Monday, May 23, 2011

Strawberry Chocolate Chip Cookies

Why did I not think of this before? My favorite fruit combined with everyone's most commonly made, favorite cookie. It's almost like it's heathy right? Extremely wrong. Without a doubt, I'm sure you could easily gain a pound with all the butter and sugar in this recipe. BUT, if you have just one, I know you'll be just fine. In fact, I was more than just fine.



This has to be my favorite, simple cookie recipe in quite some time. I finally found THE chocolate chip cookie recipe I will forever use. It's own secret (which really isn't a secret...) is BROWNED BUTTER. Please, don't make another chocolate chip cookie without browning your butter. I can't tell you the difference it makes. I made one with brown butter and one without, and the contrast was incomparable. Back to the strawberries: they don't dry out and turn to mush in the oven. Rest assured, they stay in one piece, hold their form, and stay juicy, even after 10 minutes of heat.

Strawberry (Brown Butter!) Chocolate Chip Cookies
Makes 2 dozen cookies

1 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 cup whole wheat flour (or all purpose)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups cut fresh strawberries

Instructions: In a saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the butter. Once melted, continue to cook until it turns golden brown. Swirl the pan occasionally if needed so that it browns evenly. Watch it fairly closely, as it can go from brown to burned quickly. When the color has turned golden, small flecks speckle the butter, and it has a nutty aroma, remove from heat and poor into your mixing bowl.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees and line a sheet pan with parchment paper or foil.

Beat the brown butter, sugar, and brown sugar until light and creamy and ddd the eggs one at a time, mixing after each. Add the vanilla.

Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl. Add and mix until just combined. Add the chocolate chips and strawberries and mix until incorporated.

At this point, I refrigerate the cookie dough for at least an hour so the dough becomes firm. I made a batch without refrigerating and they turned out just fine, but I could tell the difference.

Spoon by the tablespoon onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving 2 inches in between each cookie. Bake until golden brown, 10-12 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. And done! They do not store for more than two days with the fresh strawberries.

Eliminate the strawberries, and they are still amazing.
I brought them to my church BBQ and didn't see them after Tobi set them down.
Mmm..

Saturday, May 21, 2011

In light of recent events..

My love got his green card and social security number all within the last week. I can't even fathom that all the paperwork is over. So, in of all this, and my favorite color...

green tea macaroons,

a green house,

cute green coffee sleeve
and,

terrarium's that are...
GREEN!

Saturday, May 14, 2011

owl love you


WELL, if this isn't the cutest thing you've ever seen! Who wants to own an owl with me?

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Let there be light..

SUNSHINE. It took only 3/4's of the day to actually come out, but its out. On the mornings I get to sleep in, I dream that I'll wake up with a sun filled room. This morning: dark. To fill the void I've began looking at, and sometimes literally saying, "oh wow" to some beautiful, light, open houses. Although I admire a home with lots of bold, rightly placed colors, wood just speaks to me. Oh how I dream of an all white bedroom, with special wood accents. These pictures will do for now..










My jaw dropped to the ground going through the pictures of the house.

WOW. Vacation? I've never considered Montana until now..

Courtesy of Andersson Wise

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Saturday finds

What a beautiful day in San Francisco. I love the Lord's grace in allowing me to live here and drink good coffee just a bike ride away. Here's some stuff I can't stop looking at...

Can't wait to see her designs for Anthropologie in September.

Such a fresh, DIY room divider.

I'm in love with this music. It's so enchanting. She's adorable too.

For the man in my life!

Make this rug with me. I already have a place for it.

Oh dear! I can't help but love this! We want this dog. Don't judge me...

With summer on it's way, and blueberries about to be cheap (finally!)

My favorite wedding dress from J Crews old Collection but it's sold out. so one from their new.
and OH, if Tobi and I had a fourth wedding, I would wear this, B H L D N, one.

Just bought a special card for a special lady from local Hello! Lucky Letterpress.

and lastly, Easter at the Herbst Theatre with my church, Reality SF. Beautiful!


Friday, May 6, 2011

Oh yeah, this blog...

So, what happened for a couple months there with this?

I wish I could say I've been on some adventurous vacation. Or do I? I just read San Francisco is the number three vacation spot in the US. Number three! In all of the United States. Thats solves that.

I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't continue with this until our immigration interview was over. There was no decision made quite yet, but that's okay. We're hopeful and excited.

Right now I can't help but look at my husband sitting next me. He's been through so much this past year and he's still the God fearing, good looking, incredible man I married just 8 short months ago. Bless his patient heart. I couldn't ask for anyone better. Thats for darn sure...

SO... here's to the start of something new. I take comfort that nothings new to God. He knew all along. He loves us so much...