Chocolate Chip Cookie Cupcakes

I'm still waiting for my sister to post a recipe to this here blog, but until she does here I am once again posting yet another delicious treat. Obviously I have quite a sweet tooth.

These chocolate cupcakes have a surprise inside.

What's hidden in the middle?

Chocolate chip cookie dough.

And to top it off, cream cheese frosting.

Try to eat just one.

Chocolate Cupcakes:

1 yellow cake mix

2 small packages chocolate pudding (You don't actually make the pudding--just use the powder.)

4 eggs

1 1/2 cup water

1/2 cup oil

2 tsp vanilla

Fill each cupcake liner halfway with the cake batter. Then place a cookie dough ball in the center of each cupcake. Use your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe, or simply use store-bought.
Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes, depending on your oven.
Once the cupcakes have cooled frost them with cream cheese frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting:

1 pkg cream cheese

8 T butter

3 3/4 cups powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

milk to thin to preferred consistency

Star Cookies

I'm a little hesitant to share this recipe because--and I'm a little bit embarrassed to admit this--I was planning on it helping me in my quest to become the next Mrs. Field's. It's true. I wanted to be the next Mrs. F., open my own bakery, and have everyone and their mom rave about my cookies. I wanted it so much so that I stayed up one night a while back researching just how this lady made it big.

BUT,

I'm pushing my hopes and dreams of being the next cookie queen aside and sharing it with you now.

And I'm doing it because I love you.

Just remember to thank your lucky stars above at night that I let you in on this little secret after you try these babies.

Star Cookies

Cookies:

3 sticks of butter

1 C powdered sugar

3 C flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp vanilla

Butter should be at room temperature. Cream butter and sugar. Mix in vanilla. Mix by hand the rest of the ingredients. Mold and knead dough until smooth. Form dough into ball and wrap with saran wrap. Place in fridge for 30 min. Roll out and cut in any cookie cutter shape. Bake at 325 for 10 min for small cookies and 15-20 for larger cookies. These cookies should not brown.

Frosting:

1/2 C butter melted in pan

Add the following to butter and stir until it comes to a boil:

1 C sugar

1/2 C half & half

Remove from heat and add:

1 tsp vanilla

Pour over:

3 C powdered sugar

Beat with beaters 

Grandpa's Zucchini Bread

Growing up my grandpa made this zucchini bread that I loved. So much so that after he passed the recipe was the one thing I wanted. Lucky for me I found it while perusing my mom's cookbook a few months back. I realize it's probably a standard zucchini bread recipe, but I can't get enough of it. I made the bread today and after trying it my husband asked me why I had never made it before. I think he loves it now, too.

Grandpa's Zucchini Bread

1 c. sugar
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. vegetable oil
3 eggs
2 c. grated zucchini
3 tsp vanilla
3 c. flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp soda
3 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking powder

Mix ingredients together and bake at 325 for 1 hour or until done.
Makes 2 loaves.

Chili

I love fall. It is hands-down my favorite season. 

Fall means going back to school, changing leaves, brisk air and light jackets, and all things pumpkin. Fall also means college football. I may or may not have let my excitement for this matter slip out of my mouth when talking to my husband the other day.

 And of course fall means homemade soup.

When my husband came home from work the other night to find this waiting for him he told me I had just made him one "happy husband." 

This chili is hearty and delicious. Bonus: it's super easy! The hardest part is having to brown the hamburger meat.

Chili

3T Hidden Valley ranch dressing and seasoning mix
1 taco seasoning packet
1 lb. hamburger
1 can kidney beans, drained
2 cans pinto beans, liquid included
1 can gold & white kernel corn, drained
1 can petite diced tomatoes with green chiles, liquid included
2 cans petite diced tomatoes with sweet onions, liquid included
1 can olives, drained and halved

Brown hamburger meat. Add ranch dressing powder and taco seasoning mix and stir until combined. In large pot combine hamburger meat with everything else and cook until heated through.