Martha Stewart Cookies iPad App

I got an iPad about a month ago, for the proposes of displaying my baking projects to people.  It has since been filled with cooking and baking apps, photo editing software, Netflix and a game or two (or twenty).  One of the apps I purchased was the Martha Stewart Cookies app, which I love.  From the super cute start up, to the pages of recipes, it's great.

The recipes are neatly and concisely laid out with steps and ingredients.  You can add recipes to a favourites list and add notes, create a shopping list.



There's even a unit conversion calculator on each recipe page!

The app has a search function (in a drop down menu when you tap the Martha Stewart ribbon in the top left hand corner of the screen), laid out in wheel form so you can choose from cookie ingredients or type.  There is also a keyword search.

Of course, this being a Martha Stewart app it doesn't just cover the recipes.  There is a section dedicated to homemade packaging if you wanted to give your baked goodies away as gifts.

There is also a library of videos available in the drop down menu to help you master new techniques to perfect your sweet creations.

Your app also has a very handy kitchen timer!  Thanks Martha!!

And last, but certainly not least, you can download and purchase more recipes via the cookie tab at the bottom left hand side of the screen.  Recipes are divided into categories; chocolate, kids and the newest edition: holiday!  The 'M' tab links you to other Martha Stewart apps and allows you to gift the Cookies app to your friends.

Well, that is the Martha Stewart Cookies app in a nutshell.  Available in the iTunes app store for an absolute steal at £2.99!

Oatmeal Cookies

These cookies are my dad's favourite and they are super easy to make.

Ingredients:

1 cup margarine

2 cups brown sugar

2 eggs, beaten

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 cups plain flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

2 cups oatmeal

Preheat oven 180°C (350°F) Gas Mark 4

Cream the sugar and margarine together, add the beaten eggs and vanilla.  Add the dry ingredients and combine well.  Roll the dough into small balls (walnut sized).  Place on a greased baking tray, leaving space for them to expand.  Press flat with a floured fork.  Bake in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookies

I have always thought that candy company Reese's had the right idea by combining chocolate and peanut butter.  I love their products whether it be the peanut butter cups, Reese's pieces, and don't even get me started on the Nutrageous bars (heaven)!  So I have had a bag of their peanut butter chips in my cupboard for a while now and took a notion to make cookies after work yesterday.  The chips are not that easy to come by and UK sellers who stock them usually charge a bit for delivery (especially to Northern Ireland) but they are a nice little treat for every now and again.  One seller I found online who had them in stock was American Sweets, but sellers on Amazon and eBay sometimes stock them (P&P is usually quite expensive there too).

Ingredients:

2 cups plain flour

3/4 cup cocoa powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

11/4 cups of butter (room temperature)

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 bag Reese's Peanut Butter Chips

Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F)

In a large bowl sift together the flour, cocoa powder and baking soda then set aside.  In a separate bowl cream the butter and sugar until it's light and fluffy.  Add the eggs and vanilla extract and continue beating.  Gradually add the flour mixture and beat until all ingredients are incorporated.  Stir in the peanut butter chips.  Line a few baking trays with greaseproof paper and using a teaspoon, drop cookie dough onto the baking trays allowing room for them to expand.  Bake for 8 or 9 minutes then remove from oven and allow to cool slightly on the baking trays before moving the cookies to your cooling rack to cool completely.  The cookies will flatten slightly during the cooling process.  One batch makes 40+ cookies.

Snickerdoodles

I have heard of Snickerdoodle cookies for years on all the US television shows I watch and always wondered what they were like so when I stumbled across a recipe and discovered I had all of the ingredients in my cupboard already I knew I had to give them a try.

Ingredients:

60g unsalted butter (room temperature)

160g caster sugar

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

1 egg

240g plain flour

3/4 tsp cream of tartar

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/8 tsp salt

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

(You will also need an additional 11/2 tbsp caster sugar and 1 tbsp ground cinnamon for the coating on the cookies).

Start by creaming together the butter, sugar and vanilla extract until it becomes light and fluffy.  Add in the egg and continue to beat mixture, scraping any unmixed ingredients off the side with a spatula, until everything is well incorporated.  Sift the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and cinnamon into the bowl and mix until the dough forms a smooth ball (I found that kneading it together by hand was easier).  Put the dough ball into a bowl, cover with cling film and refrigerate for 40 mintues so the dough can chill and rest.  While waiting for this you can preheat the oven to 170°C (325°F) Gas Mark 3 and line a couple of baking trays with greaseproof paper.  In a small bowl add together the caster sugar and cinnamon.  Remove the dough from the refrigerator and break off small pieces and roll them into balls.  Coat the dough balls in the sugar/ cinnamon mix and place onto your baking trays (be sure to leave space for the cookies to spread).  Bake in the oven for 10-13 minutes or until they go golden brown, then remove them from the oven and let them cool slightly on the baking trays before moving to a cooling rack.  (One batch makes approximately 18 cookies).

They go great with a cup of tea.  Enjoy!!