Chocolate Cloud Cookie Recipe for the Holidays

Chocolate Cloud cookies have become one of my favorite Christmas cookie recipes. Really easy to make and super good....and if you enjoy both chocolate and marshmallows, this recipe may become one of your favorites as well.

Here's what you need.......{full recipe below}

Sift together the flour, cocoa powder and baking soda in a medium bowl.

Cream together the butter, sugar and brown sugar.  Beat in the eggs and vanilla extract.

Add flour mixture to butter mixture and stir until blended.  Mix in the chocolate chips last.

Hold 3 or so Frozen mini-marshmallows in your hand and scoop the batter up and mold it around the frozen marshmallows, covering them completely.

Place balls on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.

Bake for 12 minutes at 350 degrees and you end up with these little gems!

Here is a link to some of my Top 10 favorite Christmas cookie recipes for your Christmas baking needs!

Chocolate Cloud Cookies

3 cups all purpose flour,

1/2 teaspoon baking soda,

2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder,

1 cup soft butter,

1 cup granulated sugar,

1 cup packed brown sugar,

2 large eggs,

2 teaspoons vanilla extract,

2 cups mini semi-sweet chocolate chips,

5 oz mini marshmallows, frozen

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a couple of cookie sheets with parchment paper or use a Silpat mat.

Mix flour, baking soda and cocoa powder together in a medium bowl. Set aside.

Cream butter and both sugars. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Add flour mixture to butter mixture and stir until blended. Mix in the chocolate chips last.

Hold 3 frozen marshmallows in the palm of your hand. Scoop batter up by generously rounded tablespoonfuls and mold around marshmallows, covering marshmallows completely.

Place dough balls on cookie sheets, spacing about 2 ½ inches apart. Bake for 12 minutes. Cool on cookie sheets for about 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool. They firm up as they cool.

Makes about 3 ½ dozen

Tip:  Make sure you freeze the marshmallows before using, otherwise they will melt

Give Thanks

Thanksgiving.  A time to give thanks.  A time to reflect on all of the things in life we are thankful for.

Some of my favorite things this time of year include:

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

I begin my Thanksgiving Day by watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV and then move onto football.

All while drinking my pumpkin spiced latte.

By early afternoon I am getting the turkey ready to go. I'm not sure whether I'll spatchcock my turkey this year or roast it traditionally.

Most importantly, Thanksgiving is about spending time with friends and family.

Thanksgiving, a joyous time for the most part and if one has lost a close loved one, it could also be a time of sadness for many.  

Our family has suffered the loss of a close loved one just recently.  My father-in-law.  He is missed every day.    A huge void is felt on a daily basis.  

For me, the time of day where the void is strongly felt is in the morning.  Driving down the hill from our house on the drive to school with the kids or driving myself to work is where I would normally encounter George everyday.  A brief wave was shared not only in the morning, but on numerous occasions through out each day.  Day to day life on the ranch is not the same without him here. 

We will always cherish the memories we had with him.  George loved this ranch and the lifestyle it brought him and his entire family.  Although his human body is no longer with us, his presence is definitely felt here. Spontaneous occurrences trigger memories, daily.  He will be missed so much this holiday season.

Back to School Lunch Ideas!

For many, the day after Labor Day is the first day of school.  Back to routine, trying to drag the kids out of bed to make it to school on time and back to preparing school lunches.  I'm always in search of new and fresh ideas for school lunches and loved the idea of Meat and Cheese Sushi and Fruit Sushi for my picky eater.
I may even pack this lunch for myself!

Photo and recipe courtesy Real California Milk

9th and 7th grades

Meat and Cheese Sushi:– 2 soft taco-size flour tortillas– 2/3 cup softened cream cheese– 2 large green leaf lettuce leaves– 4 thin slices deli turkey– 4 thin slices deli ham– 4 (3 X 1/2-inch) strips Cheddar cheese– 4 (3 X 1/2-inch) strips Jack cheese– 4 green onions, trimmed to fit tortilla (use mostly green tops)Fruit Sushi:– 2 soft taco-size flour tortillas– 2/3 cup softened cream cheese, divided– 3 fruit roll ups, divided– 1 kiwi, peeled and quartered– 1 ripe mango, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch strips
Directions:  

Prep time: 15 minutes

Meat and Cheese Sushi

Place tortillas on a flat surface. Spread cream cheese evenly over tortillas and top with lettuce leaves and ham. Place cheese strips and onions on the bottom half of each tortilla and roll up tightly; press gently to compress all ingredients. Cut into 1-inch thick slices. Makes 2 large or 4 small servings.

Fruit Sushi

Place tortillas in a flat surface. Spread 1/2 of the cream cheese over tortillas and top with fruit roll ups, tearing to fit. Place fruit on the bottom half of each tortilla and roll up tightly; press gently to compress all ingredients. Cut into 1-inch thick slices. Makes 2 large or 4 small servings.