Soft & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
People always ask me what my favorite food is, which is a very tough question for a professional chef who pretty much eats everything. I've thought long and hard about this and have come to the conclusion that a good ol' chocolate chip cookie is probably my biggest pleasure in life. Whether crispy, gooey, thick, thin, big, small... I LOVE them all. I've noticed that unlike me, most people are rather opinionated about their cookies. Some like them soft, and some like crispy crunchy. My best friend, Chris, is one of those people who only likes cookies that are soft and chewy, never crunchy, and when I was invited over to his apartment for dinner I decided I would surprise him with some soft, chewy cookies! After some research I found that there are two things that may help the cookies retain that soft, just-baked feel: pudding mix and cake flour. In this recipe, from my cookbook The Scone Queen Bakes, there is more brown sugar than white sugar, which helps to obtain that perfect chew. The pudding gives the cookies a beautifully sweet and robust vanilla flavor, but its creamy and gelatinous qualities keep these babies soft for the long haul — even days after you bake them, which is often hard to do!
Caprese Skewers with Balsamic-Zero Sugar Cola Reduction
These colorful caprese skewers put a bold spin on the Italian classic. Marinated mozzarella balls are paired with sweet heirloom tomatoes and finished with a glossy balsamic and zero sugar cola reduction that adds subtle caramel notes to the fresh ingredients. It’s an easy make-ahead appetizer ideal for entertaining, whether served at a casual backyard gathering or as part of an elegant cocktail spread.
Cola Ice Cream Float
A classic soda fountain favorite, this Cola Ice Cream Float combines creamy vanilla ice cream, rich chocolate syrup and ice-cold bubbly cola for the perfect balance of sweet, fizzy and refreshing. Finished with whipped cream, chocolate curls and a maraschino cherry, it's an easy, nostalgic dessert that's always in style.
