Skillet Cookie

It's Thursday, which mean it's almost Friday! Here are some pictures of my execution on Heidi's whole wheat chocolate chip skillet cookie. After yet another successful recipe from her blog I trust her taste more than ever. Some healthy recipes fall short on satisfaction but hers don't suffer that downfall. I will say this is a very heavy dessert. You don't need that much, the whole wheat flour makes for a much more filling cookie. We ate it over a couple days chunk by chunk. I bought ice cream to go with it, but actually preferred the cookie on its own.

I had two Lindt dark chocolate bars left over from making Christmas cookies last year (!) and finally remembered to use them. The recipe calls for bittersweet, but I wanted to get these bars off my hands. Really, you could use whatever you prefer and I'm sure it will be good.

Here's a look at the crusty edge, it wasn't much of a looker as a whole but I think the edges tell you what you need to know.

Broccoli Cheddar Soup's Big Sister

Hello, Tuesday. I feel like you snuck up on me prematurely as it was still dark when my alarm went off, which did not help the daily denial period I snooze through convincing myself ten more minutes is all I need. Can't wait to fall back so I have a little more light to get me going in the morning. Here are some pictures I took while making Heidi's Broccoli Cheddar Soup with mustard croutons when I was home sick the weekend before last. I left work early on Friday and was in bed all weekend and by Sunday I couldn't take it anymore--I had to do something productive. Being sick, I was in a soup mood and craving something homey and comforting. 

I went to store to get the ingredients but, disappointingly, they did not have creme fraiche. I was too tired to think much about it so I got everything else and moved on. As it turns out, I did not miss it. This soup is very filling and flavorful and with the aged cheddar it doesn't really need cream. And the mustardy croutons are seriously tasty. I never would have thought to flavor croutons with mustard, but if you're not a soup person, top a salad with some of  these suckers and you won't look back. Pinky promise. I will probably make these again next time I have left over bread from a loaf, I even bought a new jar of whole grain mustard at the grocery store yesterday. I'm that serious.

Purple Pancackes

I made these pancakes one morning after I woke up wondering how to use up some blueberries and blackberries that were about to over-ripen. I went a little crazy at the grocery store and ended up with much more than we eat in a week so I had about a cup of blueberries and a generous half cup of blackberries.

You know what I wonder: Why did neither of these berries end up being called "purple berries" when they both bleed purple? Blueberries, you pass because you are at least blue on the outside. But blackberries, what's up with that?!

I started by mashing the blackberries with a masher thing (I'm a professional, you know) and then put together the pancake mix according to an old soiled-but-loved copy of Better Homes "New Cook Book." I followed the whole wheat version, because whole wheat totally cancels out syrup. That's a fact. After the batter was prepared I folded in the mushed blackberries and then tossed in the blueberries. And I must say, it looked like go-gurt-- probably edible, possibly radioactive. It was the sickly artificial kind of color kids go nuts for these days. Luckily, cooking made them much more attractive. And edible, which is also important.

Is it Friday yet?

Hello! I had not realized quite how long it had been since I blogged. As I shared before, I had a big job and it was taking up the better part of my mind/worries (well, it still is). After the job, which was the Sunday before last, I was feeling exhausted and decided to lay off blogging for a week to recoup. Well, that sort of bled into this week and I realized it's almost pay day and I have yet to blog or create anything! Perhaps it's stress or the early disappearance of the sun, but I have been much more inclined to curl up on the couch with a blanket rather than spend additional time at the computer. I could also blame all the new fall shows, but I won't be petty.

I know it happens basically the same way every year, but every time fall rears its head I swear it's not due. I have not had enough sunshine, swimming or warm nights. I have not had the perfect nectarine. It's just not right. Well, I declare it's time to embrace what fall has to offer rather than blame it for ruining my beloved summer. Plus, fall means my birthday is right around the corner and who doesn't love celebrating numero uno?  I already decided where I will have my official birthday dinner. Today's first picture is actually the ceiling of the restaurant from my first visit in August. It was obviously delicious because I decided far in advance that it will be the first stop of the train that will be my birthday weekend (insert train sound here!) And here's a picture I just came across while organizing, just to make things even.