Dark Chocolate Chip Pretzel Cookies

I know this has nothing to do with fresh produce but I had found a recipe like this one that sound really good to me.  I was really in the mood to bake tonight, I had one egg left in my fridge and just a little bit of shorting left that I needed to use up.  So I thought to my self I should make cookies tonight.  I didn't want to make normal chocolate chip cookies cause one I didn't have enough semi-sweet chocolate chips and second I had a full bag of dark chocolate chips self  that I need to use up.  So I thought This might just be the perfect recipe to make tonight considering I had some time on my hands and I was home by my too, which is always a plus, cause tonight I didn't really feel like spending time with people.

The reason I love this recipe so much is because it bring my too favorite things together salty and sweet.  Although these were a little bit more sweet then salty but, they still had the little bit to them which makes me happy.  The reason these cookies happen to be a little more sweet then salty was because I had decided to roll them in sugar before baking them.  They may have happened to be a little to sweet but I didn't care.  I think next time I  wont thought Because I would had liked to taste the salt from the pretzel more.

Although they might not be a fall cookie I still think that they are going to be perfect for a cold last night in September.

Recipe
1/2 cup shorting 
1/4 cup Butter
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1 egg
2 teaspoons vanilla 
2 cups flour 
2 teaspoons corn starch
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips 
1/2 cup crushed pretzel

Cream butter, shorting, and sugars together. Then add in egg and vanilla. Sift the flour, corn starch  and baking soda together.  Then fold in, then mix in the chocolate chips and pretzel.  Roll into balls place on baking sheet and bake for 10-12 mins on 350.  

Seasonal Items

I know my blog is suppose to be all about fresh ingredients and turning them into great recipes but, I wanted to show case some of the great produce that I have a round my area.  I live all around farms, no matter where you drive around here, even in St. Joseph you will at least find one farm.  St. Joseph next store neighbor Stevensville has some of the pest produce around, and even some of the best wines as I have been told.  You cant really even drive less than 2 miles with out seeing one farm.  Here is a  list of some of the produce u can find around my area.  

• Apple
• Corn
• Butternut Squash
• Sweet Potato Squash  
• Pumpkins 
•  Bell Pepper
• Gypsy Peppers 
• Spaghetti Squash 
• Gourdes 
• Watermelon
• Tomatoes
• White Potatoes
• Red Skin Potatoes 
• Cucumbers
• Acorns 

Sweet Honey Catalina Chicken Pasta

The other day I had to make dinner for myself, which is not unusual in my house at all cause no one is ever home.  I really only had some chicken and pasta and some other stuff in my fridge that didn't think was very useful to me till I thought about.  I saw the sweet honey Catalina in my fridge.  I thought it would make a good pasta and chicken dish if I added them together.  The fresh part that comes in with this recipe is the tomato it doesn't matter what kind as long as there ripe.  Around me in the summer and in the begging of fall we have tomato around here. So I thought this was a great use for them.  They don't have to be cooked you could just mix them in at the end.  I love this recipe because it’s not too spicy and has a sweet taste too.  I am sure that this would be a great recipe for families or just anyone who wants to try something new.  

Ingredients 

2 T olive oil

2 garlic cloves minced 

5 medium Tomato’s

4 Boneless chicken breast 

1 1/2 c Sweet Honey Catalina Dressing 

1/2 c Half and Half 

1/4 c water 

1c sliced mushrooms

1/3 c parmesan cheese 

1 lbs. of Rotini Pasta a

Salt and pepper to taste 

  Boil water in large pot, once boiling salt the water, and then add in pasta.  Mince the garlic and deseed the tomatoes and cut into strips about 1/2 inch then cut the strips in half once ( if you want them larger you do don't have to cut again)

Place the olive oil, garlic and tomatoes in a large skillet.  Cook for 2 mins.  Place chicken on top and brown each side just a little bit.  After that add in the dressing, and half &half.  Place lid over the top of skillet and let cook for 5-7 minutes or till chicken is cooked.  Check the sauce every so often, if the sauce begins to thin add in the water.  Once chicken is cooked add in the salt, pepper, and cheese.  Remove chicken and Place on plate to be served. Drain pasta and add in sauce place in different bowl. 

Enjoy 

Introduction

Food to some people is just a way to receive energy or to fill there stomach but, to me it something completely different.  Food to me is something more important then just something to fill that empty feeling in your stomach it a way to create something new or to get the people around you to try something new.  One way I have done this is by being able to go local farm stands and buy fresh produce.  

Map of MI http://www.city-data.com/city/St.-Joseph-Michigan.html

This is my hometown St.Joseph, Michigan.  Its a little spot on the lake as they say that has brought me close to the produce around me 

There is more place just like this one all around my area of southwest Michigan.  I cant wait to go visit lots of them so I can come up with great new recipes