"Dying for Chocolate" Cookies

Today I couldn't sleep.  At noon I gave up and decided to make cookies.  For some reason I decided to make Pudding Cookies, even thought I didn't really like them.  But this time I only had chocolate pudding, and almond extract.  They turned out really well.  I just need to come up with a name for them, now.

Update: Cupcake gave me the idea of DDD or DD's Death because one of the company men said I was killing them.  Since it wasn't a DD that said it, I updated it a little.

PS  Right after I took this picture I accidentally moved the spoon.  And one of the cookies fell in.  It immediately turned to mush, but it was tasty mush.

"Dying for Chocolate" Cookies

1 c Butter

1 c Sugar

1 T Molasses

2 med Eggs

1 1/2 t Almond Extract

1/2 c Raspberry Jam

2 c Flour

1 t Baking Soda

1 sm pkg Chocolate Pudding

1 c Chocolate Chips

Mix the butter, sugar and molasses.  Wisk together the eggs, almond extract and jam.  Add to sugar mixture.  Add the flour, pudding mix, and baking soda and mix well.  Fold in the chocolate chips.  (I did this all by hand, so I didn't cream the butter.)  Drop by rounded teaspoon onto a greased cookie pan.  Bake at 375 for 12 minutes.  Remove from the oven soft, and let rest on the pan for 5 minutes.  Move to wire rack to finish cooling. 

So far these have been well recieved.  The DD told me they were "incredible" and one company man told me I was killing them.  At least they'll die happy, of chocolate overdose.

PS These are FAR better then the other Pudding Cookies

Tuna Salad

I grew up thinking that tuna salad was tuna, mayo and pickles.  While that combination is passable, I never really liked it.  I discovered, while in school, that tuna can be the garnish to an amazing salad.  Also I'm not the biggest fan of mayonnaise.  Every time I make it it turns out a bit differently, but it is exciting to be able to experiment and almost always end up with a good dip or sandwich.

I like adding fruit for just a hint of sweetness.  And I have tried just about anything to substitute for mayonnaise.  Last night I discovered a solution.  Most of the time I've had to use just a little to keep the salad together, and used mustard for the rest of the dressing.  I found that Laughing Cow Cheese is perfect, no mayo required.

So, whenever I get a craving for some tuna I grab my chopper and anything I have in the fridge.

Tuna Salad

1 can or packet of Tuna

2 wedges of Laughing Cow spreadable cheese (I used original swiss)

Any or all of the following

Pickle

Carrots

Celery

Tomato

Avocado

Cucumber

Red or Green Pepper

Mushrooms

Green Onion

Corn

Apple

Strawberry

Grapes

Plum (The best tuna salad I made was with a plum.)

Chop the fruit and veggies into small pieces.  (The smaller they are the easier they are to dip, or spread on crackers)  Mix into the tuna and cheese with a fork.

Serve with:
Crackers
Pretzels
Bread
Over spinach or lettuce.

Almost Orange Julius

I don't get it very often, but every time I go to the mall and stop at Orange Julius I wonder why I don't stop there more.  It makes me think of school shopping trips to the outlet malls.  Lots of people, lots of walking, and lots of sun. 

I was really excited when I found a recipe for it.  But somehow I never got around to trying it.  When I found this super easy recipe for a close substitute in Sugar Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke, I tried it right away.  And it's pretty good, for a fake. 

Fake Orange Julius

6 c Orange Juice
1 sm. pkg Vanilla Pudding (makes 2 cups)
1 pkg Dream Whip (makes 2 cups)

In a blender combine 3 cups orange juice, the pudding mix and the dream whip.  Blend it well.  Pour into a pitcher.  Add the final 3 cups of orange juice and stir well.  Serve over ice. 

This could also be blended with ice for a slushy, combined with vodka for a screwdriver, or just plain.  So far I've had it plain, but it's good enough that I'll keep making it.  Maybe some day I'll try some other combinations. 

Yummy! Peach Cobbler

I just read another book by Joanne Fluke.  She writes some funny murder mysteries, but the best part is the recipes.  And the majority of them are baked goods!  This one was called Peach Cobbler Murder, so naturally I had to try the peach cobbler. 

It turned out pretty amazing.

Peach Cobbler

Peaches

10 c Frozen Sliced Peaches (about 2 1/2 lbs)

2 T Lemon Juice

1 1/2 c Sugar

1/4 t Salt

3/4 c Flour

1/2 t Cinnamon

1/2 c Butter, melted

Let peaches thaw for about 10 minutes.  Mix flour, sugar, salt and cinnamon and toss with peaches.  Spread into greased 9x13 cake pan.  Sprinkle any extra flour mixture over the top. 

Melt the butter and drizzle it over the peaches, then cover with foil.

Bake for 40 minutes at 350 deg.

Topping

1 c Flour

1 c Sugar

1 1/2 t Baking Powder

1/4 t Cinnamon

1/2 t Salt

1/4 c Butter, softened

2 Eggs, beaten

Mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.  Cut in the butter.  Add eggs and mix.

Drop spoonfuls over the peaches. (It doesn't have to be smooth or completely cover the fruit.  It will grow as it bakes)

Bake for 50 minutes at 350 deg.*

*I started checking mine at about 30 minutes, and at 40 it was perfect.

Serve hot with ice cream, cold with whipped cream, or however YOU like it!