Fudgy Chocolate Crackle Cookies

'Tis the season for Christmas cookies!  A few weeks ago, I came across a yummy looking recipe for a chocolate crackle cookie.  The best part about these cookies is that while they are super rich and fudgy, they have no butter or flower in them, and are only 75 calories each!  The original pin was from Picklee - her Deep Dark Chocolate Cookies.  I made them for Thanksgiving, but will definitely be making them again this Christmas season!

Flour-less Chocolate Cookies (makes approx 24 cookies)

Ingredients

Nonstick vegetable oil spray
1 1/2 cups bittersweet chocolate chips (I used semi-sweet)
3 large egg whites, room temperature
2 cups powdered sugar, divided (plus extra for coating cookies)
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 Tablespoon cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray 2 large baking sheets with nonstick spray.  Melt 1 cup chocolate chips in glass bowl in microwave, stirring twice, about 2 minutes.  Cool slightly.

Using electric mixer, beat whites in large bowl to soft peaks.  Gradually beat in 1 cup of the powdered sugar.  Continue beating until mixture resembles soft marshmallow cream.

In a separate bowl, whisk 1 cup sugar, cocoa, cornstarch, and salt to blend.

On low speed, beat dry ingredients into meringue.  Mix lukewarm chocolate mixture and 1/2 cup chocolate chips (dough will become very stiff).

Place 1/2-1 cup powdered sugar in a bowl.  Roll 1 rounded tablespoon dough into a ball.  Roll in sugar, coating thickly.  Place on prepared baking sheet.  Repeat with remaining dough, spacing 2 inches apart.

Bake about 10 minutes, until cookies are puffed and tops crack.  Cool on sheets about 10 minutes, then transfer to racks to cool further.

They are great completely cool, but even better warm.  Let the holiday fudginess begin!

Tomato Pie

One of our family Thanksgiving staples is tomato pie.  I got this recipe from my super-amazing mother-in-law (who also happens to be a fantastic cook), which I think is a variation of a Southern Living classic. I'm not 100% sure, but want to make sure credit is given where it's due!  :)

We've discovered this is a perfect side for Thanksgiving (it goes SO well with the turkey/gravy/mashed potato combo), but is even better when you've just pulled the tomatoes off the vine in a garden!

Ingredients

1 (9") deep dish pie shell (unbaked)
5 large tomatoes
3/4 cup mayo
1 1/4 cup grated cheddar cheese
Salt
Pepper
Basil (dried)
Garlic powder


Directions

Bake pie shell 10 minutes at 375 degrees.  Remove from oven and slice tomatoes.

Take your fingers and remove seeds from tomato slices.  (This helps the pie from becoming watery.)  Layer tomatoes in shell, sprinkling each layer with salt, pepper, basil, and garlic powder.

Combine mayo and cheese.

Spread mixture on top of tomatoes.

Bake at 350 for 35 minutes or until top browns.  Let pie stand for at least 5 minutes before serving.

You'll love it!

Our Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!

Yesterday was BEAUTIFUL - sunny, mid-50's, and super "autumny" - a perfect Thanksgiving day!  I decided to kick off the day at my new gym, Gymnasium, to try and ward off some of the damage that would be done later that afternoon.  After one of the most grueling workouts I've ever done, I felt totally ready for the massive dinner we were sure to consume.  :)  Today, however, I'm incredibly sore.

After getting cleaned up, we packed up some food and the pup and headed over to Ann and Terence's house to cook dinner.  We've done Thanksgiving with Ann and Terence the last few years, but were excited to double our numbers this year, adding Ann's Dad, Terence's Dad and Mom-in-law, and friend Jerin!

This year's menu consisted of a turkey & gravy, stuffing, Gruyere mashed potatoes, tomato pie, sweet potatoes, brussel sprouts with bacon,  butter beans, cranberry sauce, and rolls.  Believe it or not, we actually cut the menu significantly this year - last year was even more crazy!

We kind of destroyed the kitchen...

Starting the stuffing!

Cooking away!

So ready to eat!

Dessert was a pumpkin cheesecake, a sour cream apple pie, and gluten free chocolate cookies.  As if we needed anything else to eat!

The pups were very interested in the apple pie

After dinner, the massive clean-up began and the pups played while everyone slid into their food comas and watched some football.  

Terence is a master dishwasher.

Toby LOVES it when the massive basket of toys gets turned over on the floor!

Sara came over to investigate what all the fun was about.

The dogs were VERY interested in the turkey carcass.

"Little Man" wanted to play backgammon too!

Krentz family!

Assarsson side! 

Terence, Ann, me, Jerin, and Travis

Hope you all had a happy Thanksgiving!