chocolate chip cookie cake - Cookie Week!

Shout out to Sarah @ The Sugar Hit who's having Cookie Week! this week, which inspired me to partake in the theme and make this epic, awesome, indulgent Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake. Chocolate chip cookies are too good to be giving to your loved ones in boring cookie form. Try this awesome chocolate chip cookie cake, which despite the overload of alliteration in the title, is an awesome vehicle for serving chocolate chip cookies, and a fantastic crowd pleaser at your next holiday party!

This recipe makes two chocolate chip cookie cakes, which if you were smarter than me, would have stacked them on top of each other like a sane person. Darn I hate myself sometimes. You know what to do. Click the orange button to unleash chocolate chip cookie cake havoc. 

coming soon - chocolate chip cookie cake

Yeah...we may have caught a small case of the alliteration bug. 

{how to make} quick and easy homemade biscotti w/ cranberries + white chocolate

Homemade biscotti is a completely different experience than the ones that come from the plastic wrapper. Unlike the biscottis that you buy from the tubs at Costco these aren't stale or dry. They're hard and crunchy like they're supposed to be, but because we make them fresh, you can really taste the buttery shortbread-esque crumb that's just so good!

Not only do these biscotti look awesome, but they taste just like you would get them from a really fancy italian restaurant. I'm not even kidding you guys. I was so surprised at how quick, and easy, and awesome these turned out that I made a second batch for the neighbors (a.k.a myself). These are also a wonderful gift for friends and family this holiday season. You know what to do. Press that orange button. 

coming soon - cranberry & white chocolate biscotti

bacon & parmesan kale salad - another cool kale recipe

At Chow Creations, we pride ourselves in our exceptional ability to adulterate healthy foods with bacon. 

This week I'll show you how to make the most unbelievably cheesy, creamy, restaurant parmesan dressing. You'll want to glug it down when no one is looking. In other words, keep your eyes on your creamy parmesan dressing because someone will want to glug it down if you're not paying attention. Oh, and we're also making a salad. It has bacon. Now you're probably interested. You know what to do, click Chowtinue Reading. :-)

coming soon - bacon & parmesan kale salad w/ creamy parmesan dressing

Bacon and cheese lovers unite! Who said kale had to be "healthy". 

no-bake caramel reese's peanut butter cups

Not a lot of us like preparing huge Thanksgiving meals. In fact, in a study I just made up, that is the number one reason why people make friends at all, so they can crash their friends' Thanksgiving dinners. But you can't go to your friend's mother's house and expect to get a meal without bringing her a gift. That's where these no-bake, super quick and easy caramel reese's peanut butter cups come into play. In fact, in another survey I just made up, it takes longer to say the name, than it takes to make the actual recipe. 

I should also remind you that your friend's mother loves peanut butter and chocolate. Bring these and I guarantee you she'll give you first dibs on turkey. You know what to do. Click Chowtinue Reading.

coming soon - no-bake caramel reese's peanut butter cups

These take so little time to make, and make great gifts for the friends and family on gobble-gobble day! Check back regularly! 

super easy cut-out lime sugar cookies

Reader, meet lime sugar cookie, exotic second cousin of the sour cream cookie. Lime sugar cookie, meet reader. 

All of us have made sugar cookies in the past, but in this post I want to show you a couple little tricks to make your sugar cookies the best sugar cookies at the Thanksgiving table. Keep reading if you want to learn how to make a refreshing twist on this classic recipe; a quick and easy stress free Thanksgiving dessert contribution. You know what to do, click "Chowtinue" Reading. (Oh my goodness these puns are chowsome)

coming soon - quick & easy roll-out lime sugar cookies

I'm not one to brag (yes I am), but that picture looks worthy enough for a magazine cover. 

flat and chewy white chocolate chip oreo cookies - the best cookies I've ever had

If you like white chocolate macadamia nut cookies, but you pick out the nuts, this cookie is the cookie for you. To put this in perspective, these are like a more exotic, chewier, flatter, more yummy chocolate chip cookie. The kids will love these, the neighbors will love these, the goldfish will love these, but most importantly, you'll love these because they are so easy!

