Pea and Ricotta Pesto

 From: Veggie Feasts

Ingredients:

• 4 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
• 500 g (16 oz) fresh or frozen shelled peas
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 100 g (4 oz) ricotta cheese
• juice of 1 lemon
• 2 tsp mint (I used parsley because Tesco was out of mint)
• 30 g (1 oz) Parmesan cheese
• salt and black pepper

Directions:

1) Cook the peas in a saucepan of lightly salted boiling water for 3 minutes.








2) Drain and immediately refresh under cold water.









3) Put the peas into a food processor with the oil, garlic, ricotta, lemon juice, mint (or parsley), Parmesan and salt and pepper and process until fairly smooth. I don't have a food processor so I used a potato masher.
4) Serve with crostini or a baguette.

Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies

National Chocolate Chip Cookie Week!
Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 3 cups Nestle Toll House Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 375F.
2) Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in small bowl.








3) Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy.








4) Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.









5) Gradually beat in flour mixture.
6) Stir in morsels.
7) Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.
8) Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown.
9) Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes (or eat right away)
10) Remove to wire racks to cool completely (or, as stated, eat right away).

Rum and Coke Cupcakes

Taken from here and made for a friend who loves Rum and Coke!
Ingredients:

• Coke Cupcakes
• 2 cups flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup butter
• 3 TBSP cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 1/2 cup mini marshmallows (or large ones that have been cut up)
• Rum Glaze
• 5 egg whites
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 cup butter (recipe called for 2 but I tasted and was good with one)
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup dark rum

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
2) Line pan with cupcake liners.
3) Combine flour and sugar.






4) Combine margarine, cola and cocoa and boil.










5) Add marshmallows and stir until melted. It will begin to rise to be sure to keep an eye on it.
6) Remove from heat.

7) Add to the flour and sugar mixture.










8) Mix in buttermilk, eggs, baking soda and vanilla. It will be very liquid-y!






9) Fill cupcake liners 1/2 or 2/3 full and bake for 17-20 minutes.

10) Combine egg whites and sugar over heat.
11) Remove from heat
12) Mix with a blender until peaks are formed. I'm not sure where my blender went, so I was never able to reach this point, and the frosting was left as more of a glaze--which is fine too because it still tastes good, but does not look as pretty.
13) Add butter in a bit at a time, mixing well.
14) Add salt and rum and mix.
15) Add to cooled cupcakes. I poked a hole in them to add some to the middle too!