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!


Monday, July 19, 2010

Cookie Recipe #198 - Chewy Flourless Chocolate Cookies


This is a gluten-free cookie recipe and tasty, too. I found it in a small magazine called "relish" that comes with our local newspaper. The recipe is by Tamar Haspel, who is a food writer from Marstons Mill, Massachusetts.

Ingredients: 1 3/4 cups powdered sugar, 1/2 cup Dutch process cocoa, 2 teaspoons cornstarch, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 2 egg whites, 1 cup coarsely chopped pecan or walnuts, toasted.

Instructions: In small pan on top of the stove, toast whole pecans or walnuts until browned; allow to cool, then chop and set aside.

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In large mixing bowl, mix together sugar, cocoa, cornstarch and salt. Gradually add egg whites, stirring with a spoon until mixture forms a dough. (Mixture should be thick enough to form into balls; if not add more powdered sugar and cocoa). Add nuts; mix well.

Form dough into 15 balls. Place on prepared baking sheet. Bake 16-19 minutes, until glossy and crackled. Cool completely and enjoy.

Makes 15 cookies.

Cookies Rule!!!

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