Football friday #20 – Divisional Playoff weekend – oatmeal chocolate chip cookies

Not sure if you have heard, but we have a little game set for Orchard Park, NY Sunday night – Bills – Ravens.  Last game of the weekend.  I am excited.  Should be a good one! 

To celebrate, I am bringing in oatmeal chocolate chip cookies for football friday.  These are very easy to make.  Instead of butter or crisco, these use vegetable oil (i am sure another oil would be fine too). 

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  I recommend chilling the individual doughs for a few hours before baking to help them stay puffy.  And preheat your oven before baking.

  • Ingredients list
  • 2 1/2 cups oats (i used instant)
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tbs vanilla
  • 1 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips

Directions – in a bowl, blend oats and dry ingredients.  Mix in oil, eggs and vanilla.  Fold in chips.  You may need to mix the dough with your hands to help it come together.  Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough.  Chill a few hours.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or nonstick baking liners.  Bake 10 to 11 minutes, no longer.  Cool completely.   Store in covered container.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  Remember to be kind!  Go Bills!

Victory Monday NFL Wildcard weekend treats # 1 – large puffy chocolate chip cookies

Not one, not two, but three victory Monday treats for the Bills win over the Broncos.  My best friend from college and her daughters (my goddaughters) came down for lunch and watched the game with Rob and I.  I have to day i was fairly well behaved.  My swearing was kept to a minimum.   So this treat – large puffy chocolate chip cookies.

I recently discovered something.  The type of flour used in baked goods can make a huge difference.  I usually any  store brand.  I read some flours can make a difference, so I bought a huge bag from BJs of King Arthur Flour. And let me tell you, it made a difference.  Nice puffy cookies.

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  I also recommend chilling the individual mounds of dough for a few hours.  I did not chill these though.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup butter
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 3 1/4 cups flour
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 2 cups mini chocolate chips

Directions – in a pan, over low-medium heat, brown butter, stirring occasionally.  Cool 5 minutes.  In a bowl, cream butter, sugar and brown sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Stir in dry ingredients, then chips.  Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough.  Chill a few hours.  Line a cookie sheet with nonstick baking liners.   Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Stagger cookies on sheet.  Cook 9 to 10 minutes, no longer.  Cool completely.  Store in covered container. 

Chocolate Chip cookie-Oreo-Brownie “cake”

Stepping up my treat game this holiday season.  A chocolate chip cookie crust, a layer of oreo and topped with brownies.  Not sure what to call it!

  • Chocolate chip cookie crust
  • 10 tbs butter, softened
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 3/4 cups flour (scooped from flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount)
  • 1 cup chocolate chips

Directions – preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a 9 inch cake pan with tin foil and spray with baking spray.   in a bowl, cream butter, sugar and brown sugar.  Add egg and vanilla.  Blend in flour and baking powder.  Mix in chips. Press into bottom and partway up sides of prepared pan.

Top with a layer of  Oreos!

  • Brownie ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup baking cocoa
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 3/4 cup flour (scooped from flour bag into measuring cup so you get the right amount)

Directions – in a bowl, combine butter and sugar.  Blend in cocoa, eggs, vanilla, salt and baking powder. Fold in flour.  Evenly spread over oreo layer. 

Bake 20 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center basically comes out clean. 

Remove from oven and sprinkle with chocolate chips (i used milk chocolate)..  Gently press into top brownie layer. 

Cool completely.   Store in covered container.

football friday week 14- Easy Monster cookies stuffed with Reese’s pumpkins

Monster cookies stuffed with Reese’s pumpkins

I can NOT believe it is week 14 already!  Wow.  Football season goes so fast.  One day it’s the preseason opener and in no time at all, the regular season is almost over.   I needed something quick, so I used the Betty Crocker monster cookies recipe and stuffed them with Reese’s pumpkins.  Another day I will post a complete homemade version. 

I am glad the Bills night games are done.  Those are a killer to stay up for and get up early the next morning!  But last week, with Josh’s hat trick of touchdowns (throwing, running and receiving), it was worth it.

