Chocolate Chips and Ratatouille Pasta - July 7th

For some reason, Lucy and Jimmy had an itch to bake. Okay, more like Jimmy wanted to make chocolate chip cookies, but since he doesn't bake, Lucy made it instead.





The recipe they used was based on Anna Olson's version, which can be found on the Food Network website. If you don't feel like clicking the link, I'll repost it below.

• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, cut into chunks

If you're looking for the instructions, just click on the link above the recipe. It'll bring you to the Food Network website, where the recipe and the instructions can be found.

Jimmy prefers soft cookies and so he took the cookies out to cool earlier.

They're barely done.

Most of the cookies were under-baked, which actually turned out real well, because I ended up toasting the cookies in the toaster oven to get it golden and crunchy. The one thing I forgot to do when toasting them up was to put the cookies on a pan and/or sheet of tin foil. The cookies melted off the rack. Waaah! I've learned my lesson. 

These were Lucy's cookies - baked to her preference.

We teased Jimmy about how he liked his cookies. It was pretty much warm cookie dough. And to try and prove a point, Lucy grabbed a small spoonful and put it in a dish. She threw it in the microwave to warm up.

The result didn't turn out in her favour. It ended up burning.

Cookie dough anyone?

 
These cookies were really good. If you love soft and chewy cookies, try this recipe and just under bake it. If you love crunchy cookies, try this recipe and leave it in for a few minutes longer - but remember that the cookies continue to bake when you take em out of the oven. And hey, if your family likes both, just do what we did; under bake them for the chewy cookie lovers in the house and just crisp up the chewy cookies in the toaster oven for the people who love crunchy cookies. Don't forget to put the cookies on a pan or something!


Also, if you're making a batch of these cookies, try doubling the recipe and then freezing the cookie dough for a future snack.

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That night, we raided the fridge and made ratatouille. There was zucchini, mushrooms, red onions,  pork and tomatoes. We quickly braised it with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper, serving the ratatouille on top of al dente pasta.

Even though it wasn't as pretty as the version in Pixar's movie, it was really good.

Lucy's comment: This was one of the quickest, heartiest, cheapest meals I've ever cooked.  All in one pan, too!  The vegetables filled us up, preventing us from feeling heavy and sluggish in the hot weather.

~*~