Brittany's PantrySoft Batch Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies
Brittany wrote this on 11 November 2015
chocolate, cream cheese
These cookies sound incredible, don’t they? Well, it is true. They are incredible. Was it the cream cheese in the title that tipped you off…?
Some recipes taste just like they sound and this is one of those recipes. You expect them to be soft, pillowy cookies that are moist and rich, but chocolatey too. And they are. All of that. Exactly that. *sigh* So cozy. I tend to prefer my cookies chewy and crispy, but there is always room to branch out. I have been wanting to add a soft batch chocolate chip cookie to my recipe library, and these have been perfect every time. Plus, THERE IS CREAM CHEESE IN THEM! A detail that speaks for itself, obviously, but I thought I would write it in all caps anyway.
Speaking of cozy, we are in the middle of a giveaway right now! Enter to win snuggly, handmade items by Pine Tree Goods, and if you are one of the two winners, these cookies will just complete the whole scene. Cozy cowl or mittens + warm cookies = a good good day. Heck! If you don’t win, these cookies will make you feel better! So its all good. They have to be chilled before they bake so you can mix them up now, and then bake them when you get home from work/school/errands tomorrow!
A few things to remember about these: Don’t skip the ‘chill in the fridge’ step, and don’t add more cream cheese than it calls for. I may or may not have done both of these things at various times, and both ended in an unfixable disaster. More cream cheese creates soup, not cookies. And not chilling the dough makes soup, not cookies. Follow the recipe and all will be well. Go figure!
Soft Batch, Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies
Recipe adapted from here.
1 stick (1/2 c) softened butter
1/4 c cream cheese, not fat free or spreadable
3/4 c brown sugar
1/4 c sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg
2 1/4 c flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cornstarch
pinch of salt
2 c dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips
In a large mixing bowl, or in the bowl of a stand mixer, combine butter and cream cheese until creamy and mixed VERY well. Add the sugars, vanilla, and egg, mixing well after each addition and scraping down the bowl between. When thoroughly combined, add the dry ingredients and mix well. Gently stir in the chocolate chips. Refrigerated dough until very cold or scoop dough into a sprayed or lined cookie sheet and THEN chill. The key here is to bake the dough COLD. Bake at 350 for 9 minutes, or until the edges are brown and the centers are still soft. Let cool on the pan until just warm, then remove to a cooling rack. Cookies keep sealed at room temp for 3 days or frozen for several months. The dough can also be portioned into cookies and then frozen to be baked later. Just let the frozen dough balls defrost in the fridge for a bit before baking. Enjoy!
Mini Meat & Cheese Skewers W/Spicy Maple Mustard
Brittany wrote this on 9 November 2015 cheese, dijon mustard, gluten-free, maple syrup, pork, tomatoes
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PairsWellWithHolidays #CollectiveBias
Why does food on a stick taste so much better? I have asked my kids this question several times and the answer is always the same: Because its fun!
This rings true for adults as well as kids and thankfully, it is ridiculously easy to do. My husband usually gets leftovers for lunch, but in the case of today’s recipe, it is so fast and easy, it just packed for everyone! I make a lot of wraps and sandwiches but I like variety in my meals as much as my kids. Hence, deviating from the norm happens rather often in our house. I’m a rebel that way.
I’m not sure how I got so blessed to end up with children that like strong flavors, but I did, and I am thankful. They have always liked the taste of a good, spicy salami and a sharp cheese. Why not deconstruct the sandwich?! Just like a holiday snack plate, this lunch ends up being a munch-able, exclusively finger-food type of situation. Toothpicks are cute, but they are also the perfect size for a school lunch!
The meat I like to use for these is the same kind I serve to party guests. Creminelli has several flavors of uncured, handcrafted Italian salami and at the present time, the Tartufo (with black truffles) is our favorite. What I particularly like about this kind of meat is that the flavor is full and fantastic, but not overly spicy or salty. You can really taste the pork in this salami which is perfect wether you like strong flavors or not. It is mild enough for everyone! Add a cube of cheese and an itty bitty tomato and you have great taste in just a few bites. The meat doesn’t contain any of the chemicals and preservatives associated with other types of salami and that makes it a definite no brainer.