These are easy.  I do chill the dough to keep them from spreading too much.  Remember to preheat your oven  before baking

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 peanut butter cookie mix
  • 1 chocolate chip cookie mix
  • 11/2 cups oats (old fashioned or instant)
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups m&ms
  • 1 cup milk chocolate chips
  • Peanut butter cups

Directions- In a bowl, combine cookies mixes and oats.  Blend in butter and eggs (I used a gand mixer).   Fold in chips and m&ms.  Scoop out 2 tbs dough and evenly form around Reese’s pumpkins.   Chill a few hours.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees.   Line a cookie sheet with nonstick baking liners.  Stagger cookies on sheet.  Bake 10 to 12 minutes (no longer).  Cool completely.   Store in covered container. 

Thank you for stopping by!

Frosted chocolate chip cake bars (week 2 victory treat part 2)

For part 2 of the week 2 Bills victory treats, I present frosted chocolate chip cake bars.  You can use any flavor cake mix (I used French vanilla), any kind of chips (I used traditional semisweet), and any kind of frosting (I used vanilla).

  • Bars ingredients list
  • 1 cake mix
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup chocolate chips
  • Extra chocolate chips

Directions – preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a 9×13 pan with parchment paper.  Set aside.  In a bowl, combine cake mix, oil, eggs, and vanilla.  Mix in 1 cup chocolate chips.   You may want to wet your hands for this next part – gently, evenly press dough into prepared pan. Sprinkle extra chips on tip.   Bake 15 to 18 minutes (toothpick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs).  Cool completely.

  • Frosting ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 4 cups powdered sugar (scooped from powdered sugar container into cup)
  • Milk or heavy cream

Directions – in a bowl, cream butter and vanilla.  Blend in powdered sugar and enough milk or heavy cream to get the consistency you want.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a wonderful day!  Go Bills!

A classic cookie for a classic NFL rivalry (Go Bills)

Week 2 of the NFL season kicks off tomorrow with my beloved Bills taking on the Dolphins.   The rivalry has so many great memories and moments- from us finally beating the Dolphins in 1980 (ending the 0 for the 1970s) to  Jim Kelly’s late touchdown run in Miami in 1989 to Josh and the current Bills matchups against the Dolphins.  Such a classic rivalry deserves a classic cookie, so I went with one of the chocolate chip cookies in my collection.  These use part browned butter and cold butter cut into small cubes, as well as a tsp of active yeast.  I recommend chilling or freezing individual doughs for a few hours to keep from spreading.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1/2 cup butter, browned
  • 1/4 cup butter, cold and cut into small cubes
  • 2 1/4 cups flour
  • 3/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp active dry yeast
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup chocolate chips

To brown butter, place in a pan and heat over low to medium heat until you see brown specs in bottom.  This may take 10 minutes or so.  Let cool 10 minutes.

Directions – in a bowl, combine flour, baking soda and yeast.  Cut in butter.  In a separate bowl, combine browned butter, sugar and brown sugar.  Mix in egg and vanilla.  Add flour mixture.  Stir in chips.  Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough and form tall mounds.  Chill or freeze for a few hours.  Preheat oven to 375.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on sheet.  Bake 11 to 13 min, no longer.  Cool.  Pop in fridge for a few hours to firm up, if they are a little gushy.  Store in covered container. 

Go Bills!

Week 1 victory treats #1 – chocolate chip cookies

Not a great start for the Bills in the season opener – down at home to the Cardinals 17-3 in the 2nd quarter!   Thankfully, we put it together and pulled out a win, including another Josh leap over a defender play (this one ended in  a td).  Stress inducing for sure, and plenty for the team to clean up before facing the Dolphins Thursday night, but glad to start the season 1-0.

To celebrate, Rob asked for chocolate chip cookies for one of the treats.   I am making two for work tomorrow bc everyone will be in Bristol for the week.  It’s always nice to see old friends on campus, share some hugs, and laughs.

