Dark Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies

Dark Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Hello! As you may have noticed this little ole blog of mine got a facelift and a new name. Welcome to The Nosh Life. You may find that some recipes [ like this one ] still have Boone & Owl branding - Due to the number of styled recipes I have not been able to update the visuals for every post yet. If you enjoyed this recipe and would like to pin it for later please use the updated pinnable image below and help solidify the new branding! Thanks, loves - Jen

Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies are the most inviting sweet of fall. The onset of cool breezy fall weather has inspired me to bake quite a bit in the past week and a half. To me, there is nothing more relaxing than baking. Measuring, mixing, tasting.. it is a cozy release. Since Thanksgiving is literally right around the corner ( nine days away, you guys. NINE. ) I decided to whip up Dark Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies. Say that three times fast! I try to make these at least once during November. They are Thanksgiving wrapped in a cookie. I am known for cake like cookies, and these little pillows of yumminess are exactly that. They are cake like; moist and packed with flavor. They taste like a pumpkin pie made by angels.. but better! 

For this particular recipe, I used a Betty Crocker base sugar cookie mix. This is simply a time saver. You can turn a sugar cookie base into anything you desire! It is a great little trick if you are short on time. 

INGREDIENTS: 

1 box of your favorite sugar cookie mix ( I use Betty Crocker gluten free )

1 stick of butter

1 large egg

1 teaspoon of vanilla ( I use Spice Islands )

1 1/2 teaspoons of water

1 1/2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice

1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon 

1 1/2 teaspoon of unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 cup of pure pumpkin puree

1/2 cup of dark chocolate chips ( I use Ghirardelli 60% dark )

1/2 cup of walnuts ( finely chopped ) 

* you can use any nut that you prefer. Chopped almonds or macadamia nuts would be great in this recipe as well!

PREPARATION.

Preheat oven to 350˚. Finely shop walnuts ( or nuts or your choice ) and set aside. 

In a medium mixing bowl combine the sugar cookie base, butter, egg, vanilla, water, and spices ( pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, and cocoa ). Mix until a soft dough forms. May appear slightly sandy. Fold in pumpkin puree. A loose dough will form.

Fold in dark chocolate chips and chopped walnuts.

On your lined baking sheet drop hefty teaspoons full of the cookie dough. Because these cookies are quite cake like, you will need to press down on the dough with the back of your spoon so they do not rise too much. If you like super fluffy cookies, leave the dough drops as is.

Bake for 10 -12 minutes and enjoy!

You can store theses cookies in an airtight container for up to a week ( if they last that long! ) These cookies are amazing warm! Pop them in the microwave for 12 seconds and enjoy with a cold glass of milk during the week!

* do keep in mind that these cookies are very cake like. Once stored, the slight outer crust will soften much like a cupcake top. They are moist and fluffy.

What is your favorite pumpkin flavored dessert? Do you love chocolate and pumpkin together?

Have a beautiful day,

Savory Roasted Carrots

Savory Roasted Carrots

Monday, November 9, 2015

Hey guys! Need a quick healthy recipe? Roasted carrot disks are both savory and sweet! These roasted carrots are so delicious, and you do not have to feel guilty after chowing down.  I have eaten an entire pan by myself! I also turned orange from doing that one too many times. Beta-carotene at its finest. If you are not up for looking like an oompa loompa, share these scrumptious carrots with your loved ones and spread the beta-carotene around ;) 

WHAT YOU NEED:

10 large carrots ( I use orange, purple, and white carrots ).

2 tablespoons of olive oil.

A palm full each ( about 1 1/2 teaspoons) of black pepper, Italian herbs, and onion powder.

COOKING:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Dice carrots into round disks and spread out on a lined baking sheet. Pour olive oil evenly over carrots and sprinkle spices. Toss evenly to coat. Bake for 25-30 minutes and enjoy!

It is that simple! The prep is very easy and only takes a few minutes. If you want slightly crisp edges on the smaller disks, roast the carrots for 40 minutes. 

* I use organic carrots from my local fresh market that are absolutely huge. If you are using the typical orange carrots from the grocery store you will need to up the number used x2.

Do you have a healthy recipe that your family loves? Share it/link it up in the comments!

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WEAR || A FEW THINGS

WEAR || A FEW THINGS

Thursday, October 15, 2015

THE GOODS

| TOP: JOSEPH RIBKOFF ( EXACT )

| DENIM: LOFT ( SIMILAR )

| HANDBAG: C/O SOLE SOCIETY ( EXACT )

| HAIR ACCESSORY: ANTHROPOLOGIE ( SIMILAR )

| BOOTIES: BORN CONCEPT ( SIMILAR )

Just a few things...

