Dark Chocolate Sea Salt & Caramel Cookies

Ingredients
Two sticks unsalted butter (leave out to allow it to soften)
1 cup granulated white sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup Skinny Dipped either their semi-sweet chocolate chips or Dark Chocolate sea salt chips
3/4 cup caramel squares


Instructions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 
I use a kitchen aid, so everything goes within the same bowl. 
First, add the butter, sugars, eggs, and vanilla extract into your Kitchen Aid.Set the speed to a four until nice and creamy, for about 1 minute.
Then add in the baking soda; at this point, you can switch the speed to two and then slowly start adding in the cups of flour. 
Make sure you scrape the bowl a couple of times throughout this process, then beat over medium speed for another 30 seconds until well-combined.
I add in the chocolate chips first one cup at a time to allow everything to mix well and evenly together. I also will cut the caramel squares at least in half before mixing them into the dough and then stir to combine.
I tend to roll dough balls into my hand to figure out a good size and place them on a baking sheet, about 2-3 inches apart. 

Depending on the oven type, you can bake between  9-12 minutes (mine are ready at 9 minutes as I have an older oven).

Allow the cookies to cool enough so the  Caramel will not stick to the bottom of the sheet before transferring to a wire rack. Enjoy!

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Girls Night Idea

Everyone loves nights with their friends, with life being so busy at times it can be hard to be able to get creative to plan something fun especially on a work night. I invited a couple friends over to hang out on a Friday night, right after work. Knowing what a busy Friday i had a head i decided to make turkey chili in a slow cooker, something healthy, yummy and simple to make when you are working. Whether you are working from home or if you have to go into the office. That is the great thing about having a slow cooker you put everything in the pot set the timer and then how every many hours to set it to cook to till will be done.

Below is my Turkey Chili recipe, but I will admit sometimes i will add extra spices in depending on who i am making the chili for depending on their spice tolerance level of course. I wanted to make everything look really pretty when my friends make over so i also did some decorating for Christmas to add to the fun night ahead. Who does not love some great Christmas decorations this year more so then ever i think everyone wants to feel the Christmas cheer a little early.

Meat 1 lb 90% lean ground Turkey, lean
Produce
1 tbsp Garlic powder
1 Can Kidney beans, red
1 Can Black beans
½ a can of Salsa
1 Yellow onion, medium
Condiments
1 (8 oz.) can Tomato sauce
1 TO 2 Cans of V8
Baking & Spices
1/2 tsp Black pepper, ground
2 tbsp Chili powder
1 ½ tsp Garlic Powder
1 1/2 tsp Salt
Oils & Vinegars
1 tbsp Olive oil
Nuts & Seeds
2 tbsp Cumin, ground

Add the olive oil in a pan let it heat up a little then and in the chopped yellow onion and ground turkey and break it apart with a fork and then cook until the turkey has brown enough to put into the slow cooker. Once you have completed this step and in all of your other ingredients.

Since more then likely everyone likes their chili a little different what i decided to do was add some possible toppings to the side in little containers so each person could make it however they wanted. Everyone got a kick out of this little added touch and everyone loved the chance to make the chili their own way. This is also helpful if you have anyone who may have an allergy no possibility of cross contamination.

Of course you cant end a good girls night without a little treat, and in the winter what goes better then a nice cup of hot chocolate with some whip cream to top it off with. Perfect simple and fun girls night event that will allow for a lot of laughs and memories with your friends. As long as you do not mind doing a little prep work ahead of time this will be a stress free after work type of night.

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