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!


Sunday, May 9, 2010

Cookie Recipe #127 - Orange Madeleines


Madeleines for Mother...these tasty little orange-flavored cookies are almost like biting into a shell-shaped cake. The only pitfall is you need to have a madeleine pan, so if you invest in one, try several different kinds or even share the pan with friends.

Ingredients: 2/3 cup all-purpose flour, 1/4 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled, 2 eggs, 1/2 teaspoon orange extract (I used fresh orange juice), 1/2 teaspoon shredded orange peel, 1 cup powdered sugar, extra powdered sugar for sprinkling.

Instructions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray pan with cooking spray. Melt butter and allow to cool. In large mixing bowl, beat eggs, orange extract (juice), and orange peel on high speed for 5 minutes. Gradually beat in powdered sugar. Beat another 5 minutes or until thick.

Sift flour and baking powder over mixture and gently fold in, then add butter and mix until smooth. Spoon the mixture into prepared pan, filling each cup 3/4 full.

Bake approximately 8 minutes, or until edges are light brown. Cool in the pan 1-2 minutes. Loosen cookies with a knife, if necessary, then invert pan on a cooling rack. When cool, sprinkle the tops with powdered sugar.

Makes 24 madeleines.

Cookies Rule!!!

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