ONE. I am so happy about this crisp weather lately. I can finally wear all of the cozy tops that I have been hoarding in my closet! Summer is great, do not get me wrong. It has its own treasures. But that fall tho. I ordered this amazing top from Joseph Ribkoff a month or so ago. Cropped top overlay, leather piping, gold zippers on the sides.. It is everything a girl could want! Did I mention that it is extremely comfortable? Well, it is!

TWO. Long walks, deep conversation, and effortless laughter has reminded me lately how precious each moment is. It is easy to take the people we cherish most for granted, and overlook how special even the smallest moment can be. Sometimes it is the smallest things that mean the most. Soak up every minute you have with the dearest to your heart. Wallow in the moments. Drink them in. 

THREE. Why is it that cool weather deceives me into thinking that I can eat whatever I want? Ice cream.. by all means. What's that, a cookie? Better eat it. Need help finishing that piece of quiche?

Perhaps it is the high-waisted leggings and slouchy sweaters. All of that room for a few extra pounds!

FOUR. Speaking of gaining weight. Asparagus hash brown crust quiche is the best thing that your tastebuds will ever encounter. I found this out in a moment of desperation. I popped into Common Ground, a local coffee shop, and selected a piece of asparagus quiche out of extreme post-gym hunger. It was the best thing that I have ever eaten. End of story. 

FIVE. A friend of mine did me a really sweet favor yesterday. She took a few minutes of her time and graciously gave them to me, walking down to my work to bring me lunch because I could not leave the shop. It was a simple favor, a generous gesture, and it touched my heart tremendously. Even if you have just a moment to give to someone or to do a small favor for them, it matters. It is no small thing in the end. Take advantage of those moments. You never know how impactful they might be.

Your turn! What are a few happenings or thoughts that you would like to share?

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 ________________________________ MEET BRITTANY ________________________________

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I was born and bred in Kentucky and honestly don't see myself ever leaving the beautiful bluegrass state. My days are spent practicing law and this blog has allowed me to embrace my creativity and provided an outlet to showcase my interests. It has truly become my baby and I hope that you enjoy reading it half has much I enjoy creating it!

How did you get started blogging? 

I got started blogging mostly because I loved to read blogs. After graduating law school and moving to a new town I found myself unfulfilled and in search of something to fill up my creativity cup. I had wanted to start a blog for years but the time had never been right. I'm so happy I took the plunge!

Where do you find inspiration? 

SO many inspiration mediums! I love flipping and dog earring magazine pages, jotting down ideas in my notebook that come up from chatting with friends, and of course hours of scrolling Pinterest! I've really tried to steer clear of following trends and just blogging about something because other bloggers are doing the same. I find my best ideas come from just channeling the things that happen in my everyday life.

Three things you can't live without..go!

My girlfriends--after college it's so hard to maintain friendships but also so important. I make a conscious effort to put my friendships high on my priority list. Nothing makes me feel more refreshed than a weekend eating, laughing, and dancing with my girls.

My dogs- my little pooches bring such joy to my life. I've recently started fostering dogs and it is so rewarding. They are hard to pass on to the next part of their journey but nothing makes my day more than watching one of my dogs find their forever homes!

Good food- life would be so boring and sad without good food. I have always had a big appetite and food truly is one of the joys of life!

What do you find most beautiful in life? 

This sounds cheesy but the older I get the more I truly realize it's all about the little things. Big moments of happiness or excitement are always fun but learning to cherish the small moments such as a quiet Friday night with your favorite tv show, splurging on dessert, or seeing an old friend really is what makes life oh so beautiful. 

Tell us something we don't know about you!

I hate this question! I always try to think of something super clever or surprising. I'll choose something silly. Something you don't know about me is....I desperately want to love blue cheese. I always order dishes that have it in it hoping to love it but I just don't. I need to stop and accept I just don't like it!

START HERE: Why I Broke Up With Stitch Fix  |  Emotions In The Workplace  |  Pear and Apple Treat

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Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cake ( Gluten Free )

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cake ( Gluten Free )

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Hey! I am especially excited about today's post you guys. Why? Because it's the most delicious post ever. You can never go wrong cookie dough. You can never go wrong with chocolate cake. So why not just put them together! It's a blissful, addictive marriage of rich chocolate cake and the classic chocolate chip cookie flavor we all love! Each bite is a symphony.

