixture, blending well.
Stir in the sea salt caramel chips.
Drop by rounded teaspoons onto prepared baking sheets.
Bake 7-9 minutes. do not over-bake. cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. cool completely. Makes about 4 dozen cookies.


Enjoy,
Michelle

Delicious Cinnamon Rolls in 1 Hour

Delicious Cinnamon rolls in 1 hour???

Is that possible?

Yes, it is. Nothing is more delicious that a gooey cinnamon roll topped with a wonderful glaze. Right? You know you love the smell of them when they are cooking and the wonderful taste of the cinnamon on the warm roll. I like them warm.

I found this recipe and had to give it a try.

INGREDIENTS

• 2¾ c. all-purpose flour
• ¼ c. sugar
• 2 tbsp. butter
• 1 egg
• 1 package instant (quick rise) yeast (or 2¼ tsp.)
• ½ c. water
• ¼ c. whole milk
• 1 tsp. salt
• 
  
• Filling:
• ⅔ c. brown sugar
• ¼ c. (½ stick) butter, room temperature
• 1 tbsp. ground cinnamon
• ¾ tsp. vanilla extract
• ¼ tsp. almond extract
• 
  
• Vanilla glaze:
• 1½ c. powdered sugar
• ¼ c. (½ stick) butter, melted
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2-3 tbsp. milk

DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.

In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the flour, yeast and salt.
In a small microwave safe bowl (or glass measuring cup), combine the sugar, butter, water and milk. Heat in the microwave until the mixture is hot and the butter is almost melted (it took about 1 minute 30 seconds on HIGH in my microwave).

Gradually add the milk mixture into the flour mixture. Add the egg and mix until a soft and sticky dough forms.
If using a stand mixer, switch to the dough hook and set on the lowest mixing setting for 4 minutes or until the dough becomes elastic or knead by hand on a lightly floured surface for 3-4 minutes. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and allow it to rest on the counter for 5 minutes.

Once the dough has rested, roll it out on a lightly floured surface until it measures a 16x9 inch rectangle. Prepare the filling by combining all of the ingredients in a small mixing bowl except for the butter. Spread the butter over the top of the rolled dough, then cover with the filling. Tightly roll the dough and cut into 12 portions. I like to use dental floss for this... I also cut it in half, then fourths etc.

That way the pieces are all uniform in size (you may have a few smaller pieces from the ends, just arrange them around the larger rolls).
Place the rolls into a lightly greased 9x13 baking dish and gently press a piece of aluminum foil over top. Turn OFF your oven and place the covered rolls inside to rise for 25 minutes.Remove the rolls from the oven and turn ON your oven to 375 degrees. Once heated, remove the foil and bake the rolls for 15-18 minutes or until the centers are lightly golden brown in color.

Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes before frosting. While rolls are cooling, prepare the frosting by combining all of the ingredients in a small mixing bowl and beating by hand or with a hand mixer until smooth. Spread over the tops of the rolls.

So delicious! Enjoy
Michelle

Recipe from here.

Easter Break 2016

Well, Easter break 2016 is in the books. We had a wonderful time in Orlando, Florida with my parents.

We drove down with my parents van, spent the night in South Carolina then on to Orlando.

We flew back to Buffalo and this was also the first time the boys flew on a airplane. Everything went well.

Look at this amazing chocolate covered apples. We grabbed them on the way out of Island's of Adventure. Chop those babies up and shared them. :)

Yummy

This apple is so cute and super delicious.

The family. xoxo We were waiting out a thunderstorm at Hollywood studios.

OHHHHH. This chocolate mousse is divine. It is from France in Epcot. I found the recipe online and it turns out amazing. I am going to make it for mother's day.

This is where my new obsession begins.

These macarons are so goo and so expensive. I really am determined to make my own. They are little tricky.  I have already made about 10 batches, I will do a post about that. #keeptrying Down below I posted the mat that I use to help me make perfect macarons. :)

Hanging at Epcot.

Butterfly. 

Stunning weather. 

Welcome to Florida. We love it there.

Michelle

Andes Creme de Menthe Cookies

Just the title alone should have your mouth watering. Yummy Andes candies. I remember they were my Grandma's favorite candy. The 2 layers of chocolate and the green minty center. I know that I have a love of mint and chocolate just like my Grandma. For that matter I love raspberry and chocolate, cayenne and chocolate, marshmallow and chocolate etc... Just about everything and chocolate :)

I made these for work. I had to do a pregame show and a post game show for a Buffalo Bills preseason game that aired on our station and thought that a treat for the whole gang was in order. These mint baking chips were in the cupboard so I looked on the back of the bag and low-and-behold a recipe. 

These cookies were soft and a little chewy and had the perfect mint flavor.

So delicious.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup salted butter - softened

3/4 cup dark brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 eggs

1 package (10oz) Andes Creme de Menthe Baking Chips

2 2/3 cups sifted all purpose flour

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F.

Beat the butter, sugars, baking soda, baking powder, vanilla adn eggs until mixed. Stir in Andes Baking chips then flour. Chill about 1 hour in refrigerator. Measure out approximately 1 oz dough. (I used a scoop) (the dough was a little hard at first) Place on baking sheet. Bake for around 8-10 minutes. Cool on pans for two minutes then on wire racks to cool completely.

recipe from bag of chips

~Enjoy

Michelle