Take Me Home, Country Roads

This weekend my posse and I decided to get in touch with our country-side. While the tourists continued to infiltrate our fair city, we packed up and headed west to the mountains (at least by my Oklahoma-bred standards) of West Virginia to become one with nature. 

As is the case with many of my life experiences, this one was not without incident. On the way to the cabin we hit (ran over an already dead) deer. I was nothing short of hysterical. 

There was lots of fun once we got to the cabin though...it was the land of old timey wonders

And an indoor treehouse. Whatthewhat?!

Nothing like a good hike to greet the day

Amid the exploring and soaking in the gorgeous spring weather, there was also a fair amount of eating and drinking. By now, if you've read this blog with any regularity, it's likely you know where this story is going....and yes, I did break out a new recipe for the trip. 

Since I had to take into account the traveling and pseudo-rough atmosphere I didn't want to make anything needing too much care (ie: nothing with icing or that requires refrigeration/must be served warm). Enter, cookies. And not just any cookies. Instagram-find-courtesy-of-Sally's-Baking-Addiction cookies. Yes, they were wonderful. Sally hasn't failed me yet! 

Inside Out Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

Courtesy of Sally's Baking Addiction

• 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
• 1 large egg (at room temperature)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup + 2 Tbsps dark chocolate cocoa powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 2 Tbsps milk (I used almond milk)
• 1 cup white chocolate chips

 Preparation

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, on medium speed, cream together butter and sugars until light and fluffy
2. Add egg and vanilla and mix until combined
3. In a medium bowl, combine dry ingredients (flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt). Whisk together, then add in 1/3 increments to the mixer bowl
4. By hand, stir in milk and folk in white chocolate chips. Dough should be sticky, but chill for at least 2 hours before baking. [I chilled mine overnight]
5. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350F and cover cookie sheet with parchment paper
6. Scoop out dough using a Tbsp, roll into a ball and place on cookie sheet about an inch apart
7. Bake for 10 minutes. Cookies will be soft, but allow to cool for at least 5 minutes on baking sheet before transferring to cooling rack

Similar to camping, I miss these cookies already