No Bake Chocolate Chip Cookies

These are so easy to do.  I rolled mine in ground almonds instead of the coconut due to my coconut hater in the house.  These taste much better the second day.

1 can sweetened condensed milk 300ml
36 graham wafer squares or 2 1/2 cups crumbs
1 pkg chocolate chops 350 g
coconut

If using squares, crush until fairly fine.  Mix the sweetened condensed milk, crumbs and chocolate chips.  Form into balls.  Roll the balls in coconut and place on wax paper until set.  Store in sealed containers. No cooking required.  Makes 48 balls

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

A classic the kids will love.  I use vegetable or canola oil for this.

1 cup oil
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 cups oatmeal (rolled oats)
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
2 eggs

Mix all dry ingredients together.  Add oil, eggs and chocolate chips and mix.  Flatten out 5 cm balls onto a cookie sheet and bake at 180C for 15 minutes.

Super Easy Banana Loaf

1 cup sugar
4 tbsp butter
1 egg
3 bananas, mashed
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Mix all ingredients together and bake in a loaf pan at 350F for 1 hour.  Let cool and enjoy!

Chocolate Dipped Nut Brittle with Sea Salt

Be careful - this is highly addictive!

½ cup walnut pieces

½ cup pecan pieces

½ cup pine nuts

½ cup slivered almonds

¼ cup unsalted butter cut into pieces

1 tbsp vanilla extract

1 tsp baking soda

1 ½ cups granulated sugar

½ cup white corn syrup

1 cup semi sweet chocolate pieces

1 tsp sea salt

1. Preheat oven to 350F.  Spread all the nuts on ungreased baking sheet and bake until toasted, about 10 min.  Stirring once. Let nuts cool completely.
2. Line a shallow rimmed 15 ½ x 10 baking sheet with parchment paper and grease lightly with butter.  In a small bowl, place butter, vanilla and baking soda (no need to blend; set aside.
3. In a heavy bottomed saucepan over high heat, bring sugar, corn syrup and 1/3 cup water to a boil, uncovered.  While sugar cooks, brush down the sides of pan with cool water.  Boil sugar over high heat until it turns a light amber colour about 12 min.  Remove from heat and quickly stir in butter, vanilla and baking soda with a wooden spoon (the baking soda will make it foamy).  Stir in nuts until coated and spoon mixture onto prepared baking tray.  Spread brittle as thinly as possible.  Let brittle cool completely at room temperature.
4. Melt chocolate chips in microwave on medium, stirring every 10 sec. until melted.  Crack brittle into desired serving pieces and dip halfway into melted chocolate and place back onto greased parchment lined baking tray.  Sprinkle lightly with sea salt and allow chocolate to set.

Brown Sugar Banana Cake

Cake

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

1/2 cup plain yogurt

3 ripe bananas, mashed

2 tsp vanilla extract

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 cup chocolate chips

Filling

1 banana

Icing Sugar for garnish

1. Preheat oven to 350F.  Grease two 8” or 9” cake pans.
2. Cake:  Beat brown sugar and oil in an electric mixer.  Add eggs, 1 at a time beating well after each addition.  Add next 6 ingredients.  Beat to combine.  Fold in chocolate chips.  Pour batter into prepared pans.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in centre of cake comes out clean.  Cool in pans for 10 minutes.  Remove from pan and cool on a wire rack.
4. Assembly:  Place 1 layer of cake on serving platter.  Place sliced banana on top. Place remaining cake on top.  Sprinkle with icing sugar if desired.

** for a more decadent version, melt 3/4 cup chocolate chips and mix with 1/4 cup evaporated milk.  drizzle over top.

Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

My kids won't knowingly eat zucchini but they did eat these muffins! Ha! one for the veggies....:)

1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup milk mixed with 1/2 cup plain greek yogurt
1/3 cup canola oil
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 small zucchini, unpeeled and coarsely grated
1/2 cup chocolate chips

• Preheat oven to 350F.
• In a large bowl, stir together flours, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt
• In a small bowl, whisk together the milk, yogurt, oil, eggs and vanilla.  Add to the dry ingredients along with the zucchini and stir until almost combined; add the chocolate chips or nuts and stir just until blended.
• Pour into muffin tins lined with paper liners.  Bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until tops are springy to the touch.