Out of all of the reasons why this cookie is "the best cookie I've ever had", there is one superior reason why. That is, this cookie has cookies inside each cookie. You're looking at the Chow Creations patented (not really) oreos baked into a cookie cookie making method. Let's get into that.

coming soon - flat and chewy white chocolate chip oreo cookies

These are the chewiest, the flattest, the best cookies I've ever had. They even trump the red wine chocolate cherry cookies of seasons passed. 

white chocolate oreo cheesecake bars

Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner, and as your coworkers and church group have reminded you, so is the annual dread of what you're going to make for the holiday potluck. (Hanukkah is approaching too. I didn't forget  about  you my Jewish viewers.)

If you're one who checks the silverware, napkin, bread, or drink boxes be aware that you're not being discreet about your laziness. People know, and they talk behind your back. Show those gossiping b*tches you aren't lazy, and not only that, but you can cook laps around Margaret's annual slimy burnt pigs in a blanket. 

coming soon - white chocolate oreo cheesecake bars

Look guys, if there isn't a trail of drool going from your gaping mouth there's something broken inside you.

kale and green apple salad - we're so cool we had to wait till kale wasn't a trend anymore

Before I begin, let me preface this week's post with a statement, a statement of my own character which will become progressively clearer as you scroll further down."I am lazy". (what's new)

This week I've been plagued with a sore throat, so forgive me if I don't talk much in this post. Trust that there will be various occasions in this post where I "cough" to give myself an excuse not to finish the sentence. This week I made a *cough. 

Unless you're blind or illiterate, you know that Chow Creations has finally succumbed to the raw, healthy, vegan, gluten-free, I hate to say it but yes we're getting onto the kale trend. Wait...what do you mean "kale" isn't a trend anymore? So my producers are telling me that "kale", nor "justin bieber" are trends anymore. I know, I'm as astounded as you are. That means Chow Creations has successfully diverted yet another food trend! Yes! Long time readers of this blog know that it's our highest goal to subvert any food trends until we start our own. I'm still trying to get "grapeberries" and/or "rectangular cake prisms" started. 

coming soon - kale and green apple salad

strawberries and cream scones

Somehow people have this misconception that scones are difficult and tedious to make with little or no corollary satisfaction. And by people I mean me. It's not like they're brownies am I right. But anyways, this week I had my first attempt at the "difficult" triangular devils, and to my surprise they were nothing of the sort. These scones were moist  and buttery with a delectable creamy crumb and sweet pockets of fresh strawberries laced throughout. If you're a non-foodie that's code for "you will not be disappointed if you make this right now!"

Keep reading if you want to learn my patented (not really) 5 Step Scone Making Method: Dry, Butter, Wet, Form, and Bake. As always the ingredient list will be at the bottom of the post. 

coming soon - strawberries and cream scones

Scones are dry, hard, and tough to eat. But Strawberries and Cream Scones are fluffy, creamy, berry-y and delicious. They're also really quick and easy to make. 

how to make ice cream without an ice cream maker | coffee oreo parfait

This super cool technique to make ice cream without an ice cream maker (or liquid nitrogen) is not only comparable, perhaps even superseding it's churned variety, but is healthier, lighter, and so much more impressive. Plus, it's really easy.

Everyone who reads this blog knows that I love making things with really fancy french monikers because they sound so much more exotic and more difficult to make than their American counterparts. So in keeping with the theme, this week we'll be making a "sabayon", the French version of the Italian zabaglione. It's merely whisking egg yolks and wine together which I'm sure all of you can do. And we're turning the sabayon, usually served as a sauce for fruits and stuff, into a parfait which is a French frozen dessert with a texture similar to the love child of an ice cream and a mousse. Did you know parfait is the French word for "perfect". The more you chow. Just to be clear, French parfaits are completely different from layered yogurt, granola, and fruit parfaits we have in the states. I mean just look at the pictures. 

coming soon - how to make ice cream without an ice cream maker | coffee oreo parfait

Soon you'll be able to make the richest, smoothest, tastiest ice cream on the planet, and all without an ice cream maker. Wattttttt!!! I'll teach you how to make a super fancy sabayon folded with cream, coffee, and crushed oreos. Are you drooling? You should be drooling. 

easy chewy pumpkin oatmeal cookies + white chocolate

The school year is officially in motion. The trees are blushing all different hues of red and oranges, fall is upon us. You know what that means right. PUMPKINS! Yay!!! I love pumpkins, pumpkins make me happy, happy happy happy. And you know what I love more than pumpkins, pumpkin cookies, chewy pumpkin oatmeal cookies with white chocolate. To be completely honest I would be perfectly fine with just a chewy spiced oatmeal cookie but when you add pumpkin and white chocolate, God help me. I never told anyone this but I made two batches. shhh.

