this is a page for

Browsing Tag: mint

Mint Mash-up Cookie Bars

I think that I speak for a lot of New Orleanians when I say that right now, I am missing Mardi Gras! Even though this one in particular was exhausting – walking with the kids in parades, volunteering at work, dancing, doing grad school assignments between parties – I want more! Perhaps the only redeeming thing about the end of Mardi Gras season is that St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner. This holiday brings more parades, more fun, and more green glitter to the spring season! In the kitchen, mint is one of my favorite flavors, so I LOVE being able to unashamedly add green, minty candies to my holiday baking in March. These cookie bars first made an appearance during my college days. They were so well-received that I decided to revisit – and tweak – the recipe for the blog!

This recipe is SO EASY, you’ll be modifying it to make year round. It’s the delight and comfort of a chocolate chip cookie without having to form dozens of cookie balls and bake in batches. One pan, in, bake, and done! I repeat: SO EASY!! These are  great go-to cookies to treat everyone from your kid’s classmates to coworkers. Everyone loves a cookie!

 

So, without further ado, I introduce to you:

How to Lure a Leprechaun: Cookie Edition

~~~~~~~~~~

Step One. 

Prep step! Measure out your ingredients, and let your butter and eggs come up to room temperature. In a mixing bowl, mix the salt and baking soda into the flour with a fork.

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13 pan with butter. Add a Tablespoon or two of sugar to the pan and shake it around to cover the butter so that your cookies don’t stick.

Pro Tip = when baking, use sugar instead of flour to coat your pans! No one likes getting that chalky lump of flour that stuck to the bottom, so solve the problem with sugar. It also makes the outside of your treat a little crunchy, upping the “wow” factor for your tastebuds! 

Sneak a few mint M&Ms (and maybe an Oreo) to munch on =]

 

Step Two. 

In your mixing bowl, beat the butter on high speed for 3-5 minutes, until it is light in color. Add both sugars to the bowl, and beat again on high for another 3 – 5 minutes until the mixtures is light and fluffy. One at a time, add the eggs to the bowl and beat on medium speed until they are incorporated. Mix in the vanilla.

Step Three.

In small batches (I do about three), incorporate the flour into the mix on low speed. Dough is ready for the mash-up!

Step Four.

Chop up the Oreos. The size of the chunk really depends on your personal preference. I like big pieces of cookie in my cookies, so I give it a very rough chop. Add the Oreos, chocolate chips, and 2/3 of the Mint M&Ms to the dough, and fold in with a spatula.

Step Five. 

Spread the dough out evenly into your pan. Press the remainder of the M&Ms into the top of the dough. Bake at 350°F for 25 – 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Let the giant cookie cool, then slice up and dig in!

Mint Mash-up Cookie Bars

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Yield: one pan of bar cookies (about 24)

Mint Mash-up Cookie Bars

Enjoy a minty take on chocolate cookies to add a little green to St. Patrick's Day treats!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 cup chocolate chips
  • 1 row of Mint Oreos
  • 1 package of Mint M&Ms

Instructions

  1. Prep step! Measure out your ingredients, and let your butter and eggs come up to room temperature. In a mixing bowl, mix the salt and baking soda into the flour with a fork.
  2. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13 pan with butter. Add a Tablespoon or two of sugar to the pan and shake it around to cover the butter so that your cookies don't stick.
  3. In your mixing bowl, beat the butter on high speed for 3-5 minutes, until it is light in color. Add both sugars to the bowl, and beat again on high for another 3 - 5 minutes until the mixtures is light and fluffy. One at a time, add the eggs to the bowl and beat on medium speed until they are incorporated. Mix in the vanilla.
  4. In small batches (I do about three), incorporate the flour into the mix on low speed. Dough is ready for the mash-up!
  5. Chop up the Oreos. The size of the chunk really depends on your personal preference. I like big pieces of cookie in my cookies, so I give it a very rough chop. Add the Oreos, chocolate chips, and 2/3 of the Mint M&Ms to the dough, and fold in with a spatula.
  6. Spread the dough out evenly into your pan. Press the remainder of the M&Ms into the top of the dough. Bake at 350°F for 25 - 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Let the giant cookie cool, then slice up and dig in!

Notes

*You can cut the cookies as big or as small as you like, depending on your "yield" needs!

Recipe Management Powered by Zip Recipes Plugin
https://frostaholic.com/2017/03/mint-mash-up-cookie-bars/

Peach & Whiskey Spritz

IMG_0829

I saw a picture on the internet recently that had replaced Mars’ solar ranking with Louisiana. If you’ve even been in the summer, you would agree that it can’t be too far off!

This cocktail is the perfect summer night (or morning, whatever) cool down. It combines sweet, ripe peaches with the earthy and robust taste of whiskey. You can sweeten it up or not all. You can choose a simple sparkling wine or a sweet champagne.

Cocktails technically have recipes, but I say go with whatever floats your boat – this is a suggestion that you can tweak to your heart’s content!

~~~~~~~~~~

IMG_0830

Step One

Prepare your ingredients! Separate the mint, chop the peaches, cut a lemon, slice one for garnish, and get your alcohol nearby

 

Step Two

Put a few ice cubes in the bottom of the shaker. Add the peaches, mint, and juice of the lemon. Pour the amount of whiskey that is desired, and add any simple syrup that you would like.

Note: You’ll see from my picture that I chose a pretty cheap whiskey. I have acquired a “whiskey snob” taste from my family, but it’s not worth the cost when you’re mixing with flavors that will mask what makes expensive booze good. Save your money on this cocktail.

 

Step Three

Shake, shake, shake! Pro Tip: Cocktails mix best when you come up with a dance. 😉

 

Step Four

Pour the whiskey mix into a glass of choice (I used a white wine glass – a champagne flute would be much more classy). Fill the glass with your desired bubbly. Add garnishes of mint and peach.

Sip on the porch under a fan and laugh at the weather – it can’t rain on your parade with this drink in hand!

 

Peach & Whiskey Spritz

Peach & Whiskey Spritz

Ingredients

  • 3 oz whiskey
  • 1 peach - half cubed, half sliced
  • 4-5 sprigs of mint
  • 1/2 lemon
  • up to 1 oz simple syrup
  • prosecco or brut champagne

Instructions

  1. Prep your ingredients! Slice your peach in half. Cube half and cut the other half into thin slices. Cover the bottom of a cocktail shaker with ice cubes (about 4-5)
  2. Add all of the ingredients except the champagne to the shaker.
  3. Shake, shake, shake!
  4. Strain the whiskey mix into a champagne or white wine glass. Top with champagne and enjoy!

Notes

© Adventures of a Frostaholic

Recipe Management Powered by Zip Recipes Plugin
https://frostaholic.com/2016/06/peach-whiskey-spritz/