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, December 15, 2010

Cookie Recipe #347 - Frosties


More snowmen!!! As if they aren't enough snowmen in my house (ask my husband) I added a few more today. This is a simple recipe that provides you the opportunity to add your own special touches.

Ingredients: 1 cup butter, softened, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, miniature semisweet chocolate chips, 24 gumdrops (if desired), fruit roll-ups, decorating icing.

Instructions: Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter for 30 seconds. Add sugar, vanilla, and salt, beating until combined. Gradually add in flour and mix thoroughly.

For each snowman, shape dough into three balls: one 1-inch ball, one 3/4-inch ball, and one 1/2-inch ball. Place balls on an ungreased baking sheet in decreasing sizes with edges touching. Press together slightly, forming a snowman shape. Insert two mini chocolate chips in the smallest ball for eyes, and one in the middle ball and two in the largest ball for buttons.

Bake in preheated 325 degree oven for 18-20 minutes or until set. Carefully transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

For hat, roll a gumdrop into an oval shape (about 1 1/2x1 inches) on a sugared surface. Roll oval into a cone shape; press to seal ends. Curl up bottom edge of coone to form hat brim. Attach to head with Decorating Icing (recipe below). Cut a fruit roll-up about 6 inches long into 3 thin strips. Wrap one around each snowman's neck representing a scarf. Pipe on brooms and faces with icing, if desired; let icing dry.

Decorating Icing: In a small bowl stir together 1 cup sifted powdered sugar and 1 tablespoon milk to make of piping consistency. Tint with food coloring, if desired.

Substitutions for buttons: mini candy-coated chocolate candies or candy-coated peanut butter candies, small pieces of nuts, cut-up raisins, cut-up dates, etc.

Makes about 2 dozen snowmen.

"Better Homes and Gardens Biggest Book of Cookies", Meredith Corporation, Des Moines, IA, 2003.

Cookies Rule!!! (So do snowmen..)

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