Coconut Chocolate Square

Coconut Chocolate Square
Coconut Chocolate Square

Interview with Coconut Chocolate Square

I: Tell me about yourself?

CCS : “We are delicious, chocolaty, moist and loaded with coconut.”

I:Why should people make you?

“Because we are so easy to make and if you don’t have much time and you want to bake we are your best choice.”

I: Do you have any tip for us?

-Use a large wooden spoon to mix instead of an electric mixer

-Use fresh chocolate chips

-Chill the bars for easy cutting

-Store nuts in the freezer to retain freshness. Let them come to room temperature before using them in baking

-You can use almonds, peanuts, walnuts, pecans

-If you have nut allergies replace the almond extract with vanilla and omit almonds or any other nuts on top

I: Can you describe yourself using one word?

“SENSATIONAL!”

I: Do you think you can share one of your selfies with my readers?

“Of course…

coconut chocolate square 2
coconut chocolate square 2

I: And my last question, can you please share your recipe with us?

“Of course…it is all yours now. Just press print and make it.

Coconut Chocolate Square

Coconut Chocolate Square

Rich, chewy and loaded with chocolate chips and coconut.

Ingredients

  • 2 squares or 56gr unsweetened chocolate
  • 2 squares or 56gr semisweet chocolate
  • 1 cup butter
  • 2 cups granulate sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 1/4 cups AP flour
  • Filling:
  • 2 cups unsweetened coconut
  • 1 cup sweetened coconut
  • 1 can or 300 ml sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 tbs almond extract
  • Topping:
  • 1 3/4 cup chocolate chips
  • 1 TBSP oil
  • 1 cup sliced almond

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
  2. Use 13 by 9 inch cake pan.
  3. Filling:
  4. Mix coconut and condensed milk together.
  5. Add almond extract.
  6. Filling is done. It is easy....
  7. For the base:
  8. Melt chocolate and butter until smooth.
  9. Remove from heat.
  10. Stir in sugar until blended.
  11. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well.
  12. Stir in flour. Mix well.
  13. Spread half of the batter in prepared pan.
  14. Add the filling. Spread the coconut filling by small spoonfuls and spread it evenly.
  15. Do the best you can.
  16. Cover with second part of the batter.
  17. Bake for 40 min or until set.
  18. Cool it.
  19. Add topping. (melt chocolate chips and oil)
  20. Sprinkle almond on top and cut into squares.

Thank you to our fabulous and famous squares for this interview.

See you soon…

5 star cookies - coconut chocolate square
5 star cookies – coconut chocolate square
5 star cookies - coconut chocolate square
5 star cookies – my coconut chocolate square

Sending you love and hugs

from your favorite blog

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Irish and Soldiers Cookies-A Little Prayer for You

Hello,

Irish and Soldiers Cookies
Soldiers and Irish Cookies

Today is Good Friday and I want to bake this cookies for all people who are far away from their homes.

And God there are so many of them. Soldiers, refugees, children…Please send them love and prayers.

And God if you are listening up there, please do something, this world is getting crazy. Please stop the war, any war.

I do not care who is right, who is wrong …just make it happen. Make this world peaceful place, full of love, fun and joy.

And full of cookies. Green Soldiers Cookies..Just for you!

 

5 star soldiers cookies

5 star soldiers cookies

It is really easy to make Irish Soldiers Cookies. As long as you have all ingredients and you follow instruction

in my recipe box you will be baking success.

So, before you start baking cookies please be sure you have the following ingredients:

Sugar (white and brown)

Butter

Egg

Vanilla

Green Food Coloring

Chocolate Chips (White and dark)

Flour

Baking soda, salt

Cocoa

Now you can start baking. Follow the recipe below…

Irish and Soldiers Cookies

Irish and Soldiers Cookies

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 TBSP vanilla
  • 2 tsp green food coloring
  • 3/4 cup white chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 1/2 cups AP flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 cup cocoa

Instructions

  1. Beat butter and sugars until combined.
  2. Add egg,vanilla and mix for 2 min.
  3. Add the food coloring and beat until combined.
  4. Mix all dry ingredients together.
  5. Pour them into wet ingredients.
  6. Mix it by mixer (use low speed) or by hand.
  7. Add white and semi-sweet chocolate chips. Mix it by hand.
  8. Cover with the plastic wrap and chill for 2 hrs and up to 3 days.
  9. Preheat oven to 350 F.
  10. Use 1.5 TBSP of dough and mold into ball (like half size tennis ball) and place it into baking sheet. Bake for 11 min.