For my 24th birthday I decided to shake things up with the cake! I'm a chocolate cake kind of girl. Always have been, always will be. Chocolate cake is the most delicious base for everything. I had fun with the flavors this year. This cake has cookie dough in the middle and on top! Holy yum. The cookie dough adds the perfect little surprise. Who doesn't love cookie dough!? I could eat an entire tub by myself, and may have done so in the past.. but let's not dwell on that ;) This cake is especially fun because it is a personal sized cake. You could eat the whole thing by yourself. If you make it for your birthday there are no calories. Isn't that what we dream of? Cake without the consequences!

Because this cake has a whipped topping in place of frosting you will need to pop it in the fridge so it doesn't start to droop. If you love regular frosting use it! It will be just as delicious and remove the necessity of fridge time. 

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

| 1 box of chocolate cake mix ( I used Betty Crocker Gluten Free Chocolate). 

| 1 small tub or stick of chocolate chip cookie dough ( I used Pillsbury Gluten Free ).

| 1 tub of So Delicious CocoWhip ( You can use cool whip or regular vanilla frosting! ). 

| 2 glass 6"x 6" baking dishes  ( You can use a normal 8"x 8" baking pan if you prefer ).

PREPARATION & ASSEMBLY.

Preheat oven to 350˚. Grease baking dishes with coconut oil and set aside. Move the So Delicious CocoWhip from the freezer to the fridge to thaw out. 

Combine 3 eggs, 1 stick of softened butter, and 1 cup of water with the cake mix and beat on medium speed for one minute. Pour cake mix evenly into baking dishes and bake for 25-30 minutes. These mini cakes will rise quite substantially. Toward the end of baking, shake the baking dish gently to make sure it is fully baked. If the center jiggles, leave the cake in the oven for a few more minutes!

Pop fully baked cakes out of baking dishes and set aside to cool for 30 minutes. After the cakes have cooled cut the rounded dome tops off so you have  flat top cakes ( The domes are so delicious. Indulge! Munch on the cake tops while you put the cake together! ). Grab the So Delicious CocoWhip out of the fridge and put a medium/thick layer on the bottom layer of cake. Break chocolate chip cookie dough into chunks and place them all around the bottom cake layer. Add plenty of cookie dough chunks! You want every bite to have a little taste of cookie dough. Top cookie dough with a thin layer of coconut whip and place the second cake layer on top. 

At this point you will need to put the cake in the fridge for 5-10 minutes. This ensures that the coconut whip does not start to break down too much and become runny. If you choose to use regular frosting this step is not necessary. 

After the cake has chilled, frost the entire cake with the coconut whip ( or frosting of your choosing ) and place chocolate chip cookie dough chunks around the entire edge of the cake. You can eat it right away or pop it in the fridge till you're ready to munch!  

This cake is incredibly easy to put together. I chose to use a cake mix, but you can certainly use your favorite scratch cake recipe! You can swap the CocoWhip for Cool Whip or regular vanilla frosting. The coconut whip does add a light and refreshing element to the rich chocolate cake, and cookie dough. Happy baking!

* The baking dishes that I use are Anchor Hocking and they are 3" deep. When it's all said and done the baked cakes are about 5" thick. I found the So Delicious CocoWhip at my local Walmart. I'm linking you HERE to the product locator so you can find it in a store near you.

This is by far my favorite cake. All of the elements make it irresistible! What is your favorite cake recipe?

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ADVENTURES IN BLOGGING: 3 REASONS FASHION BLOGGERS DESERVE PROPS

ADVENTURES IN BLOGGING: 3 REASONS FASHION BLOGGERS DESERVE PROPS

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Hey, friends! I'm stepping away from the blog today so the lovely Leah from My Favorite Adventure can take over! I could not be more thrilled about this! Leah is a gem. Her writing always puts a smile on my face. She is real. She is playful. She is just herself. Stepping into her creative space is like sitting down with a friend. Comfortable and genuine! Stop by My Favorite Adventure on your way out of here ;) You simply will not regret it!

Hey, hey, everyone! I'm Leah, the blogger behind My Favorite Adventure, and I'm taking over Boone & Owl for the day! But first, a little bit about me. I'm recently (as in "less than six months" recently) married to my high school sweetheart. Tyler and I started dating when I was 15 and he was 18, so we've navigated a lot of life's changes together! I'm a church secretary by day, which I love. Doing ministry on a daily basis rocks. Seriously. Some of my hobbies (other than blogging) include reading voraciously, napping too often, Snapchatting, and watching The Mindy Project.

