Tag Archives: vanilla extract

Cake Cake Cake

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Ok I am not literally going to sing Rihanna’s birthday cake song, well at least not till NEXT WEEK!! That’s right kids…THE BIG DAY is arriving shortly…

Jess & Sonia’s BIRTHDAY!!!
Funny thing is, I don’t even need to say it should be a national holiday, because it is!! I mean sure, its because its also Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, but a holiday nonetheless. Plus I mean Drew Brees, QB of the Saints, also has that birthday amongst many others. Bottom line, January 15th equals best day of the year. Birthday or not, you should eat cake on the best day of the year. So here is a cake for all foodies, no funfetti here my pets. This is some grown up ish that is just as easy to whip up! ha that’s funny because the “frosting” is actually whipped cream 🙂
nom nom nom here we go:

  • 1 package of store bought yellow cake mix (I mean if you are like Jess and got a new FANCY Kitchen aid stand mixer for Christmas, feel free to cheat on the short cut and do the whole whipping of butter, sugar, eggs, flour, baking soda gig. However, if you are like the rest of us peasants, just go the “easy” way out).
  • 1 can of cherry pie filling (15 oz.)
  • 1.5 tsp. Almond extract
  • 1 tsp. Vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup of sliced toasted almonds (listen I did a 1/2 cup like the recipe says, but it was WAY too nutty (even for a nutjob like me). It got in the way of the cake part, but whatever to each his own).
  • 2  eggs
  • a tub of light cool whip

No oil needed, just mix the above & pour. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 min (also base the time on what you are baking in. i.e. size of dish, you goobers-check back of cake box to confirm). Let it cool and slather with some whipped cream and maraschino cherries to make it look all gorgina, just like your pretty faces.

Happy Eating, Happy Birthday, XO.

Chocolate Chip Cream Cheese Cookies

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Sorry guys, but I have to throw you a curve ball on this one. I know we’re trying  to do the whole “clean eating in the new year!” thing, but I love baking (and eating) sweets too much to give them up. And I just couldn’t keep this recipe a secret: The chocolate chip cream cheese cookies – try saying that five times fast!

I don’t know about you, but I never seem to be able to use the whole bar of cream cheese when I buy it. I use half, and then find it in the back of my fridge way later than its expiration date. (Yikes!) So, this time I decided to attempt to use what I had left over in a classic chocolate chip cookie recipe. It really brought out the best in the cookie – chewy middle and crunchy edges. Mind you, I made them small so I didn’t feel completely guilty for popping one after eating a wholesome salad or smoothie!

  • 2 cups brown sugar
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup unsalted, melted butter
  • 4 oz cream cheese (you can use less if you don’t have the 4 oz)
  • Dash of vanilla extract
  • 2 dashes of salt and baking powder
  • 2 cups of flour
  • 1 cup chocolate chip cookies

Heat your oven to 325. Begin mixing the sugars, butter, cream cheese and vanilla until combined. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, salt and baking soda, then slowly add to the sugary mix. When it starts to look like dough, mix in the chocolate chip cookies. Lightly grease your cookie sheets and move on to the fun part – playing with the dough!

Scoop about a tablespoon full of dough, roll it, and lightly flatten on the cookie sheet. Bake for about 18-20 minutes. Mine were pretty thick so I left them in a little longer. And don’t forget, you should definitely “taste test” them while they’re hot!

chocolate chip cream cheese cookie

Happy Eating, XO