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  I also recommend freezing the individual doughs for 30 min to an hour to avoid too much spreading.

Ingredients list –

  • 1 cup butter, melted and cooled 10 minutes
  • 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
  • 1/2 sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup, honey or corn syrup
  • 3 3/4 cups flour (scooped from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount)
  • 2 tsp cornstarch
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 cups chocolate chips

Directions – in a bowl, combine melted butter, brown sugar and sugar.  Add eggs.  Stir in vanilla and maple syrup/honey/corn syrup.  Blend in dry ingredients.  Fold in chips.  Scoop put 1/4 cups of dough.  Freeze 30 min to an hour.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on a sheet.  Bake 11 to 13 minutes, no longer.   They will be a little doughy on top. Cool completley.  Store in fridge a few hours to firm up.  Store in covered container.

Thanks for stopping by today!  Go Bills!  Squish the Fish!

Does oatmeal make these chocolate chip cookies healthy?

Confession – These are huge cookies because I got a late start and used my quarter cup scoop to make the baking process go faster.  I also didn’t have a chance to chill the dough.  So I cut them in half after they cooled down and brought them into work. 

Does oatmeal make them healthier? 😉

  • Ingredients list
  • 2 1/2 cups quick oats
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup chocolate chips

Directions – in a bowl, combine dry ingredients.  Mix in vegetable oil, eggs and vanilla.   Fold in chips.  Scoop out quarter cups of dough.  I recommend chilling the dough for a few hours.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies in a row of 2, one, two and one, as seen below.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes.  Bottoms will be browned.  Tops may be gushy, but let the cookies cool and pop them in the fridge to firm up. 

Store in covered container.  Thanks for stopping by today.  Hope you have a wonderful day.  Remember to be kind.  Everyone is fighting some sort of battle.

Chocolate chip cookie bars for Sara’s sweet 16

Tomorrow is my goddaughter Sara’s sweet 16 birthday party.  When I asked her what I could bring, she asked for these.  Very simple to make.   I can’t believe she is 16 already.  Seems like yesterday, I met and held her for the first time.  Time goes by too fast!

  • Ingredients list
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed into a measuring cup
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 1/2 cups flour, scooped from the flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the correct amount
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 cups chocolate chips

Directions – preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Line a 9×13 pan with tin foil and spray with baking spray.   Set aside.  In a bowl, cream butter, shortening, sugar and brown sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Fold in dry ingredients.   Mix in 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips.  Evenly spread in prepared pan.  Evenly sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup chocolate chips.  Gently press down on top of dough.  Bake  17 to 20 minutes (edges will be golden).  Cool completely.   Store in covered container. 

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I wish you a day of joy, peace and happiness.   If you make these, let me know how they turn out. 

Another chocolate chip cookie recipe (this one with condensed milk)

It’s 90 and humid out, so why not turn on the oven and bake cookies?  These are another chocolate chip cookie recipe.  I made them with condensed milk, an ingredient  I have seen used in various brownie recipes.  so i tried it here!   I froze the individual cookie doughs before baking bc I was hoping it would help avoid having them spread.  It did.  These are pretty big and perhaps a little gushy.   I will pop them in the fridge to help them firm up.

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  I recommend chilling the individual doughs for a few hours at least.  And as always, preheat your oven before baking.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 1/2 cups butter, melted
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup condensed milk (almost all of a 14 oz can)
  • 4 1/3 cups flour
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 2 cups chocolate chips

Directions – in a bowl, combine butter, sugar and brown sugar.  Blend in condensed milk.  Slowly fold in dry ingredients.  Mix in chips.  Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough.  Chill or freeze a few hours.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger chilled/frozen cookie doughs on prepared sheet like below.. 

Bake 10 minutes, no longer.  Tops will be gushy,  but bottoms will be browned.   Cool completely.  Chill to firm up if you want.  store in covered container.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I wish you a day of joy and peace.