Tyler and I on our wedding day. Say it with me... "Awww!" When I was brainstorming ideas for this post, I looked back through the first few pages of Jen's blog and was reminded that the girl knows fashion. I mean SERIOUSLY. If you're a reader of hers already like I am, you'll know that, but if you're new around here, PLEASE check out her fashion category. Can we say Pinterest-worthy? She's got style on lock down. I'm not a fashion blogger and never will be. Honestly. I've even posted about it before! Then I shared an outfit of mine and stood in the snow awkwardly and remembered why I said I'll never be a fashion blogger. Today, I'm going to share with you why I think fashion bloggers are the bomb-diggity.

One. Homegirls know how to look comfortable in front of the camera. I'm a photographer that will gladly stay behind the lens for this very reason. The only reason our engagement and wedding pictures looked halfway decent is because we had a bomb photographer that told us exactly what to do. Hallelujah for that one, amiright? 

Two. They're more creative with their wardrobe then I'll ever be. I have a pretty basic uniform: flowy top, high-waisted jeans, ankle booties or gladiators, depending on the season. Done. If you see me on any given day in the office or on the weekend, that's what I'm wearing. It's comfy and it looks good on me, so I stick with it. Fashion bloggers on the other hand... experimenting with clothes is like second-nature. Trying things on in a store probably doesn't give them hives (or maybe it does, I don't know). Switching it up is just par for the course. 

Three. They have hubbies, moms, sisters, etc. that love helping them out. I've had my husband and my younger sister take some pictures of me for my blog and it was like pulling teeth. Seriously. "What is this even for?" "Why do you need pictures of you shopping online?" "There are people watching us!" Props to the willing (or I guess unwilling) photographers that are behind the awesome outfit photo shoots.

Now do you love Jen even more after you realized how much work goes into a fashion post? Because I do! If you're a fashion blogger reading this, THANK YOU. If you aren't a fashion blogger like me, SHOW SOME APPRECIATION. What would Pinterest be without them, right?

Find more of Leah on social media here: BLOGLOVIN' | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | TUMBLR

_____________________________________________________________________________

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SWING INTO FALL: BURGUNDY SWING DRESSES AND LIFE LESSONS

SWING INTO FALL: BURGUNDY SWING DRESSES AND LIFE LESSONS

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

THE GOODS

| DRESS: MICHAEL STARS

| BOOTIES: C/O SOLE SOCIETY  (EXACT)

| CLUTCH: KATE SPADE

Hello loves! I'm so excited to share this style post. Two reasons: this swing dress is insanely comfortable, and I get to show off the best birthday present a girl could get ( i.e. Kate Spade anything ). The sweet crisp chill air of fall is so close I can taste it! I am methodically budgeting my way to the cutest most comfortable fall wardrobe I can get my hands on. I snagged this burgundy number from the boutique where I work. It is both the perfect playful swing dress, and the most versatile tunic. Tights and knee boots turn this into a whole new outfit. Add a scarf and a jacket and you're ready for a fall date! 

This past weekend I turned 24. It was devastating. 

In all seriousness, it was a wonderful sweet weekend filled with chocolate chip cookie dough cake ( expect the recipe soon! ), carnations and gerber daisies, thoughtful presents, and joyous fellowship! It was everything a young woman's birthday should be. It was a blessing. 

I have a tendency to be a worrier, and a little melodramatic when it comes to very non-dramatic things. When I turned 19 I cried. My youth was all but spent! Such hogwash. There is so much life to live! I realized this past saturday, as I sat pondering all that has transpired in the past year, how quickly time goes by, and how much life can be lived in a short period of time. A lot can change quickly. Wonderful things transpire and hard things transpire.  James 4:14 says: "Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away." So what should we do with this time, this life, that burns brightly for a little while, and then burns out? Embrace every moment! Do not worry for the things of tomorrow, for we do not know what tomorrow will hold. Rejoice in the good, be steadfast in the bad, live everyday  for Christ! 

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4: 6-7.

Let's live today with courage and confidence, with peace and trust; knowing that the Lord is sovereign, and that He is faithful to provide for our needs, bolster us when we're weak, and blanket our hearts with peace when we seek Him. 

Talk to me friends.. Have a life lesson you'd like to share? Love a good swing dress! Tell me about it in the comments!

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