Best Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies EVER.

Ever, ever.  Really.

I have a terrible time following recipes.  Which means I could never master pastries or French cooking...BUT! I make amazing meals from scratch and can even tweak a dessert recipe to make it into something fantastic - in my own humble opinion.  ::cough::

So, I present to you my most recent creation - the BEST chocolate chocolate cookies EVER.

Preheat oven to 375F

1/4 cup sugar
2 tbsp cocoa powder
1/2 cup brown sugar

 In a Kitchenaid mixer, mix together the above ingredients until blended.  Add:

1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp orange juice
1/2 cup butter - cubed

Cream together for 3 minutes, scraping the bowl at 1 minute intervals.  Then add:

1/2 cup rolled oats
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt (I use Half Salt)
chocolate chips to your taste - I use 1/2 a bag or approx. 1 cup

Mix thoroughly for 3 minutes, scraping the bowl at 1 minute intervals. 
Using a teaspoon, spoon batter onto ungreased cookie sheets.  Place in oven and bake for 10-12 minutes (although my oven seems strong, so I bake them for 9 minutes).

ENJOY with a large glass of milk.

*hugs*

Yummy coolness

The heat here is insane.  Not a good insane either.  We're experiencing 35 degree weather for the past 3 days before humidity (which is currently at 75%) and mugginess like no one's business.  Yesterday it was over 42 degrees when it was all combined.  People are irritable and wanting rain or at least a break in heat.  I'm ready to live in my freezer full-time.

As I was searching for local water pads in my area I came across a brilliant recipe that I will be making tonight.  Behold...Coffee popsicles!  (originally found here)

Coffee Popsicles (only for parents!)

These are best served in oppressive heat when spirits and energy are flagging and you can’t get yourself something cold and caffeinated at your local coffee shop.

You will need:

• ⅓ cup sweetened condensed milk
• ⅓ cup hot espresso or very strong black coffee

Yummy!! 
Maybe I'll make a batch and bring them to work in a cooler for the boys to have tomorrow morning.  We all need our morning caffeine, but the hot stuff isn't so nice now that our a/c at the shop isn't working properly.  Maybe it'll lift some spirits.

*hugs*