Gina's Go To Guittard Chocolate Rounds

Gina’s Go To Guittard Chocolate Rounds

1 stick of real butter, softened

1/8 cup of sugar, granulated

1 cup of all-purpose flour

½ cup of Guittard Milk Chocolate Chips

Powdered Sugar

1/16 cup of peanuts or almonds

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugar in a medium sized bowl with an electric mixer at low to medium speed. Gradually add the flour and chocolate chips and then combine with hands. If dough is dry or crumbly, add a little bit of water. Spray your hands with cooking spray or add a little flour if dough is too sticky and is sticking to your hands. Using the palm of your hands, roll rounded Tablespoonfuls of dough into 1-inch balls. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet for 13 minutes approximately. Let stand 2 minutes before removing from cookie sheet and after cooled roll in powdered sugar. The color of the cookies will be pale not golden brown. If not allergic to nuts, may add crushed almonds or pulverized peanuts. 

More Recipe Ideas from Cookbook Author Gina Meyers

Southern Belle Story

Southern Belle

Are you a true Southern Belle?

By, Gina Meyers

       When I was about four or five years old, my dad suggested we go on a bike ride. Now, picture this. Fresno, California, circa 1976. Our family had just moved from San Francisco two summers earlier and my mom and dad had just built a Wathen-Castonos  Massionette home, off of 3^rd Street and Alluvial Avenues in Fresno. We lived as North as you literally could go, beyond our home were fields of figs  trees and our street Alluvial was a barely paved road of two lanes with open ditches pretty much on every other corner. I don’t remember my dad placing me in the child seat in the back of his bike, but I do remember the ride almost home. It was hot, probably a Sunday afternoon in Fresno, maybe 100 degrees. My dad’s bike was fast, he must have taken us east on Alluvial and then was turning around when suddenly, a flat tire on the back of the bike no less!!  At four years of age the idea of walking home in the Fresno heat seemed pretty unbearable, I remember that much. I also remember feeling agitated, annoyed and not happy. I also remember refusing to get off of the bike –after what seemed like an eternity, of bumps…and my dad pulling the bike along the side of Alluvial, I requested his handkerchief. He got it out and gave it to me, instead of blowing my nose or wiping my face with it, I preceded to fan myself with the white handkerchief. It wasn’t a signal but apparently it appeared as such. Suddenly, a very cheerful woman with a large van, slowed down and rolled down her window. She blurted out, “Hey, you need some help?” My dad responded yes and that we had a flat tire. As my dad loaded the bike into her van and we got in, the lady said, “I just had to stop, your daughter looked in distress.” Not the distress from a tragedy, more the Southern Belle style of , “Gee, I can’t believe it’s so darn hot today, I am in need of a mint julep, a fan or … a handkerchief.”

So are you a true Southern Belle? Are the bells ringing? We all have things that make us feel uncomfortable and out of control. Sometimes we recognize our personality traits early on in life like I did. Who is in the drivers’ seat of your life? What direction are you headed in? Too often we misread the signs. Tires get flat and we need to pump them up. Sometimes we need to ask for help even if we don’t feel like we need it. Often times we are passengers in this brilliant and beautiful journey we call life on earth. Is God in your driver’s seat? 

Happy Birthday Julia Child

Happy birthday Julia! In honor of Julia's birthday, I am making a Chocolate Carrot Cake.

Best wishes,

Gina


Julia Child making an omlete

Chocolate Carrot Cake

4 eggs, beaten

2 cup of sugar

1 cup of vegetable oil

½ cup of milk

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

3 cups of carrots, finely grated

2 cups of flour

1/3 cup of cocoa

2 teaspoons of cinnamon

½ teaspoon of salt

2 teaspoons of baking soda

Directions: Stir the eggs, sugar, vegetable oil, milk, vanilla extract, and carrots in a medium sized bowl. Stir until sugar has dissolved. Sift dry ingredients and fold into the carrot mixture and continue to stir until all ingredients are combined. Pour into a greased 9x13 pan. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 50 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Top with cool whip, cream cheese frosting, or powdered sugar.