If one of your New Year's resolutions was to eliminate sweets, my sincere apologies, best you forget this post ever happened. :) I've spent the last month attempting to perfect recipes for oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and homemade hot chocolate {an entirely different beverage than hot cocoa}. Why? Uh, no reason other than to squelch my ongoing and unrelenting chocolate cravings. I narrowed the cookie recipes down to two favorites: a Martha recipe and my Mum's. I enlisted a panel of willing taste testers and the winning cookie went to my Mum's recipe. But it was a close vote. {the deciding voter was the illustrious Matt McClish. An avid Food TV Network watcher and expert baked goods consumer that happens to be married to one of my best friends and {JOKINGLY} asked for a blog shout out, so he's getting one!}
My Mum's recipe is a bit more complex in flavor and texture. It is amazing with raisins in place of, or in addition to, the chocolate chips. And walnuts or dried cranberries would also be perfect add-ins.
Mum's Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
2 c old fashioned oats
1 3/4 c flour
1 TBS cinnamon
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp kosher salt {1/2 tsp table salt}
2 tsp baking soda
3/4 c butter at room temp
1 cup brown sugar {light or dark}
3/4 c granulated sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips or raisins
1. mix dry ingredients
2. beat butter and sugars till smooth, beat in egg and vanilla
3. mix in dry ingredients, stir in chocolate chips
Bake until lightly golden about 12 minutes {don't over cook or they will be dry}
As for the other chocolate recipe... several weeks ago we ran out of cocoa powder, so I googled recipes for hot chocolate and came across this one. I posted a pic on Instagram with the caption "I never tasted anything quite so divine in a mug." I will never make hot cocoa again. Never. This has become the after-swim-practice beverage of choice for Andrew. It's so good, I'd even serve it as a dessert for guests!. I've had it so often since that I've made a few tweaks that make it even better than the original recipe. Dare I say that?!
Foley House Hot Chocolate
2 cups milk {I like 2% best, but any will work}
2 oz milk chocolate, chopped
2 oz dark chocolate, chopped
1/2 TBS granulated sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
a small pinch of cinnamon {1/8 tsp or so}
a small pinch of sea salt
Garnishes: whipping cream, chocolate shavings, very finely shaved hazelnuts
{makes 4-6 servings depending on how much the milk is frothed}
Remove from heat and add sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, sea salt, and chocolate.
Whisk until melted.
Return to stove, over low heat, use frothing wand for a couple minutes.
You can buy one at Ikea for a few dollars. If you don't have one, it will still be amazing, no worries. Frothing the hot chocolate makes it lighter and creamier at the same time. It helps the chocolate to be completely incorporated so there is none left at the bottom of the mug when you finish. Ladle into cups and top with whipped cream, chocolate shavings and hazel nut shavings if you like.
It's ridiculously good. When I told Andrew I was sharing the recipe on the blog he begged me not to because he said I should keep the recipe to myself and open the world's best hot chocolate stand." Very cute. A tip, the better quality the chocolate, the better the drink will be. When I'm in a hurry I use Ghiradelli milk and bittersweet chocolate chips and they work great. I like to think my short stint during college as a bookstore, coffee shop barista helped me in perfecting this recipe. Ha ha! Maybe it's just my love/obsession with chocolate. Enjoy every last sip {and spoonful}!!
Yum, two to try now.... yours and jenny hobik posted one from the ritz in vail... where we hsppen to be headed in a week , cant wait to have hot chocolate there :) thsnks for sharing!,
ReplyDeletecan't wait to hear about your trip. not the least bit jealous {said VERY sarcastically!!}
DeleteTessa wow those look great and yummy ! Have a great start to the week
ReplyDeleteYum and yum! I had the same thing happen recently - ran out of cocoa and tried making from scratch. Such a different beast and definitely more of an, "Oh my goodness this is fabulous" kind of drink that your average hot cocoa!
ReplyDeleteMmmmmm .... looks yummy.
ReplyDeleteClaudia
I want to come have cookies and hot cocoa at your house! Melaine
ReplyDeleteTessa, It's a good thing you don't live nearby or I'd be knocking on your door every day asking if I could eat at your house! Ha! All of your recipes look absolutely divine! (Not to mention that every recipe I've ever tried of yours is a winner!)
ReplyDeleteOatmeal cookies are my husband's absolute favorite, so I think I'm going to whip up a batch of your mum's recipe. Thanks!
Thanks, Julie! I hope your hubby was happy!! xo
DeleteAny idea how to clean copper pots Tessa.?
ReplyDeleteoh dear, no, I don't. I think I've seen a copper cleaner at the antique mall though. Wonder if you clean it with something similar to a brass cleaner? I have a copper kettle but I've never polished it up!
DeleteLooks delicious! I love oatmeal cookies - thanks for sharing your recipes!
