FOLEY'S FOLLIES

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Spring Design Floral Show plus a GREAT Chocolate Chip Cookie

On Friday Marianne & I went to Del's Garden Center for their first seminar of  the year "Spring Design Show".  They demonstrated many different arrangements to get you out of the winter blahs and had you looking forward to Spring!!  New items, faux and real plants, flowers etc. 




The upcoming seminars deal with everything from fairy gardens to starting seeds at home to landscaping to water features.  They put on wonderful and humorous presentations!

After a great afternoon, I decided to make a chocolate chip cookie recipe I had been trying to 'tweak'.  Combining some different recipes I ended up with this one and was not disappointed!



Great Chocolate Chip Cookie

3/4 C butter, semi-soft
1/4 C white sugar
3/4 C brown sugar
1 egg
2 tsp. vanilla ( try to use a GOOD vanilla, does make a difference)
1 1/2 C cake flour
1/2 C all-purpose flour
2 tsp cornstarch
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp kosher salt plus a little extra for topping
1C chocolate chips - I used Scharffen-Berger 70% cacao baking chunks, THIS also makes a big difference

Preheat oven to 350

Using my Kitchen-Aid I creamed the butter and sugars together, add the egg and vanilla and mix together.

Mix in all the dry ingredients (except chips) until combined.  Add in chips.

Using a small cookie scoop, drop the dough on an ungreased cookie sheet.  Add a small pinch of kosher salt on top of each cookie.  Bake for 10-12 minutes (depending on your oven)  The cookies are only a light brown when they are done. (See photo)



I just baked a few (which were delicious), a nice little crunch around the outside and soft on the inside with all that gooey chocolate.  Perfect consistency for dunkers, if you are one of THOSE!! 

Something I picked up at the Garden Center was one of the 'Air Plants'.  Tillandsias can be grown basically anywhere, on rocks, in a seashell or on coral, in ceramic or pottery, attached to wood (not pressure treated wood this is impregnated with copper, and copper will kill your plant). When considering what you are going to do with your plant don't forget that you have to be able to water it and it has to be placed somewhere that it will get sufficient light.  Google them - very interesting....
I'll be adding more to my 'soon-to-be' collection of air plants!

Thanks For Stopping By.....

 

8 comments:

Lynn said...

Your recipe sounds great! I always say it's ok to cut back on white sugar, but brown sugar add flavor:@)

Carol said...

Those cookies look amazing, wish I had a few with a glass of ice cold milk. Sounds like fun at the flower show.

Barbara said...

Beautiful florals, Barb.
Love brown sugar in cookie recipes. The cornstarch was unusual...don't think I have a cc cookies recipe with that ingredient. They sure look yummy!

SavoringTime in the Kitchen said...

I need a trip to a nursery to chance away my winter blahs with the remnants of the last storm still covering the ground! I have to find out more about your air plant.

Is there anything more delicious than a good, chocolate chip cookie? I think not! So interesting with the cornstarch in these. I just may have to whip of a batch ;)

Kathleen said...

Pretty flowers! Must have been a good respite from the winter grays.

I make my own vanilla or we buy the pure vanilla from Costco. I think it is good.

Always on a quest for the perfect Choc chip cookie. Not crisp, not gummy, thick and chewy!

Debbie@Mountain Breaths said...

Barb, I love that first photo of the cabbage plant with the bunny!

I am intrigued about the cornstarch in these. Joe has never met a chocolate cookie he didn't like, so I think it's time to whip up a batch. I'll use this recipe, and see what he says.

Cathy said...

The time change tonight will make it seem like spring is just around the corner. Love the floral arrangements, especially the first one with the kale and cute little bunny. I am so ready for spring. Wish I had a couple of those cookies with the cup of coffee I just poured.

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

What beautiful inspiration. I want to re-arrange my spring vignettes after seeing these. I also want to eat one or maybe a dozen of those chocolate chip cookies. I'll have to try your recipe. Thanks for sharing. laurie