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Big Ol' Chocolate Chip Cookie

You know those gigantic chocolate chip cookie cakes that you can buy from one of those cookie stores? You know, the ones that can be found in any shopping mall in the U.S.? Well, I used to think that they were on to something. I used to think that they had some special top-secret recipe that made their cookies so big, so chewy, and so delicious. Well, allow me to let you in on a little secret...Do you know that you can make the same chocolate chip cookie cake, using store-bought refrigerated cookie dough, right in your own home???

We just celebrated my daughter's sixth birthday, and this was the cake that she wanted. So my husband, being the risk-taker that he is, confidently proclaimed that we could make one ourselves instead of shelling out thirty bucks to pay someone else to do it. I am so glad that we did. And you can, too!

So here's what we did:

We took a 16-inch non-stick, coated pizza pan ($8.98 from Wal-Mart). Using floured fingers press two packages of refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough into the pan (we used Pillsbury, but any kind will do). It doesn't matter if you use the cookie dough log or the break apart kind. Either one will do the trick. Bake in a 350-degree oven for 15 minutes and Voila! Your cookie is done! Pipe some icing and throw on some M&Ms if you want to get fancy.

Sounds too good to be true, right? I thought so, too, but it tasted just as good as one baked by the "professionals." Everyone else gave it rave reviews as well. So go ahead. Try it for yourself. You don't even have to have a special occasion to make one. I won't tell!

Welcome to my foodworld, peeps!

So, here's the thing. I love to talk about, prepare, share and give food. My heart beats a little faster, my eyes widen, and if there's enough sugar involved, my cheeks tingle. (Is that weird?)

I figure that readers of my regular blog may not want my other posts interrupted with descriptions of wonderful dishes and reviews of restaurants, so why not do that in a dedicated space? Welcome to FoodieVille.

One of my favorite herbs is cilantro, and its lush green color and vibrant flavor are perfect symbols, I think, of a food lover's palette. (Photo by Henrique Vicente.)

A little about me: I am a working mother of a little boy who will be two in January. I am a huge fan of Cooking Light, but I've never found a recipe in Taste of Home that I thought looked good. I gravitate toward healthy fare in general, and salads, chicken, fish, filet mignon, Indian, Thai, sushi, and warm cookies in particular.

Because I do bring home bacon and yet fry it up in the pan, I don't get to cook the more time-consuming meals I used to--but when I do, you're gonna hear about it.

You can also expect reviews of everything from my local Chik-fil-A and ice cream parlors to local mom and pop restaurants in the Athens, GA, area.

Until next time, stuff your face, mateys!