We are introduced, at an early age, to the sweet wondernous of a cookie. From teething cookies to soothe the swollen aching gums of incoming incisors, onto animal crackers purchased in rectangular-shaped boxes bearing a string handle for easy toting by little fingers. Deciding which part of the animal should be eaten first-the trunk of the elephant or the tail of a lion-depended on how hungry one was. Savor each and every one or simply gobble them down as fast as possible.

My next cookie memory would be the ever famous, possibly all-time favorite, the chocolate chip cookie. There is nothing better than to bite into a round circle of baked dough sprinkled with gooey melt-in-your-mouth chocolate. A chocolate chip cookie can dry tears, heal broken hearts, mend scraped knees and elbows and solve sibling arguments. Most of the problems in the world could likely be solved by a properly baked, right out of the oven, chocolate chip cookie. The power of a cookie is underestimated.

I will attempt in the next 365 days to prepare and comment on a year’s worth of different cookies-one for each day. My goal is to share with others my extreme love of cookies-baking them and especially eating them! Feel free to send me your favorite recipe, your earliest cookie memories, or how cookies may have influenced your life. Cookies Rule!


Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Cookie Recipe #11 - Chocolate Walnut Meringues


Chocolate Walnut Meringues are like eating chocolate clouds. The flaky exterior breaks away to reveal a melt-in-your-mouth chocolate delight with bits of crunchy walnuts topping off the experience.

Ingredients: 12 oz. package chocolate chips, 4 egg whites, at room temperature, 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon white vinegar, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1 cup chopped walnuts.

Instructions: Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Place mixing bowl and beaters in freezer for a few minutes while you melt the chocolate chips in a small saucepan on the stove (this helps the egg whites to form peaks quicker). Stir the chocolate chips until completely melted; remove from burner and allow to cool slightly.

Remove the mixing bowl and beaters from freezer; place egg whites in bowl and beat until foamy, 30-45 seconds. Gradually add sugar, 2 tablespoons at a time, until stiff peaks form. This means when you stop the mixer, lift it from the mixture and a peak stands on its own, it's ready (could take up to 5 minutes). Add vinegar, salt and vanilla, beating well. By hand, fold in the melted chocolate and the nuts; gently stir until no white remains.

Drop mixture by teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto well-greased baking sheets. Bake at 300 degrees 14-15 minutes. The cookies will spread and crackle on top. Remove from oven and allow to cool on baking sheet before transfering to cooling racks.

Store in an airtight container, removing when a chocolate attack arises! Makes approximately 3 dozen chocolate clouds.

Cookies Rule!!!

1 comment:

  1. If I had to choose. . . .The chocolate chip cookies are my favorite, with the peanut butter being a VERY close second, but lets just face it, anything Kathy bakes is a hit!! Everyone looks forward to desert when Kathy bakes. All my parties are better due to her superior baking talents! The Winans family is looking forward to sampling lots of cookies in 2010!!

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