Best Cookies: Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

These cookies are a delightful chocolaty twist on the traditional oatmeal cookie.

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

1 ½ cups sugar
1 cup butter, softened
2 eggs
2 ½ (1 oz.) squares unsweetened baking chocolate, melted
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
3 cups uncooked quick-cooking oats
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine sugar and butter in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Add eggs, chocolate and vanilla; continue beating, scraping bowl often, until well mixed. Reduce speed to low; add flour, baking powder and salt. Beat until well mixed. Stir in oats and chocolate chips by hand.

Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls, 2-inches apart, onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until set. Do Not Overbake.


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© Donna Monday
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How to Use Herbs in Everyday Cooking?

When first experimenting, easy does it! Use just enough herb to heighten natural food flavors. One strongly seasoned dish per meal is generally a good rule of thumb. Following is a list of guides for your everyday cooking needs:

- Start with 1/4 tsp dried herbs to four servings, or to one pound of meat, poultry, or fish, or to 2 cups sauce or vegetables.

- If substituting fresh herbs for dried, use 3-4 times as much fresh herbs.

- Measure dried herbs; then crush them in the palm of your hand before adding - this helps hasten the flavor release.

- Add herbs at the same time as salt and pepper to meats, vegetables, and sauces.

- In long-cooking foods, such as stews, add herbs during last half hour of cooking.

- Add herbs to juices or cold sauces ahead of time - let stand overnight if possible.

- Many herbs are compatible, so don't hesitate to use several herbs together.

- A rich spicy ginger cake that will last for weeks in a cake tin, if you are able to resist it for that long.

- Try some of these ideas for herbs, then experiment on your own and taste the delicious difference that herbs make.

- Basil is a natural for tomato and potato dishes. Try 1/4 tsp for each cup of tomato juice for a quick appetizer.

- When making potato salad, cook potatoes with a bay leaf and some onion.

- Sprinkle caraway seed over coleslaw.

- Add a dash of chili powder to corn.

- Chives are great in cottage and cream cheeses, and also in scrambled eggs.

- Add curry powder to deviled eggs.

- Oregano gives character to meat loaf, stew, chili, and tomato mixtures.

- Spark seafood and chicken dishes with tarragon. Also gives tang to tartar sauce.

- Thyme is popular for soups and chowders.

- Sage is best liked with pork and in stuffings for turkey and chicken.

About the Author:
Susan Carey
The author is a big fan of cooking recipes. Visit the following website for more info about health and cooking recipes.
http://www.101cookingrecipes.com
http://www.desserts-recipes.com
http://www.herbs-spices-recipes.com
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Article Submitted On: July 30, 2006

Choose Vegetarian Recipes

Whether you are a seasoned chef or someone who has never put together an edible meal, consider expanding your knowledge of cooking by adding vegetarian recipes. Chefs of great restaurants and moms of hungry families will enjoy having more meals to cook, and the customers and children who eat the food will be happy as well.

Exploring vegetarian recipes is great simply to spice up the kitchen with something new. No cook likes to get bored by preparing the same meals over and over. It is always fun to try new ingredients or methods of making the foods you love and it can be just as fun to experiment with vegetarian recipes you have never tried before.

Great vegetarian recipes can be found in many locations. Search online, in cookbooks, or at local health food stores for ideas. If you have friends that have been cooking great dishes try swapping vegetarian recipes with them. Sometimes restaurants will even share vegetarian recipes with their customers for little or no charge.

Stopping into a local health food store is a great way to obtain all of the ingredients and spices you will need to begin cooking vegetarian recipes to perfection. Workers at these stores are often knowledgable resources that you can utilize and learn from.

Incorporating vegetarian recipes into any diet will bring variety and give healthy eating options. Many studies suggest that switching at least some of your weekly diet to vegetarian recipes can be benefical to your health. Let your tastebuds enjoy new things that are good for your body. Vegetarian recipes will often include many of the vitamins, minerals, and sources of nutrition that every body needs. Instead of meat, vegetarian recipes are filled with healthy protein substitutes so that you do not miss out on things you need.

Take a look at your health and at the foods you've been eating. Including a few vegetarian recipes into your diet can quickly improve how you feel and can be part of an overall health plan that will improve your life. Since few things are as important as leading a healthy life, take your time in researching new ways to eat better. Vegetarian recipes are just one of many things that you can consider. And contrary to popular belief, vegetarian recipes are full of the taste and enjoyment of many other foods you eat. The biggest difference is that they are much better for you.

About the Author:

Triston Huntsmin loves to cook and share great vegetarian recipes. Discover some great vegetarian recipes for yourself at www.vegetarianrecipeshub.info.

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Cooking Meat In The Microwave During Those Hot Summer Months

Summer is here and if you are anything like me, you don't want to turn on your oven or stove unless absolutely necessary. I do most of my cooking in the microwave during the summer months. It helps keep my home cooler and cuts down on my cooling bill.

I have found that many people don't like to cook meat in the microwave. I was once one of those people. Chicken would come out like rubber and I always worried that ground beef didn't cook thoroughly. I have since found that the trick is to use the right cooking utensils.

There has also been some hype about how its not safe to use plastic to cook meat or anything else in the microwave. This is only half true. Certain types of plastic have chemicals that are activated with the extreme heat of the microwave and these chemicals can get into your food. Hence, the key to cooking in your microwave is, once again, to use the correct cooking utensils. Basically, use containers that are specifically designed for cooking in the microwave.

My preference in microwave cooking is Tupperware. Their cookware is specifically designed for the microwave so you don't have to worry about the chemicals. Their Oval Cooker is designed to retain the moisture of your meat so that your meat does't come out dry and rubbery. It also has a colander so you can brown your meat and let the grease drip to the bottom. That makes it easy to dispose of the grease drippings or use them for gravy. Tupperware also backs it cooker with a lifetime warranty so if it breaks I can just replace it with a new one, which seems like a good investment to me.

So the instructions I am providing below apply to the Tupperware Oval Cooker. If you feel confident using a different type of microwave cooker, of course, try that, but please make sure you follow the guidelines I stated above.

Cooking Ground Beef

Place the ground beef with your favorite seasoning in the colander of the cooker. Cover and cook for 6 minutes per pound. Let sit a few minutes then remove from the microwave. By using the colander all the grease will drain to the bottom of the cooker.

Cooking a Whole Chicken

If using the Oval Cooker you will need to use the extender piece for your average size chicken. Then place the chicken in the cooker. Pour about half a cup of water on the bottom of the cooker. Sprinkle your chicken with your favorites seasonings. Place the cover on the cooker and cook for 6 minutes per pound. I think you will be surprised at how moist your chicken comes out.

Cooking Cut Up Chicken

After cutting up your chicken use the same instructions for cooking a whole chicken. Determine by how high the chicken stacks if you will need to use the extender or not.

Cooking Chicken Pieces

You can use the colander to cook chicken pieces. Cut the chicken into bit size pieces. I usually use chicken breast cutlets for this. Place the cutup chicken pieces in the colander. Season with your favorite seasonings. Place the cover on the cooker and microwave for 6 minutes per pound.

Cooking Pork

I have not yet tried cooking pork in the microwave. Pork is tricky and my family doesn't eat pork so that is one reason I have never tried cooking it in the microwave. However, there are plenty of beef and chicken recipes out there, so I hope the above suggestions will help you keep your kitchen cooler during the hot summer months.

About the Author:
Donna Rivera-Loudon has an MBA in information technology and is currently a Tupperware Director and CEO of her own company. Donna designed A Website for the Modern Woman, which contains more tips for cooking in the microwave.
Article Source: www.iSnare.com