For my birthday my friend Ruth gave me a chocolate chip cookie cookbook: 101 Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies. Last week I felt like turning on the oven (it has been so hot here that turning on the oven is in fact major work!). I decided to try one of the recipes but couldn't decide upon one. I ended up combining two recipes to come up with this one.
I didn't have chocolate chips but I had hunks of milk and bittersweet chocolate leftover from Jan's chocolate fountain. Rather than trying to chop them up I dumped 3 cups worth into the food processor and let it whirl away. Some of the pieces stayed HUGE while others were little bits (and everything in between) - this ended up being perfect!
3 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup butter
1 1/3 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
2 extra large eggs
2 1/2 tsp cinnamon (I used Vietnamese cinnamon - YUM)
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
3 cups chopped chocolate
1 cup chopped pecans
Preheat oven to 325 degrees
Mix dry ingredients (flour, soda, salt,and spices) with a whisk. Set bowl aside
In a large bowl cream the butter with the sugars until light. Beat in the vanilla and the eggs until smooth.
Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the creamed butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla mixture. Add the chocolate chunks and chopped nuts.
Drop onto ungreased cookie sheets 1 tablespoon at a time (I cheat and use a small ice cream scoop). Bake for about 12 minutes, or until golden brown.
Yield: 6 dozen
This sounds like a cookie worthy of Christmas.
I am compiling my Christmas cooking and baking lists and am adding these biscuits - I think they will go down a treat with everyone.
Posted by: Robert | August 15, 2007 at 02:55 AM
My lord - you are ahead of yourself . . . perhaps that is indicative of the summer you are having in Ireland! LOL I have decided that I really enjoy the combination of fine chocolate and cinnamon . .. YUM
Posted by: Jerry | August 15, 2007 at 07:22 AM
The leaves are turning on the trees here already. Please don't go there...
My Christmas shopping is almost done too (as I am moving countries very early next year I need to plan ahead to stay ahead financially).
Posted by: Robert | August 15, 2007 at 02:38 PM
My shopping is done early as well - I end up doing it all year long. Unfortunately (or fortunately for the recipients) I forget that I have things bought so I just keep on buying!
Posted by: Jerry | August 15, 2007 at 05:30 PM
Hi,
Yes, we fly from Detroit. We always do, its a lot cheaper and we stick with NW airlines because we collect the miles. Right now we both have enough miles for a trip to Hawaii.
Posted by: Randi | August 15, 2007 at 07:39 PM
Randi - I have never flown NW. I shall have to check them out! A trip to Hawaii would eb amazing.
We'll be down your way on the weekend (Stratford).
Posted by: Jerry | August 16, 2007 at 04:54 PM