Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Checkerboard Cookies and Peony's gift

As the weather cools down and the leaves on the trees turn yellow, orange and red here, I have been busy with projects in my garden as I remove the withering warm-loving vegetable plants and geraniums (which are annuals here), and planted some chrysanthemums for fall.

One of the kids in the play group had a birthday party, and I brought a checkerboard cookie tray and gifts to that party. This is very easy to make using refrigerated chocolate chips cookie dough and dark chocolate mini bronie bites dough from Nestle Toll House. They come in a bar and are so convenient for this bake. Got this simple recipe from a friend Cindy's recipe file.

Preheat oven to 325F. Grease 13x9 glass baking dish.

Open each bar of cookie dough and cut into 12 pieces. Place alternately 1/2 inch apart in prepared pan to make checkerboard design.

Bake for 24-27 mins or until cooked. Cool completely and cut into bars.

Note: very easy for a lovely presentation.

On the same sweet note, my dear fellow blogger Peony or My Culinary Journal passed an award to me, and I'm thrilled to recive it. Thank you so much Peony!


However, I'm once again stumped on who to pass it to, as there are soooooooooo many wonderful bloggers out there! So, after thinking it through for awhile, I'm passing this award to:

Farm Girl for your wonderful bakes and heart-warming stories on the farm where I'm a frequent 'lurker.'

Kalyn's Kitchen for your delicious recipes and warm personality that shines through the web into my computer screen.

Judy for your sweet, funny grandmother's stories and comforting recipes.

Beau Lotus for your way with words and yummy recipes.

Rasa Malaysia for your beautiful pictures and recipes.

Retno Prihadana for your creative recipes and that no-alcohol tiramisu for kids.

Wandering Chopsticks for all your many talents (gardening, cooking, reviews.)

Kelly for your intersting reviews and fun recipes.

You're all wonderful in your own way and oh-so-creative!

Okay, I'm going to stop here so that my friend 'C' can give her award to the rest of you. hehe!

26 comments:

Kalyn Denny said...

Thanks so much for passing the award on to me. I'm truly honored!

(BTW, not sure if I've told you how much I love that photo of your kids! Just adorable.)

KellytheCulinarian said...

Congratulations on your award and thanks for the nomination! I feel so honored.

Anyhow, that cake is adorable and I'd love to have some.

Anonymous said...

OH these sound GOOD! *CONGRATULATIONS!* on your award! You deserve it~and Judy does too! now I wanna go and make new friends by clickin' through your links... OH so little time! LOL! (((((HUGS))))) sandi

TBC said...

Congrats on the award! The cookies look so cute

TBC said...

Congrats on the award! The cookies look so cute

Little Corner of Mine said...

Cool checkerboard cookies!!

Congrats on your award! :)
And thanks for leaving me some to pass it to....hahaha....

East Meets West Kitchen said...

Hi Kalyn,
You truly deserve it!
Oooh! Thank you!

Hi Kelly,
Thanks, and you're so welcome! And yes, you can have your cake too! :)

Hi Sandi,
I was just thinking of you and that you should get the inspirational one! :)
Happy clickin'!

Hi TBC,
Thanks!

Hey C,
Thanks! And my pleasure! ;)

Anonymous said...

I would pick those dark chocolate brownies first, then start on the chocolate chips. How can I win this checkerboard game ? :P

Anh said...

The cookies are very well-done!

Cynthia said...

Congrats on your award!

Trust a supermom like you to come up with checkerboard cookies :)

Big Boys Oven said...

Oh! such a creative way to present your cookies. Love it!

East Meets West Kitchen said...

Hi Tigerfish,
You win by eating it all up! hehe!

Hi Anh,
Thank you! The kids had fun with it.

Hi Cynthia,
Thank you! I'm no supermom, just a fun-loving one! haha!

Hi Big Boys Oven,
Thanks! You probably know by now that I'm playful with food. :)

J@n!ce said...

You truly deserve that award. How creative to have thought of making a chess like that. Awwww, its too beautiful to eat. haha :D

Janice Ng

daphne said...

Congrats!!!!!! U deserve it! *hugs*

Cool checkerboard cookies! They great. Bet they are gone quick too! hehee

Beau Lotus 涟 said...

Er...as usual I'm a little late (it's the Latin part of me) and slow on the uptake (blur like sotong as they say) but I'm here at last and I thank you for having thought of me for the award. Though my teachers would probably choke laughing knowing that someone just labelled me creative. LOL
But it's a great compliment (coming from someone truly creative like yourself) and an honour and I am jolly happy and proud about it! Will therefore have to work harder at the er creative side of me, I suppose, in order to live up to the award...
Great looking cake by the way, comme d'habitude.

East Meets West Kitchen said...

Hi Janice,
Thanks! But I didn't come up with the idea, just implemented it. hehe!

Hi Daphne,
Thanks! Yeah, they went fast!

Hi Beau Lotus,
Once again, you're great with words, and that's creative! Just be the way you are, and enjoy the glory! Thanks for the sexy french word in the end too. As usual. hehe!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations for the award!
Nice checkered cookies.

Wandering Chopsticks said...

Awww, Thanks! You're such a sweetie! :)

And congratulations to you too for getting the award!

East Meets West Kitchen said...

Hi Cooking Ninja,
Thanks! Next time you'll be checkmate! haha!

Hi Wandering Chopsticks,
You're most welcome, and thanks!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations and thank you!

And thanks for the smile--your Food Face post is hysterical. And your kids are too cute for words! : )

Cris said...

Congratulations on the award!!! This looks yummy, I bet my boys will say, "mommy let's make that tonight" if I show them, no matter how late it is they are always ready to make some chocolate dessert...

Anonymous said...

Congrats on ur award!! I love the checkerboard cookie! It's so cute.

East Meets West Kitchen said...

Hi Susan,
Thanks, and I'm so glad to pass it to you. I love your stories!
Haha! My kids are a handful of fun, that's for sure. ;)

Hi Cris,
Thanks! I think your boys will love those checkered chocolate cookies! You can also make them round in a round pan. :)

Hi Blurmommy,
Thanks!

Indonesia Eats said...

Hi hi I'm just stopping by and take some rest for the rush on packing and cleaning.

I remember I made checkerboard cookies for eid fitr last year and please take a look this link http://indonesia-eats.blogspot.com/2006/11/checkerboard-cookies.html

Perhaps Dyann's video will inspire you to make again

East Meets West Kitchen said...

Hi Andaliman,
Thanks for stopping during your busy move! As you requested, I stopped by your blog and saw your checkered cookies. Yours looked great! Mine's a short-cut, easy and simple recipe for little kids (toddlers) who are crazy for chocolate chips. Will try yours/Dyann's recipe sometime. :)

Rasa Malaysia said...

Sorry for the late reply...have been crazy. Thanks for the award...yay! I am CREATIVE. :)