My review of Kroger's The Truly Awesome™ Homestyle Chocolate Chip Cookies

Kroger Cookies

I am a bzz agent and recently joined the campaign for Kroger's The Truly Awesome™ Homestyle Chocolate Chip Cookies. I was super excited to join because who wouldn't love a yummy homestyle cookie. Warm, chewy and almost melting chocolate chips can't be beat - except that's not what we received. Although I think they are headed in the right direction, the cookies were far, far, far from chewy. Hard is a better word to describe them. I decided not to let my immediate reaction be the judge. I went ahead and followed the directions on the box, which said to microwave them before i would make a final decision. i will admit microwaved they are infinitely better. Warm and chewy for sure, but really just too salty for my taste (P couldn't stop complaining about the salt) and when you warm them up it changes the texture in a way that isn't pleasing to the palette.

I wish they would have started with a chewy cookie so when it was microwaved it almost melted in your mouth. again - this is just my opinion. I just felt like for homemade cookies i wanted more. I most likely won't be recommending these any time soon. :(

taking punches

so today - for the 2nd time - i've had to use boxing gloves that someone right before me has sweated in. it repulses me. i told my trainer today that under no circumstance would that happen again and that i would be purchasing my own.

i think i've found them - i think they are perfect. thoughts?

i think i'm going to order them first thing tomorrow from amazon for overnight shipping. speak now if you know a thing or two about boxing gloves and think i should consider something different. thank you and the end.

xox

csj

dark chocolate peppermint brownies

3/4 c. dark cocoa powder

1/4 tsp. baking soda

2/3 c. butter, melted

1/2 c. boiling water

2 c. sugar

2 eggs

1.5 tsp vanilla

1 bag of small baking peppermint patties

preheat oven to 350 degrees. grease a 13x9 pan. mix cocoa powder and baking soda together with wood spoon and add 1/3c of melted butter. it will be super think and paste like. once you get there - add boiling water and mix until smoothish. next add sugar and eggs and the other 1/3c of butter. this is when i switch to a whisk. whisk the batter until it is very smooth. stir in the vanilla until it's combined and finally add the peppermints. i will say that you can truly add any candy or no candy at this point. the brownies alone are pretty good. sorry i didn't take pics of the actual process - i forgot that i wanted to post it until i was finished mixing the batter. because these are dark chocolate, they are very dark and so delicious.

sorry about the giant brownie missing from the photos, P was not waiting one more minute. annoying.

anyway - these turned out better than i'd anticipated. if dark chocolate isn't your thing, feel free to use standard dutch process cocoa powder. happy eating!

xox

csj

craftmania

it's been a couple of weeks since i've posted. not much new to report here. work has been especially busy. i'm so excited to head home to missouri for thanksgiving. i can't wait to see my friends and family. i'll miss the pups, but lucky for us we have a great dog sitter so i know they'll be in good hands.

three very exciting projects and one project purchase made in the last few weeks. 1st the projects.

1. I made a burlap wreath from pinterest with the help of a very crafty friend, bt. i completely envy her ability to be crafty. burlap is messy. it sheds like crazy, but i love the end result. it was super fun to finish something in an evening of hanging out with a friend.

2. I continued my craftiness by starting to upholster my dining room chairs. it's my first time and everyone said oh it's super simple - well it sort of was - i'm not excited to do the additional 7 chairs that remain. but i like it..

3. I started another wreath with bt (she's below) and i finished it today. i'm quite pleased with it (sorry for the not-so-good photo) - of course she already made one and hers is way better than mine.

4. my favorite favorite - i bought this china cabinet at a garage sale for super cheap! i'm so excited to fix it up. it really doesn't even need that much work, but you will be able to see what needs fixing up in the glass pane. i heart it mucho mucho! can't wait to get started.

ok. i think that's enough for one post. craft mania!

xox

csj