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, September 10, 2010

Cookie Recipe #251 - Chippy Chewy Bars


Their name explains it all-peanut butter and chocolate chips interspersed with chewy coconut lying on a bed consisting of a buttery graham cracker crust.

Ingredients: 1/2 cup (1 stick)butter or margarine, 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs, 1 2/3 cups peanut butter chips, divided, 1 1/2 cups flaked coconut, 1 can (14 ounce) sweetened condensed milk, 1 cup chocolate chips, 1 1/2 teaspoon shortening.

Instructions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place butter in a 13x9x2-inch baking pan; place in oven unti melted. Remove pan from oven; sprinkle graham cracker crumbs evenly over melted butter and press down with fork. Layer 1 cup peanut butter chips over crumbs; sprinkle coconut over peanut butter chips. Layer remaining 2/3 cup peanut butter chips over coconut; drizzle sweetened condensed milk evenly over top.

Bake 20 minutes in preheated 350 degree oven or until lightly browned. Remove from oven to wire rack. Melt chocolate chips and shortening in microwave 1 minute; stir and continue heating until thoroughly melted and smooth when stirred. Drizzle evenly over bars. Cool completely then cut into bars and enjoy!

Makes 4 dozen bars.

"Hershey's Homemade", Hershey Food Corporation, 1991.

Cookies Rule!!!

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