Miniature Pizookies

My little cowboy has discovered UNO.
No matter how busy we are or how late the hour, it's hard to resist a bleach blondie five year old with big brown eyes and a deck of UNO cards. I always think that we look like a commercial for a card game through the window, one boy-one-girl-mom-dad and lots of big laughs. (Why do commercial families always have just two children? You never see a family of 10 in any commercials.) Especially since we're always eating a yummy treat as we play. Since UNO is a fairly slow moving game (unless you play match UNO like we used to at girl's camp), you can enjoy dessert around the cards. Wish me luck for tonight; I always manage to lose royally since I can never remember to say UNO.

This fun twist on chocolate chip cookies is inspired by BJ's pizza, one of my favorite high school pizza places-gone chain from Laguna Beach, CA. BJ's bakes cookie dough in miniature cast iron skillets and brings them out piping hot, with vanilla and hot fudge. I make mine in ramekins and they're every bit as yummy. Break out your UNO cards and make some pizookies tonight.

Money Saving Tips: You'll be able to make dessert for four at a lower cost than buying just one at the restaurant. In general, making your own chocolate chip cookies is much cheaper than buying dough, not to mention that it's so much better for you. Bake any remaining dough into cookies and store in the freezer for lunches next week. You can also make homemade ganache/ hot fudge, by boiling 1/2 cup cream in a microwaveable bowl, and whisking in 1 cup chocolate chips.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Pizookies
Estimated Cost: $5.00
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1 egg yolk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup flour (I use at least half whole wheat)
1/2 cup chocolate chips
vanilla ice cream
hot fudge (see money saving tips for easy homemade recipe)
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Butter four ramekins-any size will work. In a small bowl, cream butter and sugars. Add egg yolk and vanilla. Stir in soda and salt. When well blended, add flour. When flour is just mixed in, stir in chocolate chips. Press mixture into ramekins, coming up about half way up the sides. (Roll any extra dough into balls and bake on a cookie sheet.) Bake in 325 degree oven. Since your ramekin size will vary, so will the cooking times. I generally use 8 ounce ramekins and the cook time is about 14 minutes. You will know the pizookies are done when the edges are completely puffed and browned, and the center is still slightly sunken. It's best not to overbake since you want it to be soft. Remove from oven and let cool for just a few minutes. Top with vanilla ice cream and hot fudge and serve.