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!


Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Cookie Recipe #304 - Chocolate Chip Caramel Cookies


These are a regular chocolate chip cookie but with the addition of bits of caramel and slivers of almonds.

Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter, softened, 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed, 3/4 cup granulated sugar, 1 large egg, beaten, 2 tablespoons heavy cream, 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (I doubled this, of course), 1/2 cup slivered almonds, 12 caramels, cut in half (I used 1 cup of a new product by Kraft, Caramel bits; unwrapped small balls of caramel).

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

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter with both sugars until light and fluffy. Add egg and continue beating for 1 minute; add in cream. Combine dry ingredients and add to batter, beating at low speed. Mix in chocolate chips, almonds and caramels.

Drop small spoonfuls of batter onto prepared baking sheets and bake 8 minutes or until lightly browned. Carefully transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Makes about 3 dozen.

"The Ultimate Cookie Book", Tormont Publications Inc., Montreal, Canada, 1997.

Cookies Rule!!!

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