It's been a full year of cooking in my kitchen, of family favorites, of new dishes and even some invented and thrown together meals that resulted in really good food.

Thought I would end off the year with a review of my favorites for 2009.

The month of December was spent pretty much in the kitchen, baking. Yes, baking this and that and a whole lotta cookies.

These were by far the favorite of the season, I had friends and family rave about them and I don't think I've ever made as many, it just seemed like I kept baking and the dough kept multiplying. Not that I'm complaining, well, maybe just a little, my poor hips actually started screaming at one point "stop, just stop already".

But you know that's when you realize you have a winner, so because I love you all and like sharing my weight recipes, I'm giving you the opportunity to go make some, right now......thanks to Nestle so if you want to yell at anyone for consuming way too many of these, just go there.






* 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
* 2/3 cup NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Baking Cocoa
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
* 3/4 cup granulated sugar
* 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 2 large eggs
* 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Premier White Morsels

Conversion Calculator (for my family in South Africa and all the others that use a different metric system)



PREHEAT oven to 350° F.

COMBINE flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels. Drop by well-rounded teaspoon onto ungreased baking sheets.

BAKE for 9 to 11 minutes or until centers are set. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

I've posted this recipe a while ago, it's one of our favorite Portuguese side dishes *Peixinhos da Horta*.

My kids absolutely love it and will eat it the next day as a snack.

You can use canned green beans but I prefer fresh.

The original recipe I posted can be found right here.


Wash and trim the green beans.


Dip in the flour mixture


Fry in vegetable oil


Enjoy!