Cookie Pizzas + Beachtown Adventures.

Right now... I am fully looking ahead and loving life. 

I'm looking forward to summer. I'm looking forward to fireworks and funnel cakes and block parties and True Blood. I'm looking forward to late nights and drive-ins and strawberries in everything.

I'm looking forward to Disneyland in October, homemade pumpkin lattes, and crisp fall weather. I'm really looking forward to riding this monorail. 

I'm looking forward to splurging on this mixer.  

And, I'll be real with you, I'm already looking forward to Christmas. Too soon?

I'm also looking back. 

I'm looking back on cookie pizzas. 

These were good. 

I'm looking back on the mocha cookie crumble frappuccino I had for lunch today. Being a grown-up means sometimes having dessert first.

And I'm looking back on sunny, summery beachtown adventures.

Welcome to Monterey!

I stayed here for two days. It was good living. 

I don't know, but I really liked this wall. It was crumbly. It told a story. 

There were views like this.

Go ahead. Fall in love with blue. I know I did.

There was sand and sun and waves.

Otter waves too, if you will.

Aquarium dates.

Penguins... 

... and bat rays! I pet them.

Vacation food. That's all I have to say.

These guys. Groomsmen? Best friends? Boy band? They kept leaping into the air.

Oh and breakfast in bed. There was that and it was always a good thing.  

This summer, live! Eat dessert first. See some blue. Pet a bat ray. Wear capris and blazers and leap into the air with your best friends.

And I don't about you, but today should definitely involve some sort of oversized chocolate chip cookie baked in a pizza pan, don't you think? I love you.

Cookie Pizzas

Printable Recipe

1 cup shortening

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 cup M&Ms 

1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Two 12-inch pizza pans (I used disposable aluminum pizza pans) 

Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease two pizza pans and set aside.

Cream together the shortening, brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs, and vanilla.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Add to the shortening mixture and mix well. Stir in the chocolate chips and M&Ms. 

Divide dough in half; press each half evenly into pizza pans. 

Bake 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned around the edges and the center tests done with a toothpick. 

Cool completely in pans, then slice into thin wedges or break apart to serve. Enjoy!

Makes 2 12-inch pizza cookies.  

Source: This recipe.