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!


Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Cookie Recipe #242 - Raisin Lovers' Sugar Cookies


This is a sugar cookie jam-packed with raisins-I rolled mine in purple-tinted sugar, but untinted will work just fine.

Ingredients: 2 cups raisins, 1/2 cup butter, softened, 3/4 cup granulated sugar, 1/4 teaspoon baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1 egg, 1 tablespoon milk, 2 teaspoons lemon extract, 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, sugar for rolling.

Instructions: In a small saucepan, cover raisins with water; bring to a boil. Drain; let raisins cool.

In a medium mixing bowl, beat butter; add sugar, baking powder, and salt. Beat until combined, scraping sides occasionally. Beat in egg, milk, and lemon extract until combined. Add in flour and mix well. Stir in raisins. Cover and refrigerate dough for 2 hours or until easy to handle.

Prheat oven to 375 degrees. Roll dough into 1 1/4-inch balls and toss in small bowl of sugar until coated. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 8-10 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned.

Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

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

Cookies Rule!!!

1 comment:

  1. Yum! Just checked out this recipe. Can't wait to make it for our Christmas party. Everyone's gonna freak! :)

    ReplyDelete