Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Happy National Chocolate Chip Day!!

America’s favorite cookie is undoubtedly the chocolate chip cookie, and with it’s soft, gooey deliciousness, why wouldn’t it be? 



There are many variations to this classic cookie recipe. Some versions are sweet, subtle changes like caramel, M&Ms, or peppermint.  Others are a little more adventurous like pineapple, coffee or  candied cherries. And then there are the downright strange and bizarre additions such as chili peppers, raw ginger or gummies. Either way, it’s apparent that America loves their chocolate chip cookies!



Here are a few examples of some unusual chocolate chip cookie recipes.

Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies

 Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter (softened, feel free to replace some with bacon grease)
1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/8 cup all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup dark chocolate chunks
5 strips bacon (I used candied bacon)


Directions:
1. Cream the butter and sugar in a bowl.
2. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract.

3. Mix the flour, baking soda and salt in another bowl.
4. Mix the dry ingredients into the wet.
5. Mix in the chocolate and the bacon.
6. Place the dough onto a cookie sheet one table spoon at a time.
7. Bake in a 350F preheated oven for 8-10 minutes.

Source: Closet Cooking 
Cricket Chocolate Chip Cookies
 Ingredients:
2 1/4 cup flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1 12-ounce chocolate chips
1 cup chopped nuts
1/2 cup dry-roasted crickets
 Directions:
Preheat oven to 375. In small bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt; set aside. In large bowl, combine butter, sugar, brown sugar and vanilla; beat until creamy. Beat in eggs. Gradually add flour mixture and insects, mix well. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by rounded measuring teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes.
 Source: Mommie Daze



Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie

Ingredients
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
3 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1 cup chocolate chips

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On stove heat 12 in. cast iron skillet on medium. Once the skillet is hot, turn to medium-low heat, add butter. When butter is completely melted add both sugars. Onto the sugar butter mixture add flour, baking soda, salt, vanilla, pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice and egg. stir to incorporate all ingredients. Lastly stir in chocolate chips, don’t stir too much or they will all melt. Place skillet in preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes. It’s done baking when two inches in from edge comes out with smooth when tested with toothpick. Don’t bake until center is totally cooked, the pan will stay hot and it will dry out the cookie and it won’t have that really great moist center. Serve warm with a drizzle with hot fudge sauce and vanilla ice cream and sprinkle some nutmeg on top.


To commemorate National Chocolate Chip Day, try baking one of these unusual Chocolate Chip Cookie recipes!






Monday, April 30, 2012

Food Art Spotlight: Artist Jason Mercier

Rosie O'Donnell made of various junk food by Jason Mecier

Jason Mercier is a very talented and versatile mosaic portrait artist. He makes portraits out of rice, beans, dried pasta, candy, pretzels, fruits, vegetables, meats, fast food, dog food, pills… and that’s just the edible portraits. He also makes mosaics out of other non-edible mediums, particularly celebrity junk, which he has also become famous for. It takes him at least 50 hours to complete these masterful pieces of art. (That's right 50 HOURS!) When asked how he determines what medium to use in making portraits, he says he goes with the name of the subject, i.e. Condoleeza Rice made of rice, Salt-N-Peppa made of salt and pepper, and Dog: The Bounty Hunter made of dog food. Mecier’s art is shown in an array of venues to include cafes, hair salons, art galleries, major museums, celebrity homes, international magazines, and on various network television programs. If you would like to own one of Jason Mecier’s famous works of art, the prices start at $1,500 per piece. That’s a little steep for our pockets, but it is very much worth the price!

Now, enough talk, it's time to enjoy Jason Mecier's creative works of art. Bon Apetit!


The Red Vines Collection: Clockwise from top right: Freddy Krueger, Taylor Lautner, "Dexter," Mo'Nique, Kim Kardashian

Amy Winehouse made of pills
Michael Jackson made of pills

Wrestler, Triple H made of pickles, peppers, olives, onion, lunch meat, and cheeses

Taylor Swift made of candy, Good & Plenty

Spice Girls poster made of candy

Courtney Love made of pills

Jerry Seinfeld made of various dry cereal

Kristi Yamaguchi made of various fast food

Regis Philbin made of beans and corn

Condoleeza Rice made of rice


Pamela Anderson made of various candy

Roseann made of beans


Source: www.JasonMecier.com