Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Cake of the Week: Cookie Monster


Mmm, cookies. I’ve been quite the Cookie Monster recently. For some reason, those little disks of awesomeness have been calling my name…and my response? Me want cookie!


I know that nowadays Cookie Monster is changing his ways. With the problems of childhood obesity, Cookie Monster now says that "cookies are a sometimes snack,” 

and that fruits and veggies are good too (as of an appearance on the Martha Stewart Show in 2007). Sesame Street VP says that they are “teaching him moderation.”




Hmm…that doesn’t sound like the Cookie Monster I know and love (oh please, click on that link - C is for Cookie!). I mean, I get that kids should be healthy, but I find it hard to believe that Cookie Monster is any type of significant contributor to the childhood obesity epidemic.


To quote my Mama: That is just ridiculous. Cookie Monster eats telephones and typewriters too. Inanimate objects!!! That’s way more dangerous than cookies! Are we worried