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!


Friday, July 2, 2010

Cookie Recipe #181 - Toffee Cookies


Eating one of these is like enjoying a candy bar rather than a cookie. The base is chewy with a savory layer of chocolate and topped with crunchy chopped walnuts.

Ingredients: 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted, 1 3/4 cups oats, 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed, 1/2 cup light corn syrup, 2 tablespoons vanilla extract, large pinch of salt, 1/2 - 3/4 cup chocolate chips, 1/2 cup chopped walnuts.

Instructions: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Grease a 15x10 inch baking pan; set aside. In large mixing bowl, mix together butter, oats, sugar, syrup, vanilla extract, and salt; press into the prepared pan. Bake in preheated 400 degree oven 15-18 minutes, until the mixture is brown and bubbly.

Remove from the oven to heatproof surface and immediately sprinkle on the chocolate chips. Allow to sit for 10 minutes before spreading evenly over the base with a spatula. Top with the chopped walnuts and allow to cool before cutting into squares. May be placed in the refrigerator for a few minutes to help the chocolate harden.

Makes 36 cookie squares.

"The Cookie and Biscuit Bible", Anness Publishing Ltd, London, 2003.

Cookies Rule!!!

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