These cookies are so easy even your kids will be able to whip'em up. If you're looking for something fun to do with the family before the school year gets too hectic this is your recipe. Did I mention they're delicious? They're delicious. 

coming soon - chewy pumpkin oatmeal cookies + white chocolate

banana bread makes another cameo. ;-)

You wouldn't believe how good these taste, believe me there's one in my mouth. hehe.

apple tart + spiced pastry cream + cinnamon shortbread

"Down the last rolling hill where the perfect untrampled grass met the erratic dirt, the maple trees blushed. The wind blew a subtle sweetness through the woods and it mixed with the grass as it came up and filled the air with the scent of autumn."

That's a snippet of the book I'm trying to write with my brother. But it's also a testament to how busy this past year has been. I just want to say thank you to everyone who has made our recipes and followed us from the very beginning. Over this past year, I've come across nothing but warmth and support from all of you in the food blogging universe, which you may be familiar, is notorious for being intensely cutthroat and competitive (or so I've been told, I'm still new to this). 

With our one year anniversary in concurrence with the official start of the autumn season I thought it would only be proper to make something that epitomizes the elegance and flavors of the new harvest. This decked out apple tart consists of a cinnamon shortbread tart shell, filled with a pastry cream spiked with autumn spices and topped with sliced apples. I mean does it get any better? (no it doesn't)

coming soon - apple tart + spiced pastry cream + cinnamon shortbread

In two days it'll be Chow Creations one year anniversary. And to celebrate this milestone (while at the same time welcoming the new harvest season ) here's an Apple Tart with a spice infused pastry cream so good you'll have to try to believe.  And as always, 

Chow!

mexican chocolate pound cake - minus the mexican chocolate

Chocolate porn. Don't be alarmed. Chow Creations is not yet another food blog to resolve to indecency to increase traffic. We simply listen to our viewers and the viewers say more porn, food porn that is. This week, after being away for quite awhile, I return with a mexican chocolate pound cake. Rich and dense however at the same time somehow fluffy and definitely chocolatey. This cake can certainly be the subject of many ahhh's and ohhh's of the next family gathering or church potluck. 

Despite it's lack of "mexican" chocolate, we make up for it with a heaping dose of cinnamon and many other tasty flavors including coconut, buttermilk, and "american" chocolate. Well I'm not sure if any chocolate is american seeing that they all come from Brazil or Columbia or some place of that nature, but it's certainly a chocolate which has an american stamp of approval seeing that it's fortified with tons of sugar and milk. Plus I'm using chocolate that's in "chip" form and you know americans love their chips. 

coming soon - mexican chocolate pound cake

Last week, or was it two weeks ago, (I'm still a little disorientated from just getting back from the caribbean) we had some serious porn on this site, manchego cheese porn that is. But instead of cheese porn, cause that gets cheesy after a while this week we're showcasing chocolate porn. That's right rich, fruity, delicious chocolate melted and folded into dense, yet at the same time fluffy pound cake, a post you guys shouldn't miss. This week. On Chow Creations. And as always, 

Chow!

homemade thin crust pizza + pesto + potato + manchego

It's one of those rare days in San Diego where the clouds congregate low and heavy in the sky, and they choke the air with their presence. They cried. Last week I made this awesome Manchego and Marcona Almond Pesto, which you should definitely check out, but I was beginning to get tired of the ol' pesto on bread or mixed into pasta. After hours of scribbling ideas into a notepad, ripping them out, and missing the trash bin, I decided what I needed was to whip up a batch of fresh pizza dough. 

I love making pizza, even making and kneading my own dough, but what I love most about making pizza is figuring out what to put on it. In the past I've tried Alfredo and Scampi, Sloppy Joe's, even a Quintuple Meat (Pepperoni, Ham, Bacon, Brisket, and Sausage) Pizza. This time I wanted to make something simple, simple but elegant, and I don't think it gets any simpler nor elegant than Pesto, Potato, and Manchego. Plus you won't guess how easy making your own pizza dough can be.

coming soon - homemade thin crust pizza + pesto + potato + manchego