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, November 17, 2010

Cookie Recipe #319 - Sweet and Salty Cookies


This is a new take on an ever-popular cookie-the chocolate chip cookie. The addition of pretzels and potato chips gives it the saltiness along with a crunch.

Ingredients: 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt (optional), 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened, 3/4 cup granulated sugar, 3/4 cup packed brown sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 2 large eggs, 2 cups (12-ounce package)semi-sweet chocolate chips, 2 cups coarsely broken rippled potato chips, 1 cup small pretzel twists, broken into 1/2-inch pieces, 1/2 cup unsalted peanuts (optional).

Instructions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract in large mixing bowl until creamy.

Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in chocolate chips, potato chips, pretzel pieces, and peanuts, if using. Drop by rounded tablesponfuls onto ungreased baking sheets.

Bake 9-11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool.

Makes 4-5 dozen cookies.

"Woman's Day magazine", November 1, 2010, insert by Nestle, Societe des Produits Nestle S.A., Vevey, Switzerland.

Cookies Rule!!!

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