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!


Friday, November 12, 2010

Cookie Recipe #314 - Olive Oil and Wine Cookies


This cookie came from a book my best friend bought me while out shopping and it gets the "MUCI" Award (most unusual cookie ingredients): olive oil and red wine. They are very tasty and would be a great addition to a platter of cheese and the remaining red wine (if any is left).

Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, 1/4 cup dry red wine.

Instructions: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper; set aside. Place the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and pepper in large mixing bowl and mix until everything is incorporated. Gradually, while mixer is running, add the olive oil and wine. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix again.

Drop the dough by tablespoons about 2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheets. The dough tends to separate so bake these right away. If you like flatten cookies slightly.

Bake in preheated 350 degree oven until the cookies are lightly browned, 12-15 minutes. Cool on the cookie sheets. Transfer to wire racks.

Makes 2-3 dozen cookies.

"Cookies 52 Easy Recipes For Year-Round Baking", Sally Sampson, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, NJ, 2007.

Cookies Rule!!!

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