Queen Cakes

So Queenie came to stay last weekend. Such an occasion must of course warrent a cake! Well, a derivation of a Betty Crocker box mix actually, made for a queen.
Betty Crocker Milk Chocolate Cake Mix- Butter Recipe
Butter - I melt as I have no mixer
Water - whatever quantity it says on the box
Milk Chocolate Chips - chopped somewhat chunky

Lovely Pink Polka Dot cupcake cups picked for the occasion by Jenna

Betty Crocker Milk Chocolate Frosting
Mint Extract

Anna's Mint Chocolate Cookies - other suggestions: York Peppermint Patties, Thin Mints (which I wish I had when making these)

I mixed up a little bit over 2 tbsp of the extract for the whole tub of frosting. The flavor was that of a Mini York Peppermint Patty. A little less extract, a little more Thin-Mint. A little more extract, Starlight Mint.

City S'mores

In honor of Jenna's volunteer trip also referred to as S'more Haiti but I wasn't sure if it was too soon. Look, some of live on the fourth floor in a city and don't have access to these "campfires." Some of us must have burnt marshmallows during the lion side of March. I recommend the Ritters Sport Milk Chocolate with Cornflakes from the deli.

Oh Man. So great.

Today on the way to visit Queenie Maxine. Yessssssss....Thanks Joyce Wildstein.

Baskets of Eggs!

I actually can't stop making eggs in a basket I declared on my facebook status. My mom always talked about it but I never quite remember tasting one. The other day I decided to end the mystery. Since then it has been on, breakfast for dinner every day. The below is for my eggless, basketless sad friends. Please note I enjoy numbered bullet points.

Eggs in a Basket

2 Eggs
2 Slices of bread- Personally whole wheat bread from Old Poland Foods down the street I found that it cooked easier with a heartier bread.
Olive Oil
Garlic
Fresh Rosemary
Salt and Pepper

1. Cut out the center of the bread with a cookie cutter. I chose a heart because I LOVE Eggs in a Basket. Hold on to the cut out bread pieces.
2. Prep the olive oil. Chop 1/2 a large clove of garlic. Chop up 2 or so sprigs of rosemary. Mix both in with the olive oil.
3. Brush the olive oil on the bread pieces.
4. Put the bread in a pan on medium heat.
5. I crack open an egg in a saucer. From the saucer pour the egg into the hole in the bread.
6. Salt and pepper the egg.
7. Fry like normal and flip only once or trice.

Eat. Love it, most likely. Maybe clean up...I don't know.

Coney Dog Island

 
HURRAY!! A couple of weeks ago we got on the F train for a last minute winter trek to Coney Island. Weeelllll, apparently in the winter it gets dark pretty early. Instead of figuratively dark and barren, it was acutally dark and barren and full of rottweilers barking gothically and guarding the Wonder Wheel. Freaky!!
But hey, it was worth it. We went to a unfriendly, Russian furniture store and then Nathan's.
It was great. Chili cheese dog, fries and a Corona are an excellent combo. Nathan's came complete with visiting suburban soccer teams by the minivan-full and a floor show provided by a crazy homeless man who was later arrested.
Perfecto!

Donuts and Jamz!

 

Apple Cider Donut! 3 for 2.50 at the place next to the pretzels that sells apple cider donuts. Zing!
Sour Cherry Jam! Was a bit of a strech at $8 something but worth it from Beth's Farm Kitchen. Ka Zing!

I prefer 1 spoonful per bite. My roomate prefers a bit spread on top.

Thank you so much Union Square Market. You are so sweet/sour to me and I just want you to know that I appreciate you. You are dreamy. Let's hang again.

BASICS: Chocolate Chip Cookies

The Lucky Double Yolk!!

I learned two lessons from this weekend's batch of Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies.

1. Do not skimp on the brown sugar.
2. Cashews and Salted Almonds make excellent cookie nut selections. They add a touch more salt.

One of my two eggs was a double yolk! Twins! So these are lucky cookies.

I like my cookies more cake-y so I add a touch more flour but due to the lack of brown sugar available in our cabinet it just made for less flavorful bread. Baketime - perfecto! Soft in the middle, a little bit crispy around the edges. We solved our lack of flavor problem by adding 3 jumbo marshmallows between two cookies and putting in the microwave for 14 seconds until they start of get very jumbo. Smoosh down. TA DA!! Try not to feel like a fatty.