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!


Saturday, September 11, 2010

Cookie Recipe #252 - Gumdrop Gems


These little gems are a "chillin" sugar cookie topped off with a gumdrop. Make them up the night before for quick baking the next day.

Ingredients: 1 cup butter or margarine, softened, 1 1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1 egg, 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon cream of tartar, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1 cup small gumdrops, sliced in half.

Instructions: In large mixing bowl cream butter, sugar, and vanilla together well; beat in egg. Stir together flour, soda, cream of tartar, and salt. Stir into creamed mixture till blended. On waxed paper shape dough into a 12x2 inch roll. Wrap in waxed paper and chill several hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cut roll into 1/4-inch slices and place on ungreased baking sheets. Top with halved gumdrops in center of each cookie. Bake in preheated 375 degree oven about 12 minutes or until lightly browned around the edges. Cool on baking sheet one minute before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

"Better Homes and Gardens Gifts from Your Kitchen", Meredith Corporation, USA, 1976.

Cookies Rule!!!

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