Category Archives: Egos & Buffaloes

Chocolate Almond Joy Cookies

Standard

These cookies are easily a holiday favorite and very easy to make. You’ll also love how they make the kitchen smell. Enjoy!

Chocolate Almond Joy Cookies

Ingredients

1 cup butter
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
4 eggs
3 teaspoons vanilla
4 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
5 cups chocolate chips
2 cups sweetened coconut
2 cups chopped almonds

Directions

1. Pre-heat oven to 375°F Lightly grease cookie sheets.

2. Combine dry ingredients, set aside.

3. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugars together. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, stir in the vanilla. Stir in the dry ingredients until well mixed then stir in the chocolate chips, coconut and almonds. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheets.

4. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Over The Hump Old School Sound Check- Earth, Wind & Fire

Standard

Happy Thursday before Christmas 2014! Be a shining star…

Chocolate Brookies

Standard

Brownies and cookies come together in this irresistible treat.

Brookies 1

YIELD: MAKES 6

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch cubes, plus more for pie tins
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon dark cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
5 ounces dark chocolate (60 to 72 percent cacao), coarsely chopped
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup light-brown sugar
3 large eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

DIRECTIONS

Brookies 2

1.Butter bottom and sides of six 4-inch-round pie tins; set aside.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and cocoa powder; set aside.

3. Melt chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl set over (but not touching) simmering water. Turn off heat but keep bowl over water; whisk both sugars into chocolate mixture. Remove bowl from water and let cool to room temperature.

4. Add eggs to chocolate mixture and whisk until just combined. Add vanilla and stir just to combine; do not overmix. Sprinkle flour mixture over chocolate mixture. Using a spatula, gently fold flour mixture into chocolate mixture until just a trace amount of the flour mixture is visible.

5.Fill each prepared pie tin halfway with batter. Place pie tins on a large baking sheet and transfer to refrigerator; let chill for at least 1 hour.

6. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

7. Using a 1/4-cup ice cream scoop with a mechanical release, scoop chilled cookie dough into six balls. Using your hands, shape dough to form perfect balls and gently form into a round disk that is slightly domed at the top; disks should be slightly smaller than the top of the pie tins.

8. Remove pie tins from refrigerator and gently press 1 disk of cookie dough into each tin of batter. Transfer baking sheet to oven and bake until cookie is golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes, rotating baking sheet halfway through cooking time. Serve warm with ice cream or at room temperature.

Balmain Resort 2015 Collection

Standard

Absolutely no one inspires my taste in fashion like Balmain. Enjoy a peek at the Balmain Resort 2015 Collection!

balmain-resort-2015-runway-1balmain-resort-2015-runway-2balmain-resort-2015-runway-3balmain-resort-2015-runway-4balmain-resort-2015-runway-5balmain-resort-2015-runway-6balmain-resort-2015-runway-7balmain-resort-2015-runway-8balmain-resort-2015-runway-9

Chocolate Chip Danish

Standard

Are you ready to surprise everyone with a flaky, buttery pastry oozing with chocolate and sweet cheese goodness? First, gather your ingredients: crescent dough, cream cheese, sugar, chocolate chips and vanilla extract. That’s it!

chocolate chip danish

35 min total time
10 min ingredients
5 servings

Ingredients

1 can Pillsbury Crescent refrigerated seamless dough sheet
1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, room temperature
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup chocolate chips

chocolate chip danish 2

Directions

1. Heat oven at 350°F. Line 17×12-inch cookie sheet with cooking parchment paper or silicone nonstick baking mat.

2. Unroll dough onto lined cookie sheet; press dough into about 16×10-inch rectangle. With sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut 1 1/2-inch-long slanted cuts 1 inch apart along both long sides of rectangle, leaving center of dough uncut. Make sure you have the same amount of cut strips on both sides.

chocolate chip danish 3

3. In medium bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth. Spread mixture on uncut center of dough. Sprinkle chocolate chips over cream cheese mixture.

4. Braid dough by crossing strips over filling, alternating from side to side. At end, trim off any overhanging dough.

chocolate chip danish 4

5. Bake 20 to 22 minutes or just until golden brown. Remove from cookie sheet to bread board, serving platter or cooling rack. Cut into slices to serve. Best served the same day.

