Giant Monster Cookies

Monster Cookies

Full of peanut butter, oats, chocolate chips - and no flour!

Let me start off by saying, these are absolutely MONSTER cookies! Toss aside that cookie scoop and grab a measuring cup because cookie-making time just got serious.

These Giant Monster Cookies (recipe here) will definetly become a favorite! And that's no mistake in the title. There is no flour in this recipe! Instead, you get an oat-packed, peanut butter-loaded, chocolate delight, good for any time of the day! Whether you're making them to refill the cookie jar or you're craving warm, fresh-out-of-the-oven oats, peanut butter, and chocolate - these cookies are a winner! Not to mention, they freeze well and make excellent gifts! (Of course, if you freeze them, I suggest popping them in the microwave right before devouring, so the chocolate can get all melty and warm...)

I followed this recipe as instructed, merely using mini m&ms and an entire bag of dark chocolate chips... who can blame me? And trust me, this recipe makes a LOT! And they're HUGE! Feel free to make them as big or as small as you'd like (mini monsters!). Oh! I also pressed mine slightly before baking (or rather, before staring into the oven, waiting for them to be finished...).  Now, posh these up however you like! (Coconut, walnuts, Reese's Pieces, chocolate chunks, chocolate peanut butter - the posh is endless!)

For a quick, easy recipe full of the stuff you love and sure to squash any hunger - here you are! Thank you again Taste of Home, for making the house smell great and the family happy with another terrific recipe! 

With love (for food),

Ellen

-- A dash of posh can make all the difference in your next dish! --

Meringue Kisses

I can't believe my last post was in October...That's so last year! And let me tell you, quite a lot has happened. Sometimes life catches up with you and before you know it, it's already 2015! Rest assured, school is going well and, being the nerd I am, I loved my classes this past semester! But I won't bore you with details. Let me just say I absolutely missed you all and I apologize for not posting in such a long time!!

Now, onto far more important things - let's get to the food! And the posh! To start off, I have a fantastic recipe for light, melt-in-your-mouth Meringue Kisses. Find the original recipe I used here. Each bite literally melts in your mouth, leaving behind the fresh, crisp taste of almond. It's one of those "can't have just one" type of treats - which is fine because once you see what's in them (or not in them), you won't mind eating the entire batch! I certainly didn't mind...

Egg whites. Sugar. Cream of tarter. Flavoring. Food coloring (optional). Can you get any more guilt free!? I found this recipe on Pinterest (where else?) and was immediately intrigued. I made my first batch as the meringue trees with sugar sprinkled on top, yet finding it only made one tray and some were left a little chewy -despite the four hours in the oven -I opted to try making mini kisses - I had a winner.

Really, you can make any shape/size/color/flavor you like. I just happen to love food in cute, mini form... hence these kisses were born! And don't be intimidated by the long time in the oven. They're really super easy to make! (Plus you get to lick the bowl when you're done...totally worth it if you ask me!) As a note, making them as small as I did filled three trays - so it makes plenty! Which is perfect because they don't last long in my house...

The recipe, again found here, calls for gel food coloring and certain sprinkles. Honestly, use what you have! I added a few drops of liquid food coloring and used decorative sugar crystals - so make them your own! (Isn't there a word for 'making something special and adding your own unique twist?' I think it starts with a "P...")

Finally, don't just take my word on these little bites of pure bliss. They were such a huge it at Christmas - I don't even know how many batches I've made since! The almond flavor is exquisite and perfect for the holidays. But once you try them with lemon extract and yellow food coloring... just trust me and try it. It's amazing.

With only a couple ingredients and an oven with no plans, these delectable and not-so-guilty treats can be melting in your mouth in no time! (Okay, at least four hours, but you get the point.) So what are you waiting for!? You have to try these Meringue Kisses!!

With love (for food),

Ellen

-- A dash of posh can make all the difference in your next dish! --

Crisp Chocolate Chip Cookies

A Posh Cuisine Update & Cookie Jar Favorite

UPDATE: First, I have to say I'm so sorry for not posting a lot! This past week has been super busy and while I know that's no excuse, you need to know how much I think of you, my readers! And I'd love to show you what I've been doing...

This was my first wedding cake attempt because...my uncle is getting married on Saturday! And I'm making the cake!! (Eeeep! Are you as excited as me!?) I know I should have told you sooner, but with all the baking and recipe testing going on this summer, it's been crazy!  I've been doing so much research towards making a wedding cake, in addition to finding the pans and equipment (there's a lot to it!). And since I was going to a family BBQ today, I thought it'd be a great time to put my research to the test and make a smaller version of the cake. (With a theme to match this summer party, of course!)

Wedding Cake #1

It was such a huge hit! I don't even know where to begin! The flavor, texture, frosting - everything! This is no cardboard cake with frosting. If Posh Cuisine is going to make a cake, it's gotta be pretty and delicious! (That's how true posh is measured.) And this cake has got some posh, let me tell you!

But now, let's get back on topic. What's this about a "cookie jar favorite" in the title?

Click here for the recipe!

Want a chocolate chip cookie which melts in your mouth? Doesn't get hard-as-a-rock in the cookie jar? Holds up to freezer storage and still tastes fresh? Then look no further! The recipe I am about to share is a favorite of mine (and I'm pretty picky when it comes to cookies). It's always a huge hit with the family, at parties, as gifts, with my friends at school - you name it! So thank you again Taste of Home, because this recipe for Crisp Chocolate Chip Cookies is fantastic! And I must warn you - not only will these cookies remain airy and melt in your mouth, they're addicting, too!

