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!


Saturday, May 1, 2010

Cookie Recipe #119 - Pecan Shortbread Melts


These little logs are true to their name - they melt in your mouth after that first crunchy bite.

Ingredients: 1 cup butter, softened, 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 3/4 cup finely chopped pecans, sugar for rolling.

Instructions: Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Cream butter in large mixing bowl; blend in confectioners' sugar and vanilla. Sift flour and salt into creamed mixture and blend well. Fold in pecans.

Shape dough into snall balls, the size of dates, and roll in sugar. Arrange on ungreased cookie sheets about an inch apart (they retain their shape).

Bake 23-25 minutes, until lightly browned on the bottom. Transfer to cooling racks.

Makes 3-4 dozen cookies.

"The Ultimate Cookie Book", Tormont Publications Inc., Montreal, Canada, 1997.

Cookies Rule!!!
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