Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

I finally made chocolate chip cookies that stay soft! 

No idea as to why this happened, but hopefully it's repeatable.

Adorable vintage Corning Ware cookie baking sheet.

Maybe it's because I used more brown sugar than usual...

Love my vintage Dutch milk glass jar!

Or from refrigerating the dough for several hours before baking...

The beautiful vintage Pyrex Horizon bowl I used to mix this batch :)

Perhaps it was just going ahead and taking the cookies out of the oven long before they were golden...

Maybe some mysteries don't need to be solved.  

They just need to be served with a glass of milk ;)

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

2 3/4 cups flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1/2 cup chocolate chips (all I had! I'd suggest 1 cup)

Instructions

1.) Cream together butter and sugars. Add in vanilla and eggs.

2.) Add flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

3.) Mix and add chocolate chips.

4.) Refrigerate overnight (or several hours if you're husband is eager like mine was!)

5.) Preheat oven to 350

6.) Scoop tablespoon sized portions onto your cookie sheet ( I used parchment paper on top)

7.) Bake 12 minutes and transfer to wire rack to cool.

8.) They may seem underdone, but they will set and give you that soft chewy perfection!

Vintage Aprons

I love vintage aprons.

I'd been browsing Etsy, trying to scope out the one.

Low and behold, on my 1 year wedding anniversary, my husband and I were strolling through an antique store when the most darling floral apron caught my eye.

It was, the one.

Even more than that, I'm positive I saw this exact apron at this exact antique store about a year before, but I wasn't into buying beloved treasures back then. 

My husband even remembered.

The one, had waited for me. And my husband, (the true The One), bought it for me as an anniversary gift! Truly, so special!

Thought it deserved it's very own photoshoot. 

I love the blue and white, a little Dutch :)

Brought out some red Pyrex to really play up the vintage theme.

Besides, I have to inspire others to go out in search of their very own beautiful vintage apron.

Speaking of which, I have some sweet vintage half aprons for sale in my Etsy shop, DelightfullyDutch.

Buy them individually or as a lot!

Perfect, right!?

Get 'em before I change my mind and keep them! ;)

Take Heart

I can remember one of the first conversations I had with my husband, before we started dating.

I was a new Christian and had expressed to him how troubled I was by the state of the world and how overwhelmed I felt in the effort to make a difference.

He cut right to the chase and told me this verse that simply blew all of my fear out of the water.

So, take heart!

Trust in the Lord. 

He has a plan.

September 24, 2010

September 24, 2010.

An important historical event in my life.

The love of my life asked me to be his girlfriend!

So today we celebrate 4 wonderful years together as the best of friends!

He is a light in my life and more than a dream come true :)

Everything Beautiful

Wishing you a beautiful day!

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." ~Ecclesiastes 3:11

Dutch Chocolate Pudding

Looking through my Pinterest recipes the other evening, my husband looked over my shoulder and pointed to the chocolate pudding. 

I've made this before and thought it would be good to perfect!

I originally found the recipe here, but have made a few changes.

I used Dutch chocolate...because, well, you know.

Get excited! Pudding is about to happen!

Action shot! Slowly pour in the milk to stir out any clumps.

Thickened and ready to pour.

Find a lovely serving dish to pour your pudding into. Cover to keep a "skin" from forming.

Mmmm :)

Ingredients

1/2 cup granulated sugar

3 T corn starch

1/4 cup cocoa powder

1/8 tsp salt

1 cup half & half

1 cup milk

2 oz chopped chocolate (I used Dutch Verkade)

whipped cream and/or chocolate for garnish

Instructions

1.) Whisk dry ingredients (except chopped chocolate) in a small saucepan.

2.) Slowly pour in half&half and milk, whisking to prevent clumps.

3.) Place over medium heat and whisk until steaming.

4.) Add chopped chocolate and stir until melted and your pudding has bubbled and thickened.

5.) Remove from heat and pour into 4 serving cups.

6.) Put plastic wrap directly onto pudding to prevent a "skin" from forming.

7.) Refrigerate about 2 hours before serving.

Bell Pepper Breakfast Flowers

Add some color to your normal sunny side up breakfast! 

You'll need eggs...

Whichever boldly colored bell peppers your heart desires (there's orange too!)

Simply grease your pan. 

*Important Tip: Take notice of the top yellow bell pepper's inner pieces that I did not cut. That would have been better to apply to the other peppers for a more flower like look!

Add your eggs. Mine didn't stay in well, but I marched on!

Add a dash of salt & pepper if you wish!

 

Enjoy!

Ingredients

Bell Peppers

Eggs

Salt & Pepper

Instructions

1.) Grease your pan.

2.) Cut 1/2 inch thick rings of bell pepper.

3.) Crack in your egg.

4.) Cook covered over low heat until yolks are firm.

Spice and Everything Nice

There is so much to learn from the stylish kitchens of decades past. 

For instance, these milk glass spice jars add some rustic country flair to an otherwise overlooked decorative opportunity.

I never before looked at my parsley and thought, "Why isn't this more fun?" 

But now I wish I had one for all my spices!

There are many milk glass spice jar styles available. Some with retro colors like pink lids, and others with darling Dutch boys, girls, and windmills!

Which vintage spice jar set best suits your taste?

Strawberry Cake

This delightful Strawberry Cake makes a great brunch time eat, after dinner sweet, or bridal shower treat!

Let the fun begin!

Any arrangement will do!

Ingredients

6 T unsalted butter, softened, plus more for pie plate

1 cup all purple flour

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1/2 cup milk

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 lb strawberries, hulled and halved *try shaping into hearts for some added flair!

Instructions

1.) Preheat oven to 350

2.) Butter a 10 inch pie plate

3.) Mix dry and wet ingredients separately (excluding strawberries), then combine.

4.) Transfer batter to buttered pie plate. Arrange strawberries on top of batter. Press them in a bit.

5.) Bake 10 minutes at 350, then reduce to 325. Bake until golden brown and firm to the touch, about 30 minutes (my new oven) to 1 hour (my old oven), depending on your oven.

Let cool in pie plate on wire rack.

Enjoy!

Jennifer's Bridal Shower

My sister-in-law got married this past weekend and I thought it'd be nice to share some fun from her bridal shower I threw alongside her maid of honor and cousin, Amanda.

The lovely bride-to-be and mother of the bride.

Amanda made these adorable and delicious mini-bundt cakes!

A fun Strawberry Cake I made for the special day!

I made these party favors to sneak in the bike theme the bride and groom enjoy!

Some lovely vintage milk glass vases as a preview to the wedding decor!

Styled the utensils with the teal, gold, and white theme of the wedding!

A fun game hosted by Amanda!

Guests put their best wrapping skills on display!

The maid of honor happily watches her favorite bride open a mountain of gifts while bridesmaid and cousin, Shaylene, takes thank-you notes.

Made sure to get a picture with the bride before the day's end!

She threw an amazing bridal shower for me just over a year ago. Check out her party throwing skills here.

Pyrex So Sweet

Oooh, Ahhh. 

Pyrex and Strawberries!

Love the Turquoise Amish Butterprint passed down from my Grandma, to my Dad, to me!

Wonderfully recognizable shape.

Makes sweet strawberries look even more delectable!

Get your Pyrex collection rolling with DelightfullyDutch!

Antique Recipe Books

I love old books, and these antique cookbooks are amazing.

 Published in 1915. The style reflects the era.
Beautiful design and color contrast.

A unique bookmark found within.

 Fabric covered books are the best!

Wonderfully written. How to cook in 1911.

What old books do you treasure?