Allow cookies to cool (if you can) and if you can’t start eating them right away.

You can store them in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

5 star cookies - soldiers cookies
5 star cookies -soldiers cookies

“I Say A Little Prayer”

The moment I wake up
Before I put on my makeup
I say a little pray for you
While combing my hair now
And wondering what dress to wear now
I say a little prayer for youForever and ever, you’ll stay in my heart
And I will love you
Forever and ever, we never will part
Oh, how I love you
Together, forever, that’s how it must be
To live without you
Would only mean heartbreak for me

I run for the bus, dear
While riding I think of us, dear
I say a little prayer for you
At work I just take time
And all through my coffee break time
I say a little prayer for you

Forever and ever, you’ll stay in my heart
And I will love you
Forever and ever we never will part
Oh, how I’ll love you
Together, forever, that’s how it must be
To live without you
Would only mean heartbreak for me

I say a little prayer for you
I say a little prayer for you

My darling, believe me
(Believe me)
For me there is no one but you
Please love me too
(Answer his pray)
And I’m in love with you
(Answer his pray)
Answer my prayer now, babe
(Answer his pray)

Forever and ever, you’ll stay in my heart
And I will love you
Forever and ever we never will part
Oh, how I’ll love you
Together, forever, that’s how it must be
To live without you
Would only mean heartbreak for me

5 star cookies - soldiers cookies
5 star cookies – soldiers cookies

..AND SAY A LITTLE PRAYER FOR ALL OF US

Your Cookie

from your favorite

5 STAR COOKIES

https://www.5starcookies.com

5 Books to Read Before You Die – Part 2

5 More Books to Read Before You Die – Part 2

6. All The Pretty Girls – Now I may be a bit bias on this one, Chandra Mayor is my mentor and friend. She is also however, an amazingly talented author that is not afraid to tell it like it is. What I love most about her writing style is that she can tell a tale of utter brutality with beautiful and poetic words. All The Pretty Girls is a collection of short stories about the lives of a group of women. Some are struggling with poverty or domestic abuse. All are struggling with parts of themselves. I loved all these women, cared about their struggles and admired their strength that we would all hope to have in their situations.
7. Lessons From a Nude Man – Now again with the bias, I know this lady and I’m very proud to know this lady. One of my favourite Winnipeg authors and people, I first read her work in Prairie Fire Magazine and immediately wanted more. I searched out her work high and low and was disappointed to find very little else. Until one glorious day she announces that finally a collection of her endlessly entertaining,beautifully written and at times heard breaking short stories will be published for our reading pleasure! Donna is a Boreal writer, choosing the lush landscape of the Boreal Forest for the setting of these stories. Her affection and deep connection of this place can be felt through out this whole book that I couldn’t put down but at the same time never wanted to finish because I didn’t want to leave the exquisite world she created.

8. The Lucky Ones – This is a very serious book but it is an important book that I believe should be on everyone’s must read list especially in the wake of the Syrian refugee crisis. In this book, African refugees recount their experiences of their birth countries and of immigrating to Canada. In their own words they tell of their losses, their hopes and dreams and their new lives in Canada. I feel like I know all these people personally after reading this book and I’m happy they are here.

9. The Day Tripper’s Guide To Manitoba – There is so much to see in our own back yard! Our province is so diverse from the endless prairie that turns to the rolling hills of the Pembina Valley to the lakes and legends of the Interlake. In The Day Tripper’s Guide To Manitoba Bartley Kives shows us all of the cool places to go and things to do in our own province. And trust me, they are plenty.
10. Dance Gladys Dance – This unique and original novel features the ghost of a lady who just wanted to dance. Unfortunately her well to do husband had other ideas. The ghost of Gladys then begins to “haunt”  young woman who’s given up on her dream of being an artist. This is a quirky and very enjoyable story with twists and turns and heart ache a plenty along with good humour (the novel won the Stephen Leacock medal for humour) and very real likeable and unique characters. This is definitely worth reading before you die. Or right now because there’s no better time then the present!

Love,

Miranda

“READING GIVES US SOMEPLACE TO GO WHEN WE HAVE TO STAY WHERE WE ARE.”

Truffle
Truffle

Onion Skins – Natural Color to Your Easter Eggs

Dyeing and decorating eggs is an Easter tradition. The fun part is, there are so many ways to do it.

For this post I will select easy and natural way – ONION SKINS.

Yes, we are dyeing Easter eggs naturally with onion skins.My grandmother and my mother made the most beautiful Easter eggs using this method.

