Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

This is a great recipe for chocolate chocolate chip cookies (double chocolate chip cookies) that uses no eggs and 1/3 amount less fat than the normal Tollhouse recipe. And it tastes really good. I'm posting this so I remember it myself, but also because you should try it. Double Chocolate Chip Cookies Ingredients: 1/4 c softened butter 1/2 c sugar 1/4 c brown sugar 1 egg white (I used egg replacer) 1 tsp vanilla 1 c all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp baking soda 1/4 tsp salt 1/4 c cocoa powder (use a good quality cocoa...it makes a massive difference in flavor) 1/3 c chocolate chips (again, use good quality) 1). Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. 2). Beat butter and sugars together with a mixer until creamy. Then beat in egg white and vanilla. 3). In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt, and cocoa. Add the dry ingredients to the wet, and then stir in the chocolate chips. 4). Drop the cookies on a greased cookie sheet. 5). Bake for 8-11 minutes. *side note: the original recipe said "Don't worry if the dough is crumbly" which, sure enough, it was. I think my dough was exceptionally crumbly because I didn't use an adhesive agent i.e. egg white to bind everything together. My mother suggested I put 1/4 cup yogurt in the dough to "glue" the ingredients together, and it worked out fantastically. So if you have dry dough, just add some plain yogurt and you'll be ok. Enjoy!

Girl Cousins' Reunion Weekend 2007 + East Coast Week

I think it's fair to say that since arriving in the U.S. on August 23, my life has been nonstop. This whole summer has been one whirlwind after another. Finland, India, five airports in 48 hours and a click of my red shoes, and then I finally arrived at O'Hare International Airport. My cousin, Deepa, was already there, with her sweet roommate, Shrada. Shrada stayed until August 26 and then Deepa and I enjoyed cooking and bonding together until August 30 when Cousin Anjali from Toronto, Cousin Reshma from New York City, and Neetu (well, you know Neetu!) arrived for a full-fleged weekend of reunion among five cousins and Dad. Our father had five daughters that weekend, and really enjoyed it. As for us, we did everything under the sun - shopped and partied all day and night on Friday in the city, enjoyed an au naturale experience at The Grove + Mexican food on Saturday, picnicked with Guru Bapuji and BBQ'd with our awesome neighbors at a block party on Sunday, and jetskiied on Monday with Doyle, our sporty and generous neighbor. Everyone left on Monday, and Neetu and I scrubbed the house and watched Hot Fuzz, a highly entertaining British film about police authority. Neetu left on Tuesday for Missouri, and I flew out early Wednesday morning for Boston. Boston + New York City. What to say? I've had the greatest time visiting everyone. Running around Manhattan over the weekend like a chicken with its head cut off was a great thrill - what a seriously crazy city. I'd love to live there for a few years. I saw my inspiring and wise yoga teacher, David, today, and even after only 1.5 hours of seeing him, I have enough food for thought and good energy until the next visit. He is going to give me a copy of the teacher training manual he wrote for his teacher training workshop, and I cannot wait to read it. I'll be back in Chicago on Wednesday for another glorious two weeks in the U.S. Home is home, no matter how long you've left it, and I love feeling that.