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, November 4, 2010

Cookie Recipe #306 - Macadamia Nut and Almond Brownies


This is a brownie filled with macadamia nuts and almonds and baked in a pie plate; a simple recipe resulting in a delicious dessert (especially topped with a scoop of ice cream).

Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, 1 cup butter, 1 3/4 cups brown sugar, 4 large eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 3/4 cups flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1 cup macadamia nuts, 1 cup slivered almonds.

Instructions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease two 9-inch round baking pans or pie plates.

Melt chocolate chips in microwave in small bowl until smooth when stirred. In large mixing bowl, beat butter and brown sugar together until fluffy. Stir in melted chocolate and mix well. Beat in eggs and vanilla.

Sift flour with salt and stir into batter. Mix in macadamia nuts and almonds. Divide batter evenly between pans, smoothing tops with spatula. Bake 30-40 minutes in preheated 375 degree oven or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.

When done, remove from oven and let cool. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar and serve.

Makes 16 slices.

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

Cookies Rule!!!

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