Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies

Awhile back I made a Coconut Custard Pie and we had some coconut flakes left over. Since it's not an every day ingredient, I've been struggling to find ways to get rid of it! So I got this idea on a whim.

THE RECIPE
1 Cup All Purpose Flour
3/4 Cup Granulated Sugar
1 Stick Unsalted Butter
1/2 Teaspoon Coconut Extract
1 Whole Egg
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1 Cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
1 Cup Flaked Coconut

Mix softened butter (not melted) and sugar in mixing bowl until combined. Beat in egg and coconut extract.
In a separate bowl, mix flour, salt, and baking powder. Slowly pour dry ingredients into the butter/salt mixture. Combine just until flour disappears - do not over mix!
Pour in chocolate chips and flaked coconut.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Roll dough into balls and bake on greased baking sheet 15-20 minutes, until bottoms are light brown.

THE RESULT
The cookies came out of the oven delicious!! They were cooked perfectly, light brown on the bottom and chewy in the middle.

I took the cookies off of the baking sheet right away so they didn't over cook and they held their shape well. However, after the cookies cooled, they hardened immediately! I was really disappointed in that, as I love a soft, cakier cookie. I think the issue here is that there is a bit too much flour in the recipe. If you're going to try at home, I'd suggest cutting the flour to 3/4 cup to see how it works. I haven't tried it yet, but I will keep you updated!

Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies

The Quest to Home-Made Chef!

Hello, Blogging World.

I'm no food connoisseur. I've been a picky eater most of my life. This is definitely not going to be an other worldly food adventure. But something I have always wanted to do is expand my culinary prowess. I can sit and watch the food network for hours. It's amazing to see what some chefs can put together out of simple ingredients.

So, this is my new quest. Become a self-taught "home chef." Here, I'll be posting my baking and cooking adventures, sharing recipes (failed and successful ones, of course), and maybe one day will become skilled enough to call myself a pseudo chef. I don't have 20,000+ to sink into culinary school, so the internet and television will have to do to teach me!

If you've decided to follow me on this adventure, then welcome to the madness. :)

My name is Kristyn, and I am a 26-year old woman who works a full-time job in a large electronics retail store, selling mobile phones and plans all day. I'm also a type 1 diabetic, for 15 years now! Being a diabetic has been a huge part of my food life. Many people have stereotypes about what diabetics CAN'T eat -- no sugar, no fat, no carbohydrates. Most of that is a myth. There's no way we could cut all of that out of my life.... plus, I don't want to! But moderation is the key, as well as smart substitutions. This is something I have struggled with for a long time and I hope that this quest will help me strengthen my resolve in finding a healthier way to eat every day.

Now... on to the food!