Chocolate Crisps

Sometimes it’s ten o’clock at night and you have the urge to make cookies. What? You don’t? Well, I do. I’m a little crazy like that. (Which explains the dark quality of these photos) Then you head to your pantry to see what delicious cookies you can make. Hmm, no chocolate chips. Okay, how about peanut butter cookies? Nope, two tablespoons of peanut butter won’t make very satisfying cookies. Whoa, I have two whole containers of cocoa powder. We have a winner.

These cookies are super easy to throw together in the middle of the night. It only takes minutes to make the dough. Then you have to stay awake long enough, while the dough chills, to bake off the cookies. Personally, as soon as I sit on my bed at night I fall asleep.

It’s really pathetic. It could be eight o’clock and I’ll pass out while watching America’s Next Top Model. So we’re talking seriously engaging TV and I can’t make it. It will usually go something like this…

Commercial break… “I’ll just close my eyes for a minute, I’m still listening.”

Ten minutes later… “What? Wait, I’m awake! What is Tyra talking about? Who’s fierce?”

Second Commercial break… “Just for a second, it’s just a commercial.”

Twenty minutes later… “Zzzzzz….”

Two o’clock in the morning… “Why is the TV still on? Oh no! The cookies!”

Mashed Potatoes with Blue cheese and Thyme

Okay, so things around the Wilde household are a little crazy at the moment. Let’s see if you can keep up… 1. Boyfriend and I are heading to Europe on Thursday, where we will road trip across the continent. 2. Job hunting season is upon us and I have an interview today. 3. I am trying to finish three projects before I leave for my dream job. I’m tired already. So what to eat for dinner when you have no time to make anything? Mashed Potatoes!

Now listen, I’m well versed in nutrition facts (I also work in the fitness industry as well as the lab), I know that potatoes alone do not make a meal. But when you add cheese, then you have dinner.  No, really. Mashed potatoes are easy. If you want to be really lazy you don’t even have to peel the potatoes before cooking them! I found the extra five minutes to do that, because I am not a fan of potato skin, unless they are drowned in cheddar cheese and bacon.

These mashed potatoes are just yummy. And nothing is more satisfying after a long day of packing, chemistrying and stressing, than a yummy dinner. The hint of thyme and the kick of blue cheese make it hard to stop yourself from eating the entire pot.  Maybe just throw down a V8 also, pretend like you're a healthy eater.



On a side note, while boyfriend and I are in Europe I have to decide whether to post the recipes I have stored away on my computer or to share our European vacation.  If you have a preference let me know!  I would be happy to share our destinations, adventures and eats!

Daring Bakers: Get Creative!

Recently I decided to step outside of my baking comfort zone and joined the Daring Bakers. A group of passionate bakers testing their skills on a series of unusual and tempting desserts. Past challenges have included crafting baked Alaskas, making their own puff pastry and taking on the French macaron. Personally I am very comfortable making cookies, quick breads and muffins. Anything that requires little thought and is tough to screw up. What can I say? I’m busy and muffins are easy!

My first challenge really pushed my skills, not as a baker, but as a decorator. I’ve made sugar cookies for years and years. I remember Christmas break with my mom and brother rolling out dough, stamping out trees, camels and Santas. After a quick trip to the oven our cookies would be ready to decorate. This would usually consist of royal icing, in varying shades of red, blue, yellow and green. Pink candy canes, blue trees and yellow penguins, all very true to reality. What can you expect? I was twelve.

I was hoping that my icing skills had improved over the past fifteen years and that my cookies wouldn’t turn out looking like something a kid had done. With the directions provided by Mandy (from What the Fruitcake?!), I think I came out with a success! The key to these cookies is patience. Set aside the time to allow for good chilling. You don’t want to roll out room temperature dough, it just won’t work. If the cookies are too warm, then they will puff up in the oven and lose their shapes!

So dust off your cookie cutters, buy a few zip-top bags and get baking! Push your comfort level and you might just surprise yourself.