Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate Chip Cookies
By Erin at Dinners, Dishes and Desserts

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup Shortening
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
2 1/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 package chocolate chips

Cream butter, shortening and both sugars together.  Add in vanilla and eggs.  Mix until well combined.  Add flour, baking soda and salt. Stir until just combined.  Mix in chocolate chips. 

Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.  Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool.  Makes approx 3 doz cookies.

Citrus Garlic Chicken with Coconut Lime Rice

Coconut Lime Rice
By Erin at Dinners, Dishes and Desserts


1 cup Coconut Milk
1 cup Chicken Stock
1 Tbls Coconut Oil
1 cup Long Grain Rice
1 lime, lested and juiced


Heat Coconut Oil in the bottom of a pan.  Stir in rice to coat.  Add Chicken Stock and Coconut Milk.  Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to low.  Cook for about 20 minutes, or until all liquid is absorbed.  Stir in lime zest and juice before serving. 

Citrus Garlic Chicken
By Erin at Dinners, Dishes and Desserts

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
Salt and Pepper
1 Tbls Garlic, minced

1 Tbls Ginger, minced
1 Lime zested
1 Lemon zested
1 Cup Chicken Stock
3 Tbls Coconut Oil


Heat 2 Tbls Coconut Oil in a skillet over med - high heat.  Season both sides of chicken with salt and pepper.  Add chicken to the pan, and brown on both sides.  Remove from pan (it will not be cooked through). 

Add the garlic and ginger to the pan.  Cook for a minute or until soft.  Add in chicken stock.  Return chicken to the pan.  Cover and simmer over low heat until the chicken is cooked through. Remove chicken from the pan.  Stir in the zest and 1 Tbls of coconut oil.  Pour over chicken.  Enjoy!

Taco Pasta

Taco Pasta
Recipe The Girl Who Ate Everything
By Erin at Dinners, Dishes and Desserts

1 pound ground beef
10 oz small pasta shapes
1 small onion,diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 (14 oz.) can Rotel tomatoes (or plain diced if you don't like spicy)
1 packet taco seasoning
3 ounces cream cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
Salt and pepper

Cook pasta according to the package directions.  Reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking water. 

Meanwhile, in a large skillet  brown ground beef, and onions over medium-high heat until cooked through. Once the meat is cooked, mix in the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds. Add in the diced tomatoes and taco seasoning.  Let simmer over medium heat for about 3-5 minutes.

Stir in the pasta, cream cheese, sour cream and reserved pasta water, and continue stirring until the cream cheese is melted and the sauce is well blended. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Simmer over medium-low heat 3-5 minutes to reduce the sauce.

Snickerdoodles

Snickerdoodles 

Recipe from The Cookiepedia 

By Erin at Dinners, Dishes and Desserts

1 1/3 cups flour

1/2 tsp cream of tarter

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/8 tsp salt

1/2 cup butter, at room temperature

1/2 cup plus 2 Tbls sugar

2 Tbls light brown sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla extra

For Rolling:

1/4 cup sugar

4 tsp cinnamon

Grease cookies sheets, or line them with parchment paper.  Set aside.  

Sift flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt into a bowl, and set aside. 

Cream butter and both sugars on medium speed for several minutes until it is light and fluffy.  Add the egg and vanilla and mix to combine.

Add the flour mixture in two batches, making sure the first half is incorporated before adding the second.  Stop when the second batch is fully combined.

Stir together cinnamon and sugar in a bowl.  Roll 1 inch balls of dough into the mixture. Place them on the cookie sheets about 2 inches apart.  Flatten the balls slightly with the palm of your hand.  

Bake for 9 to 10 minutes for a chewy cookie or 12 to 13 minutes fir a crispy cookie.  Cool the sheets on wire racks for a few minutes, then transfer cookies directly onto the racks to let them cool. 

Twix Peanut Butter Brownies

Twix Peanut Butter Brownies
By Erin at Dinners, Dishes and Desserts

1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled slightly

4 oz unsweetened chocolate, melted

1 cup sugar
2 eggs
3/4 cup flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking powder
2 Twix Peanut Butter Candy Bars



Mix together chocolate and butter.  Add in sugar and eggs, and stir until well combined.  Add flour, salt and baking powder.  Mix until just combined.  Chop the candy into small pieces.  Fold into the batter. 



Pour into a prepared 8x8 pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.  Cool, and enjoy!

Caramelized Onion Dip

Caramlized Onion Dip
Adapated from The Barefoot Contessa
By Erin at Dinners, Dishes and Desserts

3 large sweet onions (yellow or white)
3 Tbls butter
3 Tbls olive oil
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup sour cream
1 cup mayo

Slice all of the onions very thin.  Heat the butter and oil in a large pan over medium heat.  Add the onions, salt and pepper.  Saute for 10 minues.  Reduce heat to medium low, and continue cooking for about 20 minutes.  You want the onions to get soft and caramel in color.  You don't want them browned from too high of a temp.  Once cooked, allow to cool slightly. 

In bowl of an electric mixer combine cream cheese, sour cream and mayo.  Beat until smooth.  Add in the onions and mix until well combined.  Serve immediately or chill to serve later.  Works well with potato chips, and pita chips are my favorite dipper with this!

Pumpkin Bread

Pumpkin Bread
From Food Network
By Erin at Dinners, Dishes and Desserts


3 cups sugar
1 cup canola oil
4 eggs
16 ounces canned unsweetened pumpkin
3 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp all spice
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
2/3 cup water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 2 9 by 5 loaf pans. 

Stir together sugar and oil. Stir in eggs and pumpkin. Combine dry ingredients in separate bowl. Blend dry ingredients and water into wet mixture, alternating. 

Divide batter between two loaf pans. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes. Remove from pans and cool.