Sunday Reflections

Standard

Have an amazing day!

Isaiah 61-3

The scripture says, “God will give you beauty for ashes.” Ashes represent our broken dreams, our failures, our disappointments, our hurts. But here’s the key: you have to let go of the ashes before you can receive the beauty.
-Joel Osteen Ministries

Chocolate Almond Upside-Down Cake

Standard

This light buttermilk chocolate cake is baked on a bed of butter, sugar, and toasted almonds, creating a soaked-in caramel coating when removed from the pan. Enjoy!

Chocolate Almond Upside-Down Cake
Ingredients

Caramel Topping:
6 tablespoon(s) unsalted butter, melted, plus more for pan
3/4 cup(s) packed light-brown sugar
1/4 cup(s) honey
1 1/4 cup(s) sliced or slivered almonds, lightly toasted

Cake:
1 1/4 cup(s) cake flour (not self rising)
1/2 cup(s) cocoa powder, preferably Dutch-processed
1 teaspoon(s) baking soda
1/2 teaspoon(s) salt
1/2 cup(s) (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cup(s) sugar
3 large eggs
1 cup(s) buttermilk
1 teaspoon(s) pure vanilla extract

Chocolate Almond Upside-Down Cake 2
Directions

1. Prepare the topping: Generously butter a 10-inch round nonstick cake pan. Pour 6 tablespoons melted butter into the cake pan and swirl to coat the bottom; sprinkle in brown sugar. Drizzle honey over sugar and sprinkle evenly with almonds.

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

3. Prepare the cake: Sift flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt together three times to make the cake extra light. Place butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat until smooth and fluffy. Add sugar and continue mixing. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Continue beating until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. With the mixer running on low speed, add a third of the dry ingredients and mix to combine. Add half the buttermilk and continue mixing. Add another third of the dry ingredients, mix, and add remaining buttermilk and vanilla. Add remaining dry ingredients and mix until smooth. Pour the batter into the pan.

4. Bake until set in the center and springy, 45 to 55 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of the pan and immediately invert the pan onto a serving platter. Let it sit with the pan still on top for 5 minutes so the caramel can soak into the cake a bit, before removing the pan. If the topping is sticking to the pan, warm the pan surface over a low burner to loosen the caramel and then pour it over the cake. Let cool completely. Cut into wedges with a serrated knife.

Over The Hump Old School Sound Check- Rufus

Standard

Happy Thursday! It’s hard to believe the weekend is almost here. Nothing like a sample of Rufus featuring Chaka Khan to usher in the weekend!

Afrikanus by Rui Lopes at Swahili Fashion Week 2014

Standard

Despite seeing this collection on many runways, it is always refreshing to see his beautiful print garments again. This time it seems we are being introduced to beautiful white gowns with print bands that are just amazing. Great work… I love Afrikanus and hope you do to.

Afrikanus-by-Rui-Lopes-1Afrikanus-by-Rui-Lopes-4Afrikanus-by-Rui-Lopes-2Afrikanus-by-Rui-Lopes-5Afrikanus-by-Rui-Lopes 3Afrikanus-by-Rui-Lopes-6

Mocha-Chocolate Shortbread

Standard

If you’re a fan of rich, buttery shortbread cookies, this chocolate version of shortbread is guaranteed to satisfy. You’ll only need 6 ingredients.

FOSPSU03

Yield: Makes 50 triangles

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 teaspoons instant coffee granules
2/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate morsels, divided
Vanilla or coffee ice cream (optional)

Preparation

1. Combine first 3 ingredients in a medium bowl; add butter and vanilla, and beat at low speed with an electric mixer until blended. Stir in 1 cup chocolate morsels.

2. Press dough into an ungreased 9-inch square pan; prick dough with a fork.

3. Bake at 325° for 20 minutes or until lightly browned. Sprinkle remaining 1 cup morsels over top, and spread to cover. Cut shortbread into 25 (about 1 3/4-inch) squares; cut each square into 2 triangles. Let cool 30 minutes in pan before removing. Serve with ice cream, if desired.