Now you can do it too. Just follow instructions below and you will hear comments like: ” Beautiful! Those are the prettiest Easter eggs I’ve ever seen!”

And smile. (because our life is the biggest joke …just watch TV).

Now, let’s do it!

Easter Eggs
5 Star Cookies – Easter Eggs

To make this process success we will need the following:

-skin of organic yellow onions

-pantyhose (buy in $ Store)

-pot of boiling water

-vinegar

The eggs will come dark reddish-brown and you will impress your friends, family and your kids.

It is simple, easy and NATURAL!

Onion Skins - Natural Color to Your Easter Eggs

Onion Skins - Natural Color to Your Easter Eggs

Ingredients

  • Skin of Organic Onions (between 6 to 10 lbs)
  • Pantyhose (Dollar Store)
  • Pot of Boiling Water
  • 1 TBSP Vinegar
  • 20 Eggs

Instructions

  1. Cut about 5 inch sections of the pantyhose (enough to wrap around an egg and make a knot)
  2. Gently wrap the pantyhose over the egg and pull tight to keep it in place and allow dye to soak through. Tie a secure knot in the back.
  3. Fill the pot with water (it must cover the eggs, and place the burner on medium.) and 1 Tbsp vinegar.
  4. Add eggs and when water starts to boil,boil for about 25-30 minutes.
  5. Take eggs out of the pot.
  6. Turn cool water on over them and gently remove the pantyhose.
  7. Rub them with the bacon or with olive oil.
  8. YOU ARE DONE! ENJOY!

If you want to see what you did to poor skin onions…

Onion Skin - What is left of me
Onion Skin

Or if you want to see dark life of onion skins….look below

Dark Life of Onion Skins
Dark Life of Onion Skins

I know the picture above is not pretty…but see your final product below.  I love my eggs…specially with the glossy finish

Eggs and Bacon
Eggs and Bacon

I did say, you will hear: “Beautiful! Those are the prettiest Easter eggs I’ve ever seen!”

Eggs in Cage
Eggs in Cage

HAPPY EASTER!

Love and hugs

from your favorite blog

5 star cookies

and your

Cookie

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Irish Green Hot Chocolate- Happy St Patrick’s Day

Irish Green Hot Chocolate
Irish Green Hot Chocolate

 

Happy St Patrick’s Day – March 17!

 

 

St Patrick’s Day is an annual event that celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish.

If you’re planning to celebrate St Patrick’s Day  you might wish to wear one or more of the following:

– Green clothing

– A green top hat

– Green accessories (think hair bows, hair dye, nail varnish)

– Basically, anything green

– A shamrock (or a horde of them… to get fully into the spirit of the Irish)

If you are planning to drink ( and please don’t pretend…) my blog 5 star cookies is making for you “Irish Green Hot Chocolate” (wink, wink…)

It is very simple and easy to make. (15 min. max).  If you like to make this drink very Irish and very special (think Hoda and Kathie Lee)

add some Irish Whiskey. After all it is the St Patrick’s Day.

Before we start let’s see our final destination.

Irish Green Hot Chocolate
Irish Green Hot Chocolate

Now, we can start our drinking trip in my kitchen.

We need the following ingredients:

2% milk

heavy cream

green chocolate

Green Chocolate
Green Chocolate

and Irish Whiskey (if you want to add alcohol).

Irish Green Hot Chocolate- Happy St Patrick's Day

Irish Green Hot Chocolate- Happy St Patrick's Day

Prep Time: 3 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup milk (2%)
  • 1/4 cup green chocolate
  • 1/8 cup Irish Whiskey (optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat cream and milk until just below simmering point.
  2. Remove from heat and pour over 1/4 cup of chocolate.
  3. Let stand for about 5 min.
  4. Whisk everything together.
  5. Reheat until all chocolate is melted. Add whiskey if you are using it.
  6. Pour into the prettiest glass you can find.
  7. If you wanted garnish with whipped cream.

Now, let’s celebrate St Patrick’s Day.

5 Star Cookies - Irish Green Hot Chocolate
5 Star Cookies – Irish Green Hot Chocolate
Green Hot Chocolate
Green Hot Chocolate

 

Love and hugs….

from your favorite blog

5 Star Cookies

https://www.5starcookies.com

Irish Green Hot Chocolate
Irish Green Hot Chocolate

 

 

 

 

 

Carrot Day-I Am Your Carrot Ambassador

Carrot Juice and Angels
Carrot Juice and Angel

We all need vegetables specially if you are Nutella or the chocolate addict .

