First things first: Have you entered to win a pair of tickets to the 2012 Silver Spoon Awards party yet? There’s still time! Go here.

So, when I found out that I got into the NYC Marathon last year through the lottery I immediately started making a list of “must go-to” places. On the top of my food list was Levain Bakery, and on the top of J’s food list was Doughnut Plant. Since J organized the Sunday chaos of chasing me around the city (and running with me!), I felt I owed it to him to visit his #1 rather than mine.

And I’ve been thinking about those darn cookies I missed out on ever since. I’ve seen them on Food Network and so many blogs that I finally decided to take matters into my own hands and try making them myself.

And, OMG, I’m SO GLAD I did.

They’re crispy on the outside and chewy/gooey in the center, and as big as your head. The perfect cookie!

I used 1/2 Trader Joe’s chocolate chips and 1/2 of a chopped up semi-sweet chocolate bar. The different chocolates and walnuts added such a great texture to the cookies.

If you’re looking for cookies to impress, give these a shot! They were best within 3 days of baking so I wouldn’t recommend baking them ahead of time if you’re planning on taking them to a picnic/party/event. But they’re super easy so it’s not really necessary to bake them ahead of time!

Enjoy!!

Do you have a favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe? I’m still searching, but this one’s pretty high up on my list now….

I knew I wanted to make bread this week but was struggling with which way I should go with it. And then way J cracked open one of his home-brews Sunday night, inspiration struck. Beer bread it was.

I scoured Pinterest for the perfect recipe, but I just couldn’t decide. So I made two.

One with half whole wheat and all-purpose flour (and oats!) and one with self-rising flour only.

I fell in love with the whole wheat loaf. It’s doughy, oaty, and chewy, just the way bread should be!

J fell for the white loaf. It’s dense, a little sour, and can hold up for a sandwich!

But I bet they’d both be amazing with a little spread of butter and a bowl of soup.

I think this is the first time I’ve ever made beer bread that didn’t come from a Tastefully Simple box. And they were just as easy (simple?) to make from scratch. Throw all the ingredients in a bowl, mix, and bake. Easy peasy.

What’s your favorite kind of bread? Have you tried to make it at home?

For being a self-proclaimed chocoholic, I’m not a huge chocolate cake fan. I’ll always pick white or vanilla or strawberry or spice or carrot (you get the idea) over chocolate. Not sure what it is, but besides Hershey’s Perfect Chocolate Cake (ah-ma-zing), I have yet to gush over a chocolate cake.

But when I saw this recipe last week, I couldn’t help myself. I had to try it.

The batter itself was worth the time. Check it out.

Rich, creamy, and light, almost like frosting!

I wanted to take a spoon and eat the “cake” right out of this bowl.

Lucky for the boys I didn’t do that.

Because now they have this delicious cake to get them through the week.

And also lucky for them (and me?) that, again, it’s not my favorite. Have at it, boys. Bundt it up.

What about you? Chocolate or white cake?