BIG AND BUTTERY CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES and BLUEBERRY DROP BISCUIT COBBLER and BANANA SPLIT CAKE

Cookies, Cake and Cobbler - three sweet ways to celebrate an end of summer sleep over.
I baked up a storm amidst the storm of my kids and a bunch of their friends.


BIG AND BUTTERY CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
2 2/3 cups flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 package of semisweet chocolate chips
2 cups coarsely chopped walnuts, toasted

In a large bowl, cream the butter, brown sugar, and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt, gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in chocolate chips and walnuts.
Shape quarter cupfuls of dough into balls. Place in an airtight container, separating layers with waxed or parchment paper, cover and refrigerate 12 hours or overnight.
To bake, place dough balls 3 inches apart on parchment paper lined baking sheets.
Press a shallow indentation in the center of each with your thumb, reshaping sides to smooth any cracks. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Bake at 400F for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool for 2 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks, cool.
Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from Taste of Home, June/July 2012
www.tasteofhome.com/recipes‎

BLUEBERRY DROP BISCUIT COBBLER

1 1/2 cups plus 3 tablespoons flour
3 tablespoons plus 1 cup of sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder
1/2 teaspoon of salt
6 tablespoons of chilled, unsalted butter, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon of creme fraiche
6 cups of fresh blueberries
2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon of finely grated lemon zest

Heat the oven to 375F.
Whisk 1 1/2 cups flour, 3 tablespoons of sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Add butter, using your fingertips, incorporate until only pea sized lumps remain. Gently mix in creme fraiche. Knead in bowl until a biscuit like dough forms, 5 to 7 turns.
Combine remaining 1 cup sugar, remaining 3 tablespoons flour, berries, juice, and zest in a large bowl. Toss to coat. Pour into an 8 by 8 glass baking dish or divide among six 6-ounce ramekins.
Scatter biscuit topping over berries.
Bake cobbler until juices are thick and bubbling and topping is cooked through and a deep golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes for ramekins, 45 to 50 minutes for baking dish.
Let cool for at least one hour.
Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from Bon Appetit, August 2012
www.bonappetit.com/recipes‎

BANANA SPLIT CAKE

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 cup sugar, divided
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 packages (8 ounces each) of cream cheese, softened
1 can (20 ounces) of crushed pineapple in juice, drained
4 bananas
2 packages (3.4 ounces each) vanilla instant pudding
2 cups cold milk
2 cups thawed whipped topping
1 cup chopped pecans

Mix crumbs, 1/4 cup sugar and butter, press onto bottom of 13 by 9 inch pan. Freeze for 10 minutes.
Beat the cream cheese and remaining sugar with mixer until well blended. Spread carefully over crust, top with pineapple. Slice 4 bananas, arrange over pineapple.
Beat pudding mixes and milk with a whisk for 2 minutes. Stir in 1 cup of whipped topping. Spread over banana layer in pan. Top with remaining whipped topping. Refrigerate 5 hours. Just before serving top with nuts.
Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from Kraft Foods, Best Loved Quick and Easy Recipes
www.kraftrecipes.com/‎