Raw Cookie Dough and Making it Even Better

The other day I made a huge batch of the safe to eat raw cookie dough (you know, the stuff with out the eggs). When I say huge, I mean a large double batch because apparently 24 oz packages of chocolate chip cookies look the same as 12 oz. So what exactly does one do with two batches of raw cookie dough?

Bake it? What? No! Never!

I mean, that’s just not the point here. Raw cookie dough is that “forbidden” food that our mothers didn’t want us to eat because we could get sick. Sure, this kind is the safe stuff, but let’s not get drastic and cook it!

In fact, here are some ideas of what to do with it:

1) Use it as filling in between cake layers. Think of the yum-gasm when you bite into a cake that has cake and cookie dough!

2) Use it as a dipping sauce. Forget chocolate covered strawberries, bring me some cookie dough covered strawberries… And blueberries and bananas too, while you’re at it!

3) In an ice cream sundae bar. We all set up the sundae bars every one in a while: multiple ice cream types, sprinkles, hot fudge and other syrups, etc. Why not add cookie dough to the mix?

4) Freeze’em. Whether you’re freezing to save it for later or you decide to decide to freeze popsicle style, you can’t go wrong. If you do save it popsicle style, try dipping it in chocolate or strawberry sauce. Then you’ll get a double wow popsicle!

5) Make cookie dough balls. Roll them in balls (or cut them into shapes with cookie cutters) and then dip those bad boys in some kind of chocolate. Then you’ve got cookie dough and chocolate in one tasty bite!

So what are you waiting for? Get out there and have some yum-gasms!

(And if you're unsure of how to make the safe to eat raw cookie dough, Google has plenty of recipes for all kinds of safe to eat cookie dough)

Spicing up Diet Drinks

Personally, I like the flavor of diet pop* in the way that people like the musty smell of old books: it's about the memories. My Nana and Pawpaw have always had diet, caffeine free pop in their house, at least as long as I can remember... That still it doesn't mean I necessarily like the taste the best.

So whether you're dieting or just reliving some fond memories, try these tricks to make it taste just a little sweeter.

• Add just a touch of flavored pop. Seriously, just a dash of a flavored pop mixed with the diet pop and the diet pop will take on the flavor of the flavored pop.
• Add some flavored syrup. The same goes for flavored syrup, it doesn't take much, but it'll flavor it well. They can also be used in other drinks like coffees or teas. Also try extracts, like vanilla extract if you fancied vanilla pops.
  
• Add some fruits. You add lemon to water, why not add lemon to diet pop? You can do the same with oranges and other fruits. Whether you add them in at a whim or infuse it, it will add a little flavor and a little colour. On another note, having a mix of berries looks fabulous in clear drinks if you want spice up the look of pop at a party.
• Add mint leaves. Not much to say here, I just like mint and already chew mint leaves. So it seems like a natural place for me to use them. Considering I've also had ice cream made from rose petals, you could always try other plants as long as you know they're safe to ingest.

I'm sure there are more things that can be added to diet pop to make it more pleasing to the tongue, but honestly more and more diet pop tastes like the real thing. Have fun experimenting! :)

*"Pop" can be translated to "Soda"