I am all of that and then some more .  Since, I know I have an addiction problem I like to have days when I eat healthy.

My idea of healthy is called  “The Carrot Day”. The main dish is “The Carrot Juice”. (Yes, I know …

The Carrot juice is the”dish” in my head…

When Brad Pit ask: Who is your daddy?

I answer: “The Carrot Juice”…)

For this dish you need only two ingredients: carrots and apples. (use organics)

Apples and Carrots
Apples and Carrots

Carrot Day-I am your carrot ambassador

Carrot Day-I am your carrot ambassador

Ingredients

  • 1 Lbs Organic Carrot (425 gr)
  • 2 Organic Apples (cut into large pieces)

Instructions

  1. Wash and peel carrots.
  2. Add apples.
  3. Place carrots and apples in juicer.
  4. Pour into glass and drink! Enjoy!

And check the picture below…

carrot juice 2 024

Do you like the color?

Carrot Juice Top
Carrot Juice Top

Now, pour it into a glass

Maria Sharapova
Maria Sharapova

and drink it …

Of course, never forget from where you came from….

Carrot Juice-Do not hide your past
Carrot Juice – My Past

The International Carrot Day is celebrated every year on April 4th.

Join the fun and celebrate the Carrot Day yourself!

 

Have a nice Carrot Day!

Love you all,

Your Cookie

from your favorite blog

5 Star Cookies

https://www.5starcookies.com

 

 

 

 

5 Books to Read Before You Die

5 Books To Read Before You Die

I know everyone’s heard of a bucket list, mostly places to go and things to do before you die. There are many destination books out there listing all the places you should go before you kick the proverbial bucket. The adventures sound amazing but how many people can actually afford the luxury of world travel?
Books can transport you on an amazing adventure to. And if you have a library card they’re free! So, I’m making a far more achievable bucket list. Here are my top recommendations of things to read before you die.

1.The Bible

– Yes really! If you want to be transported to far away lands, see fierce battles and amazing miracles the Bible has all this and more! It’s the ultimate love story, packed with action and adventure, brave heroes and terrifying creatures straight from the pit of hell there’s even a talking donkey! I personally believe the Bible, believe that all of the events therein are fact and base my life on that truth. However, even if you don’t, it’s still worth a read.

2. The Outsiders

– The ultimate coming of age story! This is my favourite book of all time. This is THE book that got me through my teens! This is THE book that inspired me to write. This is THE book that turned me into the bookworm I am today. Before The Outsiders was assigned as mandatory reading in my eighth grade class I’d never read an entire novel cover to cover. I found books, especially books targeted to my age group boring, stupid and entirely un-relatable. Apparently way back in the sixties tween (before the word tween even existed) books weren’t much different and so sixteen year old S.E. Hinton created this masterpiece which is second on my list of books to read before you die.
P.S. You don’t have to be a tween to enjoy it!

3. The Evolution Of Alice

– I won’t spend too much time on this one as I’ve already delved into it’s fabulousness in my previous book review post but I will tell you this book touched me deeply. It has such a unique and incredible mix of harsh and gritty everyday life with a touch of magic thrown in at just the right spots. And I’m a sucker for a really great friendship story.

4. The Sisters Brothers

– Out of all the books I’m recommending here, this one has the most entertainment value. If your looking for a real escape, I mean lose yourself completely in an utterly weird and crazy tale of two brothers on a mysterious mission then this Governor General award-winning book is for you! Patrick DeWitt is the author and I’d love to live just a day in his imagination! Now there’s something for the bucket list!

5. The Opening Sky

– The description of this book did it so little justice that I actually wasn’t interested in reading it at first. Thank goodness that the book I wanted was checked out at the library and this little gem was staring me in the face practically begging me to take it home. So I did and I found myself entirely wrapped up in the every day life of the Glasgow-Fimeser household, their problems and heartbreaks and their ordinary/extraordinary lives. What’s most amazing about this book is the masterful way in which a pretty everyday kind of family is elevated by the masterful writing talent of Joan Thomas. Life in The Wolsely neighbourhood takes on a life of it’s own and even though it takes place in the same city as I’ve lived my whole life, it transported me, not to a far off land but in to the life of an every day family which can be just as interesting.

