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, June 26, 2010

Cookie Recipe #175 - Orange-Coconut Bars


This is a chewy, orangish-tasting bar; refreshing on a hot, summer day.

Ingredients: 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1 cup granulated sugar, divided, 1/4 cup butter, cold, 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans, 2 slightly beaten eggs, 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, 1 1/2 teaspoon finely shredded orange peel, 3 tablespoons orange juice, 1/4 teaspoon baking powder, 1 cup coconut.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine the 1/2 cup all-purpose flour and 1/4 cup of the sugar. Using a pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in pecans. Press mixture into the bottom of an ungreased 8x8x2-inch baking pan. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven 18-20 minutes or until golden.

Meanwhile, in a medium mixing bowl, combine the remaining 3/4 cup sugar, the eggs, the 2 tablespoons flour, orange peel, orange juice, and baking powder. Beat on low about 2 minutes or until combined. Stir in coconut.

Pour topping over baked crust and return to oven for about 20 minutes or until edges are light brown and center is set. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.

Cut into 16 bars and serve.

"Better Homes and Gardens Biggest Book of Cookies", Meredith Corporation, Des Moines, IA, 2003.

Cookies Rule!!!

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