Test Kitchen: Curried Chocolate Chip Cookies!

Today I opened up a test kitchen lab in my apartment. I shared play by play updates on Facebook. This post will kind of elaborate on my Facebook posts via pictures.

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Test Kitchen in progress. On the menu: Curried Chocolate Chip Cookies with Red Pepper Flakes, Curried Chocolate Chip Cookies with Bacon Pieces, Curried Chocolate Chip Cookies with Dried Cranberries! Which do you think will be the best flavor? I Googled Curried Chocolate Chip Cookies to see if it's been done before. I did actually see some recipes for Curried Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies, Curried Cardamon Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies, etc. If you are feeling exceptionally daring, come on over and try a few. Help me decide which flavor is outstanding.

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Update 1: The Curried Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough is amazing! (I just added 1 Tbsp curry powder 

to my batch.) Now to add the other test ingredients . . .

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Update 2: I put 3 Tbsp Cranberries, 2 Tbsp Bacon pieces, and 1 Tbsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes in their respective bowls. Wow, those red pepper flakes pack a punch. The 3 cookie doughs taste good.

I made two rows of each flavor on each pan that I baked.

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Update 3: Cookies out of the oven!!! Warm, soft, melt-in-your-mouth ooey-gooey curried chocolate chip cookies:) As we had predicted, Anthony's favorites were the ones with cranberries. My favorites were the ones with bacon. The bacon added a nice, slight chewiness, and a subtle meaty flavor.

  

Garland Family Tradition II: Popcorn & Milkshakes

Anthony and I had a date night tonight. We checked out a Redbox DVD, Star Trek Into Darkness, and made popcorn and cookies & cream milkshakes. Anthony and I have made the popcorn milkshake combination on occasion before which is another great tradition passed on from his family.

Fusion Salad

Ingredients:

Spring Mix

Asian Vegetables & Boiled Peanuts

Pasta Salad

Caesar Salad Dressing

Parmesan Cheese

Curried Chicken Salad With Dried Cranberries and Roasted Almonds

Curried Chicken Salad Sandiwiches

Canned Chicken

Mayo

Dried Cranberries

Roasted Almonds

Curry Powder

Toasted Buns

Spring Mix

Milky Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal w/ Honey Roasted Peanuts

Quick Oats

Honey Roasted Peanuts

Maple Syrup

Brown Sugar

Milk

#Food Fusion #Curry #Beef Stroganoff

Tonight I made curried beef stroganoff. Amazing. I would highly recommend. What next? Curried chocolate chip cookies? Curried pumpkin pie? Time will tell.

Curried Beef Stroganoff

Ground Beef

Garlic Cloves Chopped

Small Sweet Onion

Curry Powder

Red Pepper Flakes

Salt & Pepper

Plain Yogurt

  

We added some parmesan cheese for a condiment. 

Taco Burgers

I bought a 3 lb. tube of ground beef when I was at Aldi on Monday. Tonight, I needed to divide up that meat and freeze some. I bought so much because I was stocking up on groceries since I'm supposed to have a baby in a little over two weeks. I wanted to make sure my husband has enough food while I'm recovering and doesn't starve.

After I divided up the meat, I froze two parts, refrigerated one part, and used the remaining meat in the taco burgers. Anthony named the burgers taco burgers because I put tortilla chips in them and they tasted kind of like tacos. Yum.

Taco Burgers

Ground Beef

Minced Garlic

Black Pepper & Salt

Tortilla Chips

Egg

Toasted Buns

Chipotle Mayo

Lettuce

Yellow American Cheese

Saving Some Banana Pudding

So I have this little habit. As I cook or bake, I try my food to make sure it's on track. Well, if it is on track, sometimes I try it, and try it, and try it some more! I told my husband I was going to make banana pudding today. One of Anthony's friends is coming over for dinner so I'm making the pudding for dessert. Anthony is aware of my antics, and he knows how much I love banana pudding. He told me to make sure to save some for tonight!

I also saved some bananas for later because they were overripe. I'll probably make banana bread or banana muffins with them. Maybe I'll freeze the baked goods for after I have my baby.

Anthony just texted to see if there is any banana pudding left!

Campfire Ham & Cheese Sandwiches w/ Celery Sticks

Just butter your bread, slightly blacken your ham and bread on both sides, put the ham on the bread, then the cheese. It'll taste like you're at a campfire. Yum.