Double Chocolate Coconut Cookies

I was suffering from an insatiable sweet tooth this afternoon, and had to do something about it.  After flipping through my copy of Martha Stewarts Cookies cookbook, I could not pass these up; chocolate, coconut, and walnuts, what more could you ask for in a cookie!  Plus I got to use my awesome professional Kitchenaid my mom gave me for Christmas last year.  This recipe is perfect as-is, but I used regular semi-sweet chocolate chips instead of white chocolate since I did not have any in stock.

If you do not have a silpat, I highly recommend getting one.  I bake all my cookies on them and they prevent the cookies from sticking to the pan.  They slide right off the silpat and it prevents the bottoms from burning...perfection!
Silpat tip: Before using your silpat for the first time, set your oven to 400° and place it directly onto the oven rack.  Leave it in for about 20 minutes.  The silpat will smoke and emit a slight odor, but after will be ready for your first baking excursion!

I recommend trying these.  They are simple to prepare, and the result is great.  Be careful to not over-bake as these cookies should be a bit on the chewy side and not crispy.  I baked mine for 11 minutes rotating the sheet half way, but your oven temperature may vary.  Whenever I bake cookies, I make sure to watch the first batch carefully so I can relax for the remaining batches and know that they will come out perfectly.  You can find Martha Stewart's cookie recipe here.  Enjoy!

Fresh Quick Meat Sauce

5 super ripe, fresh tomatoes
6 fresh picked basil leaves julienned
2 tbs EVOO
2 freshly chopped garlic cloves
1/4 chopped onion (red/white/yellow)
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 can of stewed tomatoes
1/2 can tomato paste
1/4lb ground beef
salt and pepper to taste

Serves 2-3 people

Heat olive oil in skillet and add garlic and onion.  Saute for a few minutes to bring out all the flavors.  Add beef and cook until browned.  Add fresh chopped tomatoes, stewed tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, basil and salt and pepper.  Stir together all ingredients, cover and simmer for about 15 minutes.  Serve over your favorite noodle and enjoy!

I love homegrown, super ripe tomatoes, and look forward to them every summer.  There are endless ways to prepare tomatoes, so be creative and inventive when thinking of what to do with them!  I happened to have some leftover linguine and ground beef in the fridge, and wanted to use it before it spoiled.  Also, my tomatoes were getting soft, so I knew cooking them would be the best option.  This sauce came out pretty good, the only thing I was missing was fresh Parmesan cheese.  Remember, be creative in the kitchen and make sure to have fun when cooking for yourself, your friends and your family!

Asparagus Fern

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I've been admiring this fern for quite a while at my local Lowe's store, but they only offered a large size that seemed a little pricey to me.  Low and behold the other day I walked in and saw a smaller size at a great price!  I purchased 2, but hesitated planting them for a few days because just about every spot in my yard gets pretty intense sun throughout the day, and these little suckers are only suppose to get morning sun.  I finally decided on a spot that gets about 6 hours a day.  I was nervous that this would be too much, but so far (about 2 weeks) they are looking great.  I am making sure to water at least every other day to establish these little gems, and can't wait to see them grow.  If they are doing well at the end of the week, I think I will go buy a few more.  You can't beat the bright, light shade of green these will add to your garden, and the curious spiraling twisting branches add a bit of fun to any space.