Recipe Exchange

I was craving chocolate chip cookies (thanks to my friend Abby J. for tempting me with some yummy cookie dough), and my sweet tooth talked me into baking 3 different desserts this afternoon! 

Here's what I made:

Thick and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg plus 1 egg yolk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1- 10 oz pkg semisweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or spray them with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Mix the flour, baking soda, and salt together in a medium bowl; set aside.

3. Mix together the butter and sugars until thoroughly blended. Blend in the egg, yolk, and vanilla until combined. Add the dry ingredients, and beat at low speed just until combined. Stir in the chips to taste.

4. Roll and drop by Tablespoons onto baking sheets, 2 inches apart.

5. Bake until the cookies are light golden grown and the outer edges start to get golden brown, about 16 minutes.

6. Cool the cookies on wire racks. Enjoy!

White Texas Sheet Cake 

(Thanks Jill I. for introducing us to this. This is one of my hubby's favorites!)

1 cup butter

1 cup water

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups sugar

2 eggs, beaten

1/2 cup sour cream or plain yogurt

1 teaspoon almond extract

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

Frosting

1/2 cup butter or 1/2 cup margarine

1/4 cup milk

3 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1/2 teaspoon almond (or vanilla) extract

In a large saucepan, bring butter and water to a boil.

Remove from the heat; stir in flour, sugar, eggs, sour cream, almond extract, salt and baking soda until smooth.

Pour into a greased 15x10 inch baking pan.

Bake at 375 degrees for 20-22 minutes or until cake is golden brown and tests done.

Cool for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, for frosting, combine butter and milk in a saucepan; Bring to a boil; remove from heat; add sugar and extract and mix well.

Spread over warm cake. Cool and Enjoy!

Moist and Delicious Banana Bread

1/2 cup butter

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup mashed bananas

1/2 cup sour cream or plain yogurt

2 Tbsp heavy whipping cream

Grease 1 large loaf pan.

Cream margarine, sugar, eggs and vanilla.

Add dry ingredients, then bananas, heavy whipping cream and sour cream.

Mix well.

Bake at 350 F for 1 hour.
***If baking using smaller loaves, cut bake time in half initially and test center. Bake until top starts to brown, "crack", and when toothpick is inserted into center, it comes out clean. Enjoy!