Miranda Corner – 5 Books You Must Read Before You Die

5 STAR COOKIES IS ABOUT

1.Cookies

Cookies from 5 Star Cookies
5 Star Cookies – Cookies

2. Cakes

Baking - Coconut Cake
5 Star Cookies – Cakes

3. Nutella

5 Star Cookies - Nutella Life
5 star cookies – Nutella

4. Sweet Imagination

5 Star Cookies - Macaroons
Sweet Imagination – Macaroons

 

5. Books – Miranda Corner

This blog, 5 star cookies is about the best thing in the life called BOOKS.

Miranda is our amazing and talented writer and you will have opportunity to read and follow her work on this blog.

To find more about Miranda please click on the link below:

https://www.5starcookies.com/my-written-selfie

For her book review visit

https://www.5starcookies.com/books-review/

…and very soon, like tomorrow Miranda will share 5 books you should read before you die.

Until then, please click links above and share your thought and comments with us…

Because your feedback matters!

Love,

Your Cookie

from your favorite blog 5 STAR COOKIES

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Carrot Cake or When your boss is Bill Cosby

the best carrot cake from the best food blog 5starcookies-enjoy and share
the best carrot cake from the best food blog 5starcookies-enjoy and share

When I laugh with my friends I called him Bill Cosby and by him I I mean “psycho boss”.

You know the type: charming, controlling  freak, narcissists and masters of deception. One of my favorite explanation is the following

 Psychopaths operate from a warped moral code and experience little to no guilt or remorse over telling lies. These bosses are skilled at avoiding accountability and have a Teflon-like capability to deflect blame. They lie, omit information, rephrase the truth, and misrepresent facts. They take credit for ideas that they did not come up with.”

So, how many of you have this kind of experience every day in your life? And how do you deal with it?

For me I like to bake. Baking is the perfect escape from my cold reality. I can even create perfect little creatures in this fictional life and I can make them from anything I like…like ginger

and there you have it…perfect little ginger people with the big heart in the middle. (Reality, eat your heart out)

Ginger People
Ginger People

In this baking escape I like to make cake that my grandmother made for me every week when I was a child.

It is my favorite and the best cake ever – THE CARROT CAKE.

My grandmother used to make different version of her basic recipe. It can be with cheese or with chocolate icing.

There are so much memory connected to this cake and very often when I need something to “hold on” and forget “reality” I make this cake.

And it makes me smile. I love the color, I love the taste and I love to pretend that I am eating the healthiest cake ever made..The Carrot Cake.

And because of memory of my grandmother I like to share this recipe with you.

I know somewhere she is watching over me and saying: “Still your favorite cake…” Yes, grandma still my favorite cake.

Thank you for the  recipe…and the memory.

Now, I need to start making carrot cake. The version that I selected today is carrot cake with cheese frosting.

My grandmother used to make very special frosting with secret ingredients.

Her secret ingredients was apple sauce and strawberries.

You will find yourself making this cake all the time.

Quick and easy, it will become your family favorite!

For this recipe you need the usual ingredients: flour, sugar, oil, eggs, cinnamon, walnuts, cheese, apple sauce, strawberries, vanilla, baking soda and salt.

So, let’s make magic …the Carrot Cake

the best carrot cake from the best food blog 5starcookies-enjoy and share
the best carrot cake from the best food blog 5starcookies-enjoy and share
Carrot Cake or When your boss is Bill Cosby

Carrot Cake or When your boss is Bill Cosby

Quick and easy with secret ingredients....

Ingredients

  • 3 eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1 cup oil
  • 2 cups AP flour
  • 1 TBS cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 cups carrots
  • 1 1/2 cup walnuts
  • ---------------------------------------------------------
  • Cheese Frosting
  • 1 package (8oz) cream cheese
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened apple sauce
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 1/2 cup icing sugar
  • ---------------------------------------------------------

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 350 F. Grease bottom and sides of pan (13x9)
  2. Mix sugar,oil and eggs.
  3. Add flour, cinnamon, baking soda, salt and vanilla extract.
  4. Stir in carrots and walnuts.
  5. Pour into pan.
  6. Bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. (Mine was for 35 min).
  7. Cool it.
  8. Frost with Cream Cheese Frosting.
  9. Decorate with strawberries.
  10. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  11. Frosting:
  12. Beat cream cheese, add apple sauce, vanilla and icing sugar.
Carrot Cake - Side View
Carrot Cake

Like always, make this cake and share with somebody you love…somebody you think need love

and with all your family and friends …co-workers and Universe…

and say: THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU…

Love and hugs,

Your Cookie

from

your favorite blog 5 STAR COOKIES

https://www.5starcookies.com

5 star cookies - The Best Carrot Cake
5 star cookies carrot cake

See you soon…

Social Butterfly 5starcookies