Chocolate Carmel Turtle Cookies

Need a cookie pick-me-up that's not chocolate chip? You gotta try these chocolate carmel turtle cookies that's semi-home made. I usually keep a box of the Ghirardelli Caramel Turtle Brownie Mix in my pantry for a pick me up when I need a sweet tooth filling. I've also made these for parties and they always seem to be a hit.

Ingredients:
1 package Ghirardelli Caramel Turtle Brownie Mix (1 pouch brownie mix and 1 pouch caramel)4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, softened
1 egg
18 pecan halves

You can also substitue any brownie mix and buy the caramel syrup that's used for ice cream.

Preheat oven to 350°F.
In large bowl, place Ghirardelli Caramel Turtle Brownie Mix, butter and egg. Use an electric mixer or large spoon and mix until the dough is formed. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls, 1-inch apart, onto an ungreased baking sheet. With thumb or handle of wooden spoon, press indentation into center of cookie dough and fill with caramel. Place 1 pecan half on top of caramel. Bake 11-13 minutes.

Makes 18, 2 1/2 -inch cookies.

These cookies are bite size turtle brownies which are a bit of heaven to me...

Thai Style Green Curry

Thai Style Green Curry

Ingredients

6 oz can of bamboo shoots (strips)

1.5 cups fozen green peas

12 oz can of coconut milk

2 cups of chicken broth

2 tbsp of brown sugar

2 tbsp of fish sauce

2 tbsp (thai kitchen) green curry paste. (You can purchase at your local grocery store in the asian aisle or on their website http://www.thaikitchen.com/)

1 lb of chicken breast (diced)

1 tbsp of vegetable oil

Heat up vegetable oil and stir fry chicken until cooked. Add coconut milk, green curry paste, sugar, and fish sauce for 5 minutes. Add green peas and bamboo shoots and cook for 3 minutes.

Serve over brown rice, jasmine rice or sticky rice.

Makes about 4 servings.

This is one of my favorite recipes to put together in under 30 minutes when we don't have any special dinner plans. The green peas can be kept in the freezer and I usually have bamboo shoots and coconut milk in the pantry for other recipes like hot and sour soup, chinese hot pot, other curry recipes. The green curry paste can be kept in the fridge and for $3.50 for the paste I think you can make this meal 4-5 times.

Black and White Chocolate Cupcakes

Black and White Chocolate Cupcakes

1 package or pouch of Ghiradelli Double Chocolate Brownie Mix 1/3 cup water

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

1 cup (8oz) cream cheese softened

1/3 cup sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

In medium bowl, stir brownie mix, 1 egg, water, and oil until moistened (40 strokes)

Using an electric mixer, mix cream cheese, sugar on medium speed until smooth. Add 1 egg and continue to mix on medium speed for 1 minute until smooth.

For each cupcake, place rounded tablespoon of cream cheese on top of batter.

Bake 28-32 minutes

Makes 12 cupcakes. (Try not to open the oven during the baking time otherwise your cupcakes might deflate.)