ReplyDeletethat looks so delicious!:D
ReplyDeleteBoth look delish! Yum!
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to write you a note! I read your blog from end to beginning and it's great! I love your decorating style and great posts!
ReplyDeleteThat's dedication! Thank you!! I'm flattered!
DeleteJust had to come back and tell you that I'm craving your hot chocolate this morning! xoxo!
ReplyDeleteI hope u make it! Perfect for a chilly day on your gorgeous farm!! xoxo
DeleteWell I think you've done it!!!! I made your oatmeal cookie recipe and it truly is the best I've ever made...and I've tried alot of them!!!! These are quite wonderful...crispy edges, chewy centers, great taste!!! I enjoy your blog and have made many of the recipes you've shared. Thanks so much:)
ReplyDeletewow! now that's a compliment! :) so happy you found a keeper! i'm already craving them AGAIN! xo
DeleteTessa,
ReplyDeleteI've been following your blog for awhile and love all your recipes but, surprisingly, these cookies are the first one that I've made myself. They were delicious! My husband, who isn't a huge sweets person, can't get enough of them! The only changes I made were adding a bit of nutmeg and I used white and semi-sweet chocolate chips. Delicious! Thanks for this wonderful recipe and I'll be making more of yours soon!
I'm so glad you both enjoyed them!
DeleteThese look so yummy!
ReplyDeleteWelcome to a new Linky Party --Weekend Kitchen Creations at www.weekendkitchencreations.blogspot.com. Please join us, share your delicious creations and get other scrumptious ideas.
The recipes look so yummy!! I can't wait to try them this weekend!! Thanks for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteHi Tessa!
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog...and gotta say I'm hooked! You display my style/ taste exactly, except I haven't brought it to life yet. I'm so excited! We live in CT, sadly very near the now infamous Newtown, in a reproduction Saltbox (it looks historic but was built 15 yrs ago..shhhh.) I am a SAHM too, have a slight Ikea obsession, and recently bought a secretary too. Your house "style" is dead on to what I was looking for. Linen, blue transferware, checks... Now I just need to comb back thru your posts for all the wall/ trim paint colors.....just one question is Bennington gray on all your trim? In the kitchen too? Does it jive with the cabinet color? How about the baths? Ours is currently white,everywhere, and I'm not sure about those spaces. I also love your use of blue and red touches. I love those colors but have a tough time working them in. Although, yes, I bought the $20 blue toile duvet cover from Ikea recently...lol. Keep the posts coming...I have so many questions!
Kristi arabellanicormac@yahoo.com
Hi there!
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog by googling Silestone Lagoon images and your kitchen came up. I LOVE it...it's just darling! It's so nice to see quartz in a traditional kitchen...they are usually done in a more contemporary setting. Anyways, I'm getting ready to remodel my kitchen and I love marble but being pregnant with my FOURTH boy, I don't think that's a practical option! So I just started looking at Silestone's Lagoon and I saw it in their showroom a couple days ago and it's beautiful! How are you liking the countertops? Also, did you do a standard eased edge or pencil? Originally, I was also thinking Cambria Torquay but I would have to have a seam lengthwise down my island (DON"T want that!) and that's when I started looking at Silestone. In your kitchen, did Torquay seem too busy? What made you decide on Lagoon? Would love any input!
Thanks!!!
kellyccurry@aol.com
I made your Mum's oatmeal cookie recipe with dark chocolate chips for my son's classmates on his birthday. They and their parents loved them. I'm linking them to your blog to get the recipe. In my convection oven I reduced the temp to 325 degrees and only baked them for 9-10 minutes. Perfect. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteMarianne
So glad they were such a hit! Thanks for the convection oven tip!!
Deletemissing your posts, hope all is well.
ReplyDeleteSo sweet! We are well. Just verrrrry busy! I have several started but none finished! I'll be back soon. Thanks for checking!! xo
DeleteAs an avid hot chocolate drinker, I'm definitely going to have to give that a try! It looks decadent but soulful all at once. So fun!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your recipes! Going to give both the cookies and the hot chocolate a try this weekend. Even bought a milk frother! Do you bake your cookies on parchment, slipmat or straight on the cookie sheet? Also, do you use unsalted butter or regular as there is a 1 tsp of kosher salt in the ingredients list? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHope both recipes are a hit!! I always use unsalted butter. Unless I'm making PB cookies, then it's salted! ;)
DeleteAnd parchment paper
DeleteMilk frother made all the difference in our hot chocolate! So glad you mentioned this!
ReplyDeleteHi Tessa,
ReplyDeleteI've followed you for years and have never commented. Wanted to say that I make these cookies regularly and consider it one of my best recipes! So many of my cookies turn out flat. I've tried everything I can but these are just perfect. Wanted you to know :)