Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

I just made these today and they are super tasty!!

WARNING: This is not your grandmother's oatmeal cookie.

Mix together:
1.5 cup white sugar
1.5 cup brown sugar
1 cup shortening

Once mixed, add in:
2 eggs
1 tsp

Mix separately then add into sugar mixture:
3/4 cup white flour
3/4 cup wheat flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda

Then add in 3 cups of oats and 1.5 c chocolate chips.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 12 minutes.

Ricotta & Chocolate-Hazelnut Calzones

Ingredients
3/4 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
1/4 cup mascarpone cheese
1 large egg yolk
2 tablespoons powdered sugar, plus more for dusting
8 ounces frozen strawberries, thawed
2 tablespoons sugar
2/3 cup chocolate-hazelnut spread (recommended: Nutella), at room temperature
3 tablespoons whipping cream, at room temperature
6 (2-ounce) pieces homemade or purchased pizza dough, cold
1 large egg, beaten to blend


Directions
Blend the ricotta, mascarpone, egg yolk, and powdered sugar in a food processor until smooth and creamy. Transfer the ricotta mixture to a small bowl, then cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, blend the strawberries and 1 tablespoon of sugar in a clean food processor until smooth. Transfer the strawberry sauce to a small bowl and set aside.

Whisk the chocolate-hazelnut spread and cream in a medium bowl to blend.

Position the oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F.

Line a heavy large baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll out each piece of pizza dough into a 7-inch-diameter round. Spoon the ricotta mixture atop the center of the lower half of each pizza dough. Spoon the chocolate-hazelnut mixture atop the cheese mixture. Brush the lower edges of the dough with egg wash. Fold the plain dough halves over the filling, forming half circles. Pinch the edges of dough firmly together to seal. Using a pastry wheel, trim the edges. Transfer the calzones to the prepared baking sheet, spacing evenly.

Brush the tops of the calzones with more egg wash. Bake until the calzones puff and become golden brown, about 10 minutes. Transfer the baking sheet to a rack and cool for 15 minutes. Transfer the calzones to plates and dust with the powdered sugar. Drizzle the strawberry sauce around the calzones and serve

Chocolate- Hazelnut Ravioli

Ingredients
16 wonton wrappers
1 egg, beaten to blend
1 cup chocolate-hazelnut spread (recommended: Nutella)
Vegetable oil, for frying
16 fresh mint leaves
Nonstick vegetable oil spray
Granulated sugar, for dredging
Powdered sugar, for dusting


Directions
Line a baking sheet with plastic wrap. Place 1 wonton wrapper on the work surface. Brush the edges of the wrapper lightly with egg. Spoon 1 tablespoon of chocolate-hazelnut spread into the center of the wrapper. Fold the wrapper diagonally in half over the filling and press the edges of the wrapper to seal. Place the ravioli on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining wonton wrappers, egg, and chocolate-hazelnut spread.

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. Add enough oil to a heavy large frying pan to reach a depth of 2 inches. Heat the oil over medium heat to 350 degrees F.

Working in batches, carefully add the ravioli to the hot oil and cook until they are golden brown, about 45 seconds per side. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the ravioli to a plate lined with paper towels to drain. Then, transfer the cooked ravioli to another baking sheet and keep them warm in the oven while frying the remaining ravioli. (The fried ravioli can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cool them completely, then cover and refrigerate. Before serving, place them on a baking sheet and rewarm in a preheated 375 degrees F oven just until they are heated through, about 7 minutes.)

Spray the top side of the mint leaves very lightly with nonstick spray. Working with 1 leaf at a time, dredge the coated side of the leaves in sugar to coat lightly.

Arrange 2 fried ravioli on each plate. Dust the ravioli with powdered sugar. Garnish with the sugared mint leaves and serve

Mascarpone & Dark Chocolate in Whit Chocolate Cups

Ingredients
8 ounces good-quality white chocolate, chopped
4 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
1 cup whipping cream
3 tablespoons sugar
8 ounces mascarpone cheese
1 teaspoon grated orange peel
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
White chocolate curls, for garnish


Directions
Line 8 muffin cups with paper liners. Melt the white chocolate in top of double boiler over simmering water, stirring until smooth. Spoon 1 tablespoon melted chocolate into each paper liner. Using a pastry brush, coat the chocolate evenly over the bottom and up the sides of the liners. Freeze until the chocolate is firm, about 30 minutes. Remelt the white chocolate in the bowl. Spoon 1 tablespoon into each cup and brush over the bottom and up the sides, forming a second coat. Freeze until completely set, about 1 hour.

Melt the bittersweet chocolate in top of a clean double boiler over simmering water, stirring until smooth. At this point, set aside to cool completely.

Using an electric mixer, beat the cream and sugar in a large bowl until soft peaks form. Set the whipped cream aside.

Using an electric mixer, beat the mascarpone cheese, melted bittersweet chocolate, orange peel, and vanilla in a large bowl just until smooth and glossy, about 30 seconds (do not overmix). Fold the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture in 2 batches. Transfer the mousse to a pastry bag fitted with a star tip. Pipe the mousse into the white chocolate cups. Sprinkle the white chocolate curls over the mousse and serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate overnight, and then let stand at room temperature 1 hour before serving.