I follow the recipe on this one, yet I always use crisp rice cereal (never cornflakes) and quick-cooking oats (never regular). I also always use Hershey's Special Dark chocolate chips in nearly all my cookie recipes. They're wonderful chips for both melting and baking (and snacking...). As seen in the image above, I always flatten these cookies just a tad before baking for a smoother-topped cookie. The recipe yields about 6 dozen (using a large cookie scoop), so I highly recommend freezing some!

I actually prefer them frozen...they're just wonderful! Store them in plastic freezer bags for months - they'll stay tasting fresh and delicious! This is the only chocolate chip cookie recipe I like to make now, and trust me, I've made it a lot! For some reason, they just don't last long in my house (or at school with my friends). This recipe is amazing and I just know you'll love them! Click here or visit www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/crisp-chocolate-chip-cookies for the recipe. And keep it posh, people!

With love (for food),

Ellen

-A dash of posh can make all the difference in your next dish!--

Best Sugar Cookie Recipe EVER!

World's Best Sugar Cookies

(And I mean the "best")

I have found the most amazing recipe for sugar cookies WITH royal icing! Look no further for a sugar cookie which melts in your mouth, yet stands the test of rolling, cutting, and being iced. Even without the icing, and merely baked up as a drop cookie - these. are. the. best. They're not too sweet. They have just enough lemon flavor. And they're wonderful. So thank you to Butter, with a Side of Bread for this amazing recipe and step by step instructions!

These cookies were such a big hit, my family is still raving about them! To quote my dear grandmother (who doesn't really eat sugar cookies as rule), these were "absolutely the best I've ever had." Along with that, I heard her say they were "so light!" and "the world's best sugar cookies!" (Now you know they're good!) I was touched. It was such an honor! I really put myself into these cookies, and took the time to roll, cut, bake, frost, and decorate each one. And trust me, these cookies certainly took time, but were totally worth every sweet, lemony bite. 

Plus, this recipe was super easy to follow. I made the cookies up one day (the hottest and most humid day of the week, of course). The next day I made the royal icing (a great recipe, too - I used the meringue powder version) and put it into small squeeze bottles with caps. This site does a great job explaining how to frost the cookies, and above I showed my step-by-step process. (As a note, don't be afraid to add a little water to the icing if it becomes too thick. Adding a couple drops at a time and stirring well can make a huge difference.) 

In total, I spent about 4 hours frosting, and there were a lot of cookies! So, this would be a great recipe to make with friends or family. Click here to see the recipe (and visit an awesome site). Plus, there's so many ways you can make this recipe your own by adding some posh! Choose your colors, shapes, decorations, perhaps a theme, or roll the cookies into balls, dip in sugar, and bake as classic sugar cookies. Whatever you choose, they will be delicious - I just know it. And your family, too, will fall in love with these light, soft, hint-of-lemon sugar cookies! (Mine did!)

With love (for food),

Ellen

--A dash of posh can make all the difference in your next dish!--

Oatmeal "Whoopie!" Pie Cookies

I was totally shouting "whoopie!!" today after I got an ICE CREAM MAKER!!! How exciting is that!? I've wanted one for so long! Yet, I had to wait until finals and everything had settled down - longest. wait. ever. But I got one today! And on the way home, naturally, I picked up the supplies to make frozen yogurt, got home, read the instructions...and the freezer bowl has to be completely frozen before starting.. :/ what. the. heck. So frozen yogurt will be coming soon! In the meantime, I had my eye on an oatmeal whoopie pie cookie recipe from an Amish cookbook my mom bought not too long ago.. so what better occasion to whip them up than when depressed about having to wait YET AGAIN to make a frozen dessert!? So, let's all shout "whoopie!" for these whoopie pie cookies, instead!

Let me start by saying "yum!" The flavor was great, and these cookies were super quick to whip up, bake, and fill! Below is the recipe book (expect more from here, there's a sugar cookie and a pie recipe which look awfully good...) The recipe can also be found here (at amish365.com).

This recipe was a bit different than traditional cookie recipes I've made. For example, I creamed the butter, sugar, AND eggs at the same time! Then I added all the dry ingredients, then the oatmeal and cinnamon, then mixed boiling water with baking soda...and stirred that in last. A process totally worth it!

*As a note, I highly recommend investing in rounded cookie scoops - they're perfect for making each cookie the same size!

Perfect size, every time!

Although the recipe said to bake them for 10-15 minutes, mine were done in 8! Also, I suggest 9 cookies per tray because they spread quite a bit.. I was surprised, too, because of the baking soda and baking powder in the batter! Then again, I did improvise a little by substituting half of the quick cooking oats for regular...(I ran out of quick cooking oats! Dang those lazy breakfasts when I didn't feel like cooking up regular oatmeal!) But either way, they turned out delicious!

While they were cooling, it was time to make the filling! Different from the thick, frosting-like chocolate whoopie pie filling I'm used to making, this filling was rather thin and kept only soft peaks. Yet, for these large, soft and chewy oatmeal cookies - it was perfect! Using a smaller scoop, I plopped a little filling onto the bottoms of half the cookies, and played matchmaker!

Super cute, right!? The filling's sweetness really helped bring the entire cookie together - I'm thinking these cookies may also make great ice cream sandwiches! (using ice cream from my ice cream maker, of course) This recipe made about 20 pies - plenty for dessert! With plenty leftover for snacking! Each bite of this sugary sweet pie, with its sweet creme filling, was pure delight! 

So where's the 'posh,' you may ask? The posh is everywhere! It's the extra care used when finding each cookie its perfect match, or setting them up nicely on a plate for dessert. Posh is putting yourself in the dish! And these cookies, from a terrific Amish recipe, have plenty of posh - as well as flavor! Just see for yourself! 

With love (for food),

Ellen

--A dash of posh can make all the difference in your next dish!--