Chocolate Covered Butter Cookies Recipe

Basic Butter Cookies (Double  Dough Batch):

2 cups softened butter (I use salted, if you use unsalted add a 1/2 tsp of salt to recipe)

1 1/3 cup of granulated sugar 

3  lg. egg yolks

2 tsp vanilla extract

4 3/4 cups flour

1. Preheat oven to [...]]]> Here the basic butter cookie is elevated to a luxurious treat, by sathering it with chocolate.

Chocolate Covered Butter Cookies Recipe

Basic Butter Cookies (Double  Dough Batch):

2 cups softened butter (I use salted, if you use unsalted add a 1/2 tsp of salt to recipe)

1 1/3 cup of granulated sugar 

3  lg. egg yolks

2 tsp vanilla extract

4 3/4 cups flour

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

2. Cream butter & sugar (and salt if needed) at high speed.  (Use a large bowl this is a double batch of dough)

3. Add vanilla and yolks. Beat til smooth.

4. Turn mixer down to slow speed and slowly add flour, just til mixed in.

5. Separate dough into 2 or 3 manageable sized balls, for rolling out.

6. Lightly flour your counter and roll out dough  to about 1/4″ and cut your shapes.

7.  Place on Parchment lined baking sheet, and bake for approximately 12-13  minutes.  (if you don’t use parchment cookies will cook a minute or 2 faster).

8. Let cookies rest a couple minutes, before removing from baking sheet, to avoid breakage.

Chocolate Coating:

The chocolate used on these cookies is basically just a thick ganache.

8 oz. semi sweet baking chocolate squares

2 1/2  tbs of milk

1.  Chop the chocolate into smaller pieces to speed melting.

2. Combine milk and chocolate in microwavesafe dish.

3. Heat chocolate in microwave for 30 seconds, then stir with fork.  Repeat, until the chocolate mixes smoothly (it will still be a little thick).  Add a little milk if you need, but do so sparingly.

4. Let Chocolate sit for a couple minutes, just til not steaming hot.

5. Place cookie flat down on chocolate.  With smaller cookies, twisting while lifting may give you a nice swirled effect.  Larger cookies will probably require the chocolate be spread out with icing spatula or the back of a spoon.  (You can sprinkle nuts or crushed candy cane on at this point if you like).

6.  The cookies will need several hours to “set-up”.  I usually leave them overnight.

The chocolate will not be enough to cover all the cookies, as it is a single batch recipe and the dough is a double recipe.  I usually serve the plain butter cookies along side the chocolate covered ones as shown here, or use half the dough for another cookie style.

1. Stock up [...]]]> The holidays tend to be a rather hectic time for most families.  Many of us will not want to turn to the “easy-out” of fast food or delivery, as often this year, since this can quickly become costly. Conserve your holiday budget, while saving time in the kitchen, with these time saving kitchen tips.

1. Stock up on steam ready frozen vegetables.  They cut down on prep and clean up time.  ( The long string beans are great in stir-fries)

2. Plan for leftovers.  When preparing any meal that saves well, or can be utilized in multiple ways (ie: meatloaf), make extra.  Cook once eat twice.

3. Save time on clean-up.  Line baking sheets with parchment paper.  Not only will clean up be a breeze, but your recipe results will be better as well.  Broiler & grill pans can be lined with foil, to save cleaning time, also.

4. The pressure cooker is your time saving friend. Cooking times are immensely reduced, in pressure cookery.  Newer models have plenty of safety features,  and electric pressure cookers are even available.

5. Post a kitchen measure conversion chart conveniently inside a cabinet door.  It will make doubling or reducing recipe size quick & easy.

This post was written in response to the blogging contest at http://www.twittermoms.com/forum/topics/samsung-blogging-sweepstakes .

Puff pastry and fresh ingredients, make these bite-size pizzas a step above the common fare.

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Puff Pizzettes Recipe:

Frozen Puff Pastry

Grape Tomatoes (sliced thinly)

Fresh basil leaves(sliced into 1/4″ ribbons)

Shaved Parmesan Cheese

2 tbs olive oil

1 clove of garlic (crushed & minced)

salt

Parmesan Puff Christmas Cutouts make a quick, easy and inexpensive filler appetizer for your holiday spread. These also make a great accompaniment to soups and stews.

Parmesan Puff Christmas Cutouts Recipe:

Frozen puff pastry

1 egg yolk

1tbs. water

paprika

grated parmesan cheese

parsley

Recipe: Curry Chicken Skewers with Cilantro Mayonaise

2 large chicken breasts

2 dozen wooden skewers (soaked in water for at least 15 min.)

grape tomatoes

Marinate Ingredients

1/4 cup of olive oil

1 tbs. of curry

1/2 [...]]]> Big flavor, on a small budget, is not hard to achieve, when you spice it up a bit. This simple inexpensive appetizer is packed with taste.

Recipe: Curry Chicken Skewers with Cilantro Mayonaise

2 large chicken breasts

2 dozen wooden skewers (soaked in water for at least 15 min.)

grape tomatoes

Marinate Ingredients

1/4 cup of olive oil

1 tbs. of curry

1/2 tbs. of cilantro ( I use dried)

1 small clove of garlic (crushed & minced)

1 tsp of ginger (crushed & minced)

1 tsp lemon juice

1/4 tsp kosher salt (if substituting table salt, use a little less)

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Slice chicken breasts into thin strips, then cut strips into 1-2 ” long pieces.
3. Mix marinate ingredients in glass bowl.
4. Add chicken, and make sure it is fully covered in marinate. 
5. Skewer chicken  & grape tomatoes.
6. Bake for 10 minutes, make sure oven is fully preheated and flip the skewers at about the 6 minute point.

Cilantro Mayonaise

1/4 cup of mayonaise

1/2 tsp soy sauce

1/2 tsp cilantro

Simply mix and serve aside the skewers.  If you prefer a sweeter mayo, just add a little honey and mix well.