I pick up Creminelli products at my local Whole Foods store so stocking up is easy and convenient. And necessary! Between school and work lunches and weekend snack times, I keep some handy on a regular basis. The fact that I can (and do) use it for company at a moments notice is definitely a benefit for this busy Mom! Be sure to look for the savory Tartufo salami in the meat and cheese section. Because it is uncured, it won’t be refrigerated so check the displays in the aisles. The toughest part will be deciding which flavors to bring home!
When I pick up the salami, I like to grab some water crackers as well. My kids-and husband-love the extra crispy texture with the bold flavors of the skewers. Some fruit and olives on the side and they have a pretty spectacular lunch! The only thing that makes it better is the maple-mustard dipping sauce. A tiny container tucked in with everything else and they can dunk whatever they like! It is just mild enough that it doesn’t overpower the taste of the salmi, but lets be honest here. Its maple and mustard together with salami and cheese. On a stick! Does it get much better?
What are YOUR favorite flavors to eat with salami?
Mini Meat & Cheese Skewers W/Spicy Maple Mustard
These are great with olives or pickles tucked into the lunches as well! Be sure to use grape tomatoes here, as cherry tomatoes will be too big for little mouths.
1 pkg, uncured, Creminelli Tartufo Salami
grape tomatoes
provolone, swiss, or mozzarella cheese, cubed small
1 T pure maple syrup
1 scant T mayonnaise
1 T grainy mustard
toothpicks or cocktail skewers
Remove the casing from the salami and discard. Cube the meat into small, bite-sized pieces. Skewer the tomato, meat, and cheese onto the toothpick. In a small bowl, mix the mayo, mustard, and maple syrup until combined. Serve skewers with the dipping sauce. Note: This entire recipe can be made ahead of time, making busy school mornings less hectic! Enjoy!
The Annual Cozy Giveaway IS HERE!
Brittany wrote this on 2 November 2015
It is that time of year again!
That time of year when I give away something warm and cozy from one of my favorite ETSY shops, Pine Tree Goods! Once again, Hannah McKenzie, the artisan behind the handmade items, has outdone herself for this giveaway EXCLUSIVELY for Brittany’s Pantry readers! This has been such a successful event in the past, we paired up again to give all of YOU more FREE stuff! And of course, there will be two items which means there will be TWO WINNERS!! Keep the loot for yourself or gift it to someone you love! Either way, one of these beautiful accessories could show up in your mailbox.
Why do I host this giveaway every year? Because it is SO easy! Because I like to share what I love. And because I trust the quality and professionalism of this shop and have personally ordered (and currently wear!) several items! What better way to start off the holiday season than with free stuff? Right?!
This year, Hannah created a cowl made with 100% merino wool that is kettle dyed and ridiculously soft. And the colors?! Wow!
Do you see that little tag on the picture above? All handmade, quality Pine Tree Goods items come with a lightweight custom tag so you know that it has gone directly from the creators hands, right to yours.
The second item is a pair of the most luxurious mittens I have ever seen! Super warm and fleece lined, the yarn for these is a hand-spun merino blend created by a local spinner! They are size medium and will fit 99% of adult sized hands!
I love the subtle variation in the colors. NOTE: Camera not included in giveaway! 🙂
Ok. So now you have seen the fabulous stuff I am giving away. Here are the specifics and be sure to ENTER BELOW!
RULES: Entry options are below. Must be over 18 and a resident of the US to win and void where prohibited. No purchase necessary. Two winners will be chosen at random and contacted via email or private message, then announced on the blog. Prizes will be mailed directly from Pine Tree Goods in Minnesota to the winners address. In the event that a winner cannot be contacted or does not respond within two weeks, another winner will be randomly chosen. Contest runs through midnight on Friday, November 13 and winners will be chosen within 24 hours of the deadline. The owner of this blog was not compensated in any way and receives no items, monetary or otherwise in exchange for this event. I just like to share stuff that I love!
Good luck everyone and be sure to spread the word so that your friends and family can enter too! Don’t forget to check out Hannah’s ETSY shop to sneak in some early Christmas shopping. She does personalized and custom orders so be sure to contact her and see what she can do!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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