Double Chocolate Banana Cookies

3 to 4 extra-ripe medium Bananas
2 cups rolled oats
2 cups sugar
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4 cups margarine, melted
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

•Puree bananas in blender; measure 2 cups for the recipe.
•Combine oats, sugar, flour, baking soda, and salt until well mixed. Stir in bananas, margarine and eggs until blended. Stir in chocolate chips.
•Refrigerate batter 1 hour or until mixture becomes partially firm (batter runs during baking if too soft).
•Preheat oven to 350 F.. Measure 1/4 cup batter for each cookie; drop onto greased cookie sheets. Flatten slightly with spatula.
•Bake 15-17 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool.
Makes about 2 1/2 dozen e inch cookies.

•••Layla, if you remember when I made these they were super flat--that was because I didn't put oatmeal in the cookies, and didn't let them refrigerate for long enough. So, if you liked how they tasted then just don't add the oatmeal. :)

Aunt Dorothy's Famous Mint Brownies!!

1 c. Flour
1/2 c. Butter softened
1/2 tsp. Salt
4 Eggs
1 tsp. Vanilla
1 can (16 oz) Chocolat syrup
1 c. Sugar
Mix flour, 1/2 c. butter, salt, eggs, vanilla, chocolat syrup, and suger together. Bake in greased pan at 350 for 30 min. Top will still appear moist. Cool.

1/2 c. Butter
2 c. Powdered sugar
1 tbl. Water
1/2 tsp. Mint extract
3 drops Green food coloring

Mix powdered sugar, 1/2 c. butter, water, mint and food coloring and spread on top of cooled brownies. Chill.

1 pkg. Semi-sweet chocolate chips
9 tbl. Butter

Melt chocolate chips and 9 tbl. butter together and spread on top of mint layer. Keep chilled before cutting and serving.

Turtle Cookies

I love these cookies but i haven't been able to make them in a while due to the fact I don't own a waffle iron. They are so fun to make!!

8 tbl. Unsweetened Cocoa
1 c. Maragarine or butter
4 Eggs
1 & 1/2 c. Sugar
2 c. Flour
2 tsp. Vanilla

Melt chocolate and butter. Beat eggs and sugar. Add chocolate mixture. Add flour and vanilla. Drop by teaspoons on hot waffle iron and cook approximately 1 min. Frost.

Frosting:

4 tbl. Unsweetened cocoa
1/4 c. Maragarine or butter
3 tbl. Milk
2 c. Powder Suger

Melt chocolate and butter, stir in milk and powdered sugar to make a slightly thinner than normal frosting.

These are soooo good!

Texas Sheet Cake

This is my Moms recipe but it is the best cake ever so I'd thought that I'd share it. I know Diana will love it!!

2 c. Flour
2 c. Sugar
1 c. Butter or Margarine
1/4 c. Unsweetened Cocoa
1 c. Water
1/2 c. Buttermilk or Sour Milk
1 tsp. Baking Soda
2 Eggs
1 tsp. Vanilla

Mix flour and sugar in a large bowl and set aside
Bring butter, cocoa, and water to a boil. Pour hot mixture over flour and sugar. Mix until well blended. Add milk, soda, eggs, and vanilla and beat until well mixed. Pour batter onto a large cookie sheet with edges and bake at 350 for about 20. Frost while still hot.
HINT: Add 1 tbl. Vinegar to 1/2 c. Milk to make it sour! Easier than buying buttermilk!!!

Frosting:

1/2 c. Butter or Margarine
1/4 c. Unsweetened cocoa
5 tbl. Milk
1 tsp. Vanilla
4 c. Powder Sugar

Mix butter, cocoa, milk, and vanilla in a medium sauce pan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and beat in the powdered sugar. This is not as thick as regular frosting. Spread over warm cake.
Enjoy!!!

Mini Moltens

It only seems appropriate to share my all time favorite recipe as the first post on here.* 1/2 Stick unsalted butter at room temperature
* 1/2 Cup sugar
* 12 ounces of bittersweet chocolate
* 4 Large eggs
* 1/3 Cup flour
* 1 Teaspoon vanilla
* 1 pinch of salt
* 6 ramekins (ceramic molds) approx. 6-ounces in size, lined with parchment paper

1) Prepare the ramekins that you'll bake the moltens in: butter them and line the bottom with parchment. This step will insure that the moltens will ease out of the ramekin molds after baking.

2) To start melt the chocolate because it needs a chance to cool before you add it to the rest of the ingredients. To melt the chocolate start by boiling a pot that has about 3-4 inches of water in it - you want there to be enough water so that it won't evaporate quickly but you also want to be able to rest a glass or metal bowl over the pot without the bottom of the bowl coming in direct contact with the water. The idea is to melt the chocolate with indirect heat, i.e. the steam from the water. Once the water comes to a boil turn down the heat to medium and place a glass or metal bowl over it and add the chocolate to the bowl. If using bars of chocolate break them into small pieces so that they will melt faster. Once the chocolate melts take off the heat and and allow to cool. I find Ghirardelli's bittersweet chocolate works well in this recipe and their bars come in 4 oz. size so you need exactly 3 of them.

3) Cream the butter and sugar together in a large bowl while the chocolate cools, just use a spoon to stir them together until totally incorporated. Then add one egg at a time and beat into the mixture. Once you've added all 4 eggs add a pinch of salt and the vanilla extract. The next step is adding the flour. And finally, mix in the melted chocolate.

4) Fill the ramekins with the batter evenly. You can either cover them with plastic wrap and refrigerate until you're ready to bake them or you can bake them immediately. If you cook them immediately bake for 10-12 minutes at 400F. If refrigerating them bake for 12-14 minutes at 400F. I recommend serving with your favorite vanilla ice cream.

Note: To more easily remove the moltens from their ramekins after they've baked, gently slide a knife around them to loosen and flip onto a plate.