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, August 25, 2010

Cookie Recipe #235 - Scrumptious Chocolate Fruit and Nut Cookies


These truly are scrumptious; extremely chocolatey with the crunch of macadamia nuts and the chewiness of small bits of apricots.

Ingredients: 1 1/4 cups (2 1/2 sticks) butter, softened, 2 cups granulated sugar, 2 eggs, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 2 cups all-purpose flour, 3/4 cup cocoa, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 2 cups (12 ounce package) chocolate chips, 1 cup chopped dried apricots, 1 cup coarsely chopped macadamia nuts.

Instructions: Prheat oven to 350 degrees. In large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. In separate bowl, stir together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; blend into butter mixture. Stir in chocolate chips, apricota and nuts.

Drop by tablespoonful onto ungreased baking sheets about 2 inches apart. Bake 12-14 minutes or until set. Cool for a minute or two on baking sheet before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

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

Cookies Rule!!!

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