SWEET...IDEAS!

Whenever I am stressed, sad, furious, disappointed or just plain happy...I cook...better yet... I bake! I am not a good cook, but when it comes to baking any kind of sweets...I am quite good according to "critics" who end up eating everything I bake in the blink of an eye!

This evening was one of those occasions...don't ask me what kind of mood I was on...so, I needed to bake something to help me concentrate on myself again.

I ended up trying a cookies recipe with some "left-overs" I had in my pantry (pity I did not have any macadamia nuts...next time). I ended the evening baking around 30 chocolate chip cookies (without macadamia nuts!!!!

Yes, I know...next time!) and 6 "Pasteis de Nata" (the recipe and short background of this traditional portuguese pastry can be found HERE).

So, enjoy as much I have baking and as much as my "critics" will enjoy it tomorrow!!!

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup butter, softened
  
• 1 cup white sugar
  
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
  
• 2 eggs
  
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  
• 3 cups all-purpose flour


• 1 teaspoon baking soda


• 2 teaspoons hot water


• 1/2 teaspoon salt


• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips


• Nuts (macadamia, walnuts etc...follow your taste buds!)

1. Preheat oven to 180 °C .
   
2. Cream together the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until smooth.
   
3. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla.
   
4. Dissolve baking soda in hot water.
   
5. Add to butter along with salt.


6. Stir in flour, chocolate chips (...and nuts).


7. Drop large spoonfuls of the dough on a greased pan (or protected with baking paper).


8. Bake for about 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until edges are nicely browned.