the best cookies you'll ever have

My brother's fiancée made these cookies this weekend and I have never ever had a better cookie in my life. 

Seriously. I consider myself a cookie expert, and these are at the top of my list now. Go make them. And I dare you to not eat them all.

In other news, it's Penny Lane's FIRST birthday today! I can't believe this little nugget is turning one.

let's get cookin'

I love to cook. Even from my teeny tiny kitchen, I find myself whipping up masterpieces (I can call them that because I'm the only critic), a few times a week. It is a cathartic thing for me, and some people have even told me to become a chef.

Yeah right. There wouldn't be any food for my customers. 

Moving on...

A cook is only as good as his tools. Like an artist really. There are some gadgets (or tricks as I call them) that I've learned I cannot live without. 

1. A microplane will save you days in the kitchen when you're zesting, shredding, etc.

2. A garlic roller (or car as I call it) is AMAZING at cutting up garlic. And, only $10! 

3. A grill pan - makes you feel like you can grill all year long.

4. Got this Silpat for Christmas, and I've never had better tasting cookies.

5. A grapefruit spoon - genius.

6. Apple Corer - makes eating cut apples a breeze.

7. A meat thermometer - only recently invested in this, and it keeps my meat looking pretty without all my cut marks to check if it's ready.

8. A Keurig. Need I say more? 

What tools do you use that you can't live without? I'm always looking for new ways to simplify my cooking.