I am a newlywed on a budget, just trying to make healthy and inexpensive meals for my husband and I to enjoy. He eats a lot, so cost is a big factor. Though I work 3 jobs, I manage to find time 6 nights a week to cook a full dinner for us both. I am constantly looking for new recipes that are moderately healthy, taste great, and won't break the bank.

On the side, I also own a brownie business called Gersheybars. My passion and love for cooking started when I was just a small child, baking with my mom and grandmother. The brownie recipe has been passed down through 5 generations and I am thrilled to finally have an outlet to share them with everybody else. Friends and family have helped spread the word and made my business as successful as it is today.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Oreo stuffed chocolate chip cookies

Wow.  Someone sent me this recipe and how could I resist?!  Oreo?  Chocolate chip cookies?  Together?  Sign me up!  They were SO easy to make.  I made them while Lily napped and only had about 45 min to prep, mix, bake and taste test one.  They are quite rich, as it's 3 cookies in 1 (1 Oreo, and 2 choc chip cookies), but they're delicious anyway.  Grab a glass of milk, a cold Diet Coke, or whatever your beverage of choice is.  You'll need something to wash these down with.


Original recipe from Bon Appetit.


Ingredients

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) softened butter
  • 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 3 1/2 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 package Double Stuff Oreo cookies

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Cream butter and sugars together with a mixer until well combined.  Beat in eggs and vanilla.
  3. In a separate bowl mix the flour, salt and baking soda.  Slowly add to wet ingredients along with chocolate chips until just combined.
  4. Using a cookie scoop take one scoop of cookie dough and place on top of an Oreo Cookie.  Take another scoop of dough and place on bottom of Oreo cookie.  Seal edges together by pressing and cupping in hand until Oreo cookie is enclosed with dough.  Place onto a parchment or silpat lined baking sheet and bake cookies 9-13 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool for 5 minutes before transferring to cooling rack.


Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Swanson Turkey Chili

I can't take credit for this recipe, as it's actually from Swanson, but it's simple and delicious, so I had to post it!  With just a few canned ingredients and fresh ground turkey, you can make chili in less than an hour.  The only changes I made were to add a can of diced tomatoes (drained), and some spicy sausage, but only because I had some leftover and didn't know what else to use it for.  



Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 pound ground turkey
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves, crushed
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 3/4 cups low sodium chicken broth 
  • 1 cup Thick & Chunky Salsa
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 (16 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
  • my addition: 1 can diced tomatoes, drained


Directions


  1. Heat the oil in a 4-quart saucepot over medium-high heat. Add the turkey, onion, chili powder, cumin, oregano, black pepper and garlic powder. Cook until the turkey is well browned, stirring often.
  2. Stir the broth, salsa, sugar, beans, corn and diced tomatoes in the saucepot and heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer 30-45 minutes until thick.