Itty Bitty Chocolate Chip Cookies

*This is a "back-post"-Mike and I are currently stuck at the DFW airport, waiting to see when our flight will take off. So far, it's been delayed for more than 4 hours because of mechanical malfunctions...hopefully we'll be able to catch another connecting flight to Kauai once we land in Honolulu*

This year, I made it a goal to try out at least one new recipe every two months. So, I went to the local public library and checked out Sherry Yard's "Desserts by the Yard." Sherry Yard is the pastry chef for Wolfgang Puck and has been creating the Oscar's desserts for a few years. 

A lot of Sherry's recipes seemed elaborate for a novice baker, and for the lazy baker in me, there were too many techniques (too many dishes to wash).  So i decided to try one of her easier recipes, which was her Quintessential Chocolate Chip Cookies. 

Sherry Yard's recipe called for high quality chocolate like valrhona chocolate. I didn't have valrhona chocolate, so I used this mini chocolate chips.  Since I was using mini chocolate, I thought, "why don't I make mini cookies?"

I used the quarter teaspoon to measure out the dough and made about a bagillion (I know that's not a real word) cookies.  I really liked how these cookies came out.  The dough to chocolate ratio is almost 50:50, so it was almost as if there was just enough dough to hold the chocolate chips together.  I baked them until they were a toasty brown color and had a hard crisp bite.  I was reading an article the other day and it said that people from Hawaii like crunchy cookies, while people on the mainland like softer chewier cookies. I'm not sure if that is true or not, but I guess you can say I made a cookie with a "Hawaii" texture. 

This cookie recipe will be making it into my "recipe book" of recipes.

we're off to hawaii

Mike and I are taking our first vacation of the year!
We'll be back home in Hawaii in less than 24 hours! 
Shave ice, kulolo, manapua here we come!

Pastries and Picture Cheating

Mike and I were driving through the Dallas area and stopped at local Mexican and Latin bakeries one weekend.  I was so hungry in the car, but had forgotten my camera at home.  I didn't want to ruin the cookies and the pastries before I took a picture of them, so I nibbled (in reality I more than nibbled)  on them and tried to hide the evidence.

Guava cookie. 

The hidden portion of the guava cookie.

Dolce de leche bread.

The hidden portion of the bread.

This Mexican bread made it home in one piece.

This Mexican flaky pastry did not make it home in one piece.  That's why only a portion of it is showing. 

Hope you all had a great weekend! Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers out there.  Mike and I were good this year and sent our Mother's Day presents on time. 

Burgers~Five Guys Burgers and Fries

Continuing on with my burger reviews, Mike and I tried out "Five Guys Burgers and Fries" and really enjoyed the burgers here.  Since moving to Texas, I think Mike has eaten here at least five times, and we do not eat out much. 

One of Five Guys Burgers and Fries signatures is the free peanuts offered while you wait for your food. 

Yummy fries. There's just something about hot homemade fries that makes me smile.

I thought that these burgers were scrumptious and according to the Burger Bracket on Slashfood, Five Guys beat out other burger chains as having the best burger.  Although if you check out the original "burger bracket" put on by Burger Business, another burger restaurants takes the coveted first place. 

Burgers are made to order at Five Guys Burgers and Fries and you can choose to add most basic toppings for free.  Some of the choices are fried onions, mushrooms, jalapenos, tomatoes, lettuce,  and a bunch of different sauces. 

Five Guys Burgers and Fries
13350 Dallas Parkway, Suite 975
Dallas, TX 75240
(972) 239-8470
It's a franchise, so they are located all over the US.

Stay tuned for our next burger adventure...we'll be making our way to Twisted Root burger which we've heard nothing but great reviews. 

Dallas~Mozzarella Factory and Manny's Tex-Mex

Two weekends ago (I'm behind in my posts) I had a fun "date day" with Kendell.  We checked out the Dallas Farmer's Market, the Mozzarella Company, and then ended with a nice outdoor lunch at Manny's Tex-Mex Restaurant. 

We visited this cute little mozzarella shop that has won numerous awards for their mozzarella and goat cheeses.

If you call ahead of time, you can find out when the company is producing cheese and you can watch them make the cheese. Or if you want a more in depth lesson in cheese making, there are monthly cheese-making classes offered. 

I ended up purchasing a ball of mozzarella cheese and a slice of the goat cheese.  Both were delicious and I would definitely buy the cheese again.  The goat cheese was not as gamey in flavor as the goat cheese I buy at Sam's Club (~$8/lb).  At ~$18/lb I would only using the Mozzarella Cheese Company's goat cheese sparingly, while I wouldn't mind making fried goat cheese balls with the Sam's Club cheese. 

Oh and a sidenote, the lady at the mozzarella company was so friendly. She even showed us her super cool nail polish that changes color in the sun. In the store it was clear with silver glitter. Out in the sun, her nails turned a brilliant shade of pink! She told us it was del sol nail polish, and when I looked it up online, there are many different color changing combinations.  I might splurge on this and buy it for the summer. 

The lady at the Mozzarella Cheese Company steered us in the direction of Manny's Tex-Mex Restaurant in Addison, TX.  I love those leisurely days in which you have no "real" plans and the next activity is decided on by a whim. 

Mmmm...salsa and chips. Let's be honest, this is my litmus test on whether I like a Mexican restaurant or not.  I like light thin chips that are not too oily (Chili's chips are extremely thin, but too oily).   I like my salsas to have some heat and taste fresh (not just like canned tomato puree).  Both the chips and salsa need to be seasoned with salt.  Manny's passed my litmus test.  I pretty much binged on these chips that I didn't have enough room in my stomach to finish my lunch. 

The brisket tacos were recommended to us, and Kendell ordered the plate with a brisket taco and an enchilada.

Kendell's enchilada and sides.

My flautas with chicken and beef brisket (I brought the brisket flautas home to Mike).  Big surprise? No, I pretty much always order flautas or chimichangas (grilled if possible) at Mexican restaurants.  I thought the food was delicious and really enjoyed the guacamole. 

Mozzarella Company
2944 Elm Street
Dallas, TX 75226-1509
(214) 741-4072

Manny's Tex-Mex Restaurant
14905 Midway Rd.
Addison, Texas 75001
(972) 490-1616