Aaaahhhh, the life. We visited Mast Brothers Chocolate factory this weekend in Williamsburg. It made me happy. And hungry. It’s small but bustling and really good smelling. You should visit.
105A North 3rd Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211
chocolate cookies
This weekend I was on my way to a brunch when realized I didn’t have anything to bring. With an hour to go, I flipped through Nigella Express because it’s full of good, quick recipes. I came to the page for Chocolate Mint Cookies and knew I’d struck gold. Of course, I didn’t have the ingredients on hand for the mint icing (which sounds delicious) but I figured a chocolate cookie is going to be tasty, icing or not.
A quick blend here, another mix there and fold in some nice chunky chocolate chips and they’re ready for the oven. Nigella was right, these are super quick and easy to make.
I pulled then out of the oven and they were lovely. I always get nervous when I’m baking cookies because I never know if they’re going to spread and turn ugly. I know that has to do with the butter, but does anyone have a concrete answer on why that happens? Anywho, I digress. The cookies smelled spectacular and were perfectly round. I took a bite and immediatly wanted a glass of milk. They are dense and super rich, which is a good thing in my book. Because of both those qualities, they are perfect for dunking. So, in an hour I had whipped up a batch of tasty and pretty cookies, packaged them up and walked out the door to my brunch. Success!
Chocolate Cookies
from Nigella Express | makes 24
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) soft butter
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup flour
1/3 cup cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips
preheat oven to 350°
1
Cream the sugar and butter, then beat in the egg and vanilla.
2
Mix the flour, cocoa, and baking powder in a bowl and gradually beat into the creamed mixture.
3
Fold in the chips.
4
Using a rounded Tablespoon scoop, scoop out dough and place on Silpat or baking parchment, leaving a little space in between them.
5
Bake for 10-12 minutes and then let then sit on the baking sheet for a couple minutes. Then move them to cooling racks.
6
Pour yourself a glass of milk and take a bite!
Cream the sugar and butter, then beat in the egg and vanilla.
2
Mix the flour, cocoa, and baking powder in a bowl and gradually beat into the creamed mixture.
3
Fold in the chips.
4
Using a rounded Tablespoon scoop, scoop out dough and place on Silpat or baking parchment, leaving a little space in between them.
5
Bake for 10-12 minutes and then let then sit on the baking sheet for a couple minutes. Then move them to cooling racks.
6
Pour yourself a glass of milk and take a bite!
tomatoes & peppers: week 1
A while ago I got ambitious and ordered some tomato and pepper seeds from tomato bobs. I’ve wanted to try my hand at gardening for some time now, but I’ve held back due to the fact that I have zero greenspace. I do however, have roof access and a fire escape, so I thought I’d gardening a try in pots. I found this handy little seed starter thing at a local garden shop and it seemed perfect.
All you do is add water to the little dirt pellets and they start to magically expand. After they’re about an inch tall, you just open the netting and put the seeds in them. I planted 3 rows of different tomatoes and 2 hot pepper varieties.
I put the lid on them and placed them in a warm place. My fingers are crossed and now I’ll just wait to see if they’ll sprout. I’ll be real sad if they don’t sprout.