Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies with Secret Ingredient

I realized last week that I had not made chocolate chip cookies for my blog.  I don't know how I have gone this long without making them.  I add a special ingredient to my batter that I will be sharing with you today.

You can't go wrong with a good homemade chocolate chip cookie.

 This is the recipe that is on the back of the chocolate chips bag.

 Start with 2 sticks softened butter and 3/4 cup sugar

 3/4 cup brown sugar

 Mix well.

 2 eggs

 1 teaspoon baking soda

 1 teaspoon salt

 1 teaspoon vanilla

 This is the special ingredient.  A 3 oz package of instant vanilla pudding mix.  Add the powder to the dough.

 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

 2 cups chocolate chips.  You can add a cup of chopped nuts if you like too.

 Scoop out on a parchment lined cookie sheet.  Place in a preheated 375 oven for 9-11 minutes

You know you have to sample one while they are still warm.  Nothing like a warm fresh cookie.

Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

1 cup softened butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup sugar
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
2 cups chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375.  Bake for 9-11 minutes.

Creamy Cajun Shrimp Fettuccini

I am really enjoying have that bag of frozen shrimp in my freezer.  They thaw in just a few minutes and they have already been shelled.  The only bad thing is you do have to clean them out, if you know what I mean.  But they are easy, quick and good.  So if you have been thinking about buying some go ahead.  You can use them for lots of things.  This is another one of those less than 30 minute meals.  The thing that takes the longest is cooking the noodles.

I love these bowls for pasta.  It gives you a nice side to twirl the pasta on.  They aren't just for Valentine's Day.

 I have started keeping a small thing of heavy cream in my fridge.  It usually has a pretty good date on them.  You would be surprised at the recipes that calls for just a little bit of heavy cream.  I might end up having to throw some away that doesn't get used before it expires but it is worth it to have it on hand to make a recipe like this one.

 In a zip lock bag add 1 Tablespoon of Cajun seasoning

 Add the shrimp and shake until they are coated.

 Then in a skillet melt 1 Tablespoons butter.

 While you are waiting on the butter to melt and the shrimp to cook, measure out the other ingredients.  1 cup heavy cream.

 1 cup grated fresh parmesan cheese

 1/4 cup chicken broth

 The shrimp are cooking.  Cook them a couple of minutes on one side

 Then turn them and cook a couple of minutes on the other side.

 Cook you pasta per the pkg directions.

 Remove the shrimp and deglaze the skillet with 1/4 cup chicken broth.

 Stir around and remove the good little bits on bottom.

 Add the cup of heavy cream

 The cheese

 1/2 Tablespoon cajun seasoning.

 Stir, stir, stir

 Until it begins to thicken.

 After you drain your pasta, put it back in the pot and add the sauce.  Stir around

 Add the shrimp

Then dish up and add some additional Parmesan cheese on top.

Creamy Cajun Shrimp Fettuccini Recipe
pasta
1 Tablespoon butter
1 lb shrimp
1 Tablespoon Cajun seasoning
2 cloves garlic
1/4 cup chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup grated fresh Parmesan cheese
1/2 T Cajun seasoning

National Carrot and National Sweet Potato Day

I found out this morning that it was both National Carrot and National Sweet Potato Day.  So I decided I would share some of my favorite recipes using these two vegetables.  They are two of my favorite and they are easy to prepare. So celebrate their day.

One Layer Carrot Cake

Ridiculously Easy Roasted Carrots

Creamy Cheesy Carrot Casserole

Julia Child Glazed Carrots

Sweet Potato Casserole

Roasted Brussel Sprouts and Sweet Potatoes

Cinnamon Honey Sweet Potatoes

Baked Sweet Potatoes

Busy Day Pork Chops

The new Taste of Home Simple and Delicious came the other day and there were a couple of recipes that looked pretty good, including this one.  I have made parmesan pork chops before but this recipe was a little different.  It turned out really well.  So give it a try.

I know this plate looks like fall but it really isn't.  Sweet potatoes are good any time and the perfect partner with pork chops.

I had plain bread crumbs but you could use flavored ones.

Measure out 1/4 cup milk

In a bowl add 1/4 cup bread crumbs

They were suppose to be seasoned so I added a little Italian seasoning to the crumbs.

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.  This is one of those times that the green can comes in handy.

Salt and pepper the pork chops, probably should have waited until after I put them in the milk.

Dip them in the milk.

Then in the bread crumbs.  Make sure the sides are coated well too.

Place on a sprayed baking sheet.

Lightly spray the tops with cooking spray.  Then place in a 375 preheated oven.

After 10 minutes take them out and turn them over.  Place back in the oven.

After another 10 minutes more.

Then serve.

Busy Day Pork Chops Recipe

1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
4 boneless pork chops
cooking spray
Preheat oven to 375.  Bake for 10 minutes then turn and bake for 10 more minutes.