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!


Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Cookie Recipe #346 - Christmas Cookies


These tasty Christmas cookies are made with crushed rice cereal (Rice Krispies) and marzipan.

Ingredients: 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons marzipan, 1 egg, 1 cup crushed crispy rice cereal, 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, red and green food coloring, colored sugar and/or sprinkles.

Instructions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease 2 baking sheets or line with parchment paper; set aside.

Crush cereal by placing in a resealable plastic bag and using a rolling pin to go back and forth until finely crushed (or use a meat mallet). In a large mixing bowl, cream butter with sugar. Soften marzipan with a fork in a small bowl and blend into creamed mixture. Add egg, cereal, then flour, mixing well after each addition.

Divide dough into 3 portions, adding red food coloring to one and green to another. Turn each portion onto well-floured surface, kneading a few times until dough becomes elastic.

Roll dough, one portion at a time, on floured surface, about 1/4-inch thick. Cut into Christmas shapes of choice. Decorate with colored sugar and/or sprinkles and arrange on baking sheets. Bake 8-10 minutes in preheated 350 degree oven until firm. Do not let cookies brown. Transfer to wire racks to cool.

Makes 3-4 dozen depending on size of cookie cutters.

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

Cookies Rule!!!

No comments:

Post a Comment