February 2011 - Page 9 of 10 - My Healthy, Happier Life

ashleyd / February 16, 2011

Salted Chocolate Chunk Cookie Recipe

As I left my office last night, this sight provided me just the inspiration I needed. Instead of waiting in line at Buttercup Bake Shop, I wanted to bake my valentine a homemade treat.

I rushed home to make my Valentine his favorite dessert, homemade chocolate chip cookies. While we decided this year was going to be casual, I still wanted to surprise him. Instead of making traditional Toll House chocolate chip cookies, I spent a few minutes looking up recipes online before stumbling upon Epicurious’ recipe.

Luckily, I knew that I had delicious, high end dark chocolate in my pantry which Foodbuzz sent me last week. This chocolate, mixed with some added salt, would make the perfect cookies for Bo’s taste.

He prefers dark chocolate and craves savory treats. My goal was to combine these two tastes into one delicious cookie, inspired by Epicurious’ recipe.

Salted Chocolate Chunk Cookies (Adapted from Epicurious’ 2003 Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe)

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoons salt plus extra teaspoon salt for final sprinkle

1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly

3/4 cups packed light brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 Pure Dark chocolate bars chopped in chunks, ~ 6 ounces

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 375°F. Line 2 large baking sheets with Silpat or wax paper.

Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl.

Beat together butter and sugars in a large bowl with an electric mixer at high speed until pale and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Lightly beat 1 egg with a fork in a small bowl and add 1 3/4 tablespoons of it plus remaining whole egg to butter mixture, beating with mixer until creamy, about 1 minute. Beat in vanilla. Reduce speed to low and mix in flour mixture until just blended, then stir in chocolate chips.

Scoop 1/4 cup batter for each cookie, arranging mounds 3 inches apart, on 2 baking sheets. Flatten mounds into 3-inch rounds using moistened palm of your hand. Form remaining cookies on additional sheets of parchment. Sprinkle each cookie with a dash of additional salt.

Bake, 1 sheet at a time, until golden, 13 to 15 minutes. Transfer cookies to a rack to cool and continue making cookies in same manner using cooled baking sheets.

Makes 9 large cookies.

I highly recommend this recipe for even the most discerning tastes. They were both sweet and savory while still having the wonderful “goo factor” required for the best chocolate chip cookies, in my humble opinion.

Question: What is your favorite type of chocolate chip cookie? Crunchy? Chewy? Dark chocolate? Light?

*Note: I received this chocolate sample free of charge through the Foodbuzz Tastemaker program.

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ashleyd / February 12, 2011

A Beautiful Day of Skiing at Stratton Mountain

We were blessed with a gorgeous day on the mountain yesterday! Everyone, ranging from those who spent their day on the top of the mountain enjoying moguls to me, who enjoyed a half day lesson and then a few afternoon runs on my own.

We were all out of the house by 9am, ready to take advantage of our time on the slopes!

Within minutes we had our rental gear in tow and were ready!

Meet Debbie, my instructor for the morning!

I know my ability and knew that a half day lesson would be better than trying to explore the slopes on my own and fall constantly. I’ve only skied four times in my life and therefore still do not have the form and skills necessary to enjoy a day of skiing.

Debbie was the perfect instructor! She was patient, she had some great insight on my form and skills, and she made me laugh the entire time! One of her goals is to make sure that each student has an "instructional mantra" to remember while they are out on the slopes on their own.

Even though I was limited to the lower slopes such as Tamarack, Daniel Webster, and Webster’s Way, I had a great time and perfected my form.

My mantra, by the end of the day, was "Butt, Core, Smile"

If I make sure to keep my butt lifted, core engaged, and smiling the run is 100% better! I mean really, as she said, it’s not like there is a toilet to sit down on when you’re skiing. The improved which she taught me yesterday meant that I’m barely sore today. A HUGE DIFFERENCE FROM LAST YEAR!

We took a quick lunch break to toast to a wonderful day on the slopes. Nothing tastes better than a cold beer mid-day!

I spent the rest of the afternoon tending to my favorite skier. Unfortunately, he tweaked his knee on the moguls on his last run of the morning.

But, I still had time for an hour and a half on my own. It was so much fun, especially since I didn’t fall at all which meant I was nice and dry all day!

Next up, making dinner for 17 people and pleasing everyone!

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ashleyd / February 11, 2011

Rise and Shine Vermont

Rise and shine from snowy Vermont!

Everyone arrived safely last night during a two hour period. Within minutes of arriving, the wine and beer bottles were quickly opened. Three bottles of wine and a case of beer later, we all slept very well!

The views are gorgeous this morning but we’re a little scared of the snow and cold!

The bloggers are in action this morning in our breakfast nook as everyone else makes breakfast. This morning is fend for yourself morning using the bagels, bread, granola, Puffins, yogurt, and fruit we all brought!