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!


Thursday, October 21, 2010

Cookie Recipe #292 - Cranberry-Pumpkin Cookies


Soft and fluffy, full of pumpkin taste, bits of cranberries, and bites of walnuts describes today's cookie.

Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter, softened, 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 egg, 1 cup solid pack pumpkin puree, 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 cup fresh cranberries (or pre-packaged), 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 tablespoon orange zest, 1/2 cup chopped walnuts.

Instructions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease baking sheets or line with parchment paper; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla, egg, and pumpkin. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon; stir into mixture until well blended. Cut the cranberries in half and stir into mixture along with the orange zest and walnuts. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto prepared baking sheets.

Bake in preheated 375 degree oven for 10-12 minutes. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Makes 3 dozen cookies.

Submitted by Lucy Randall at http://allrecipes.com.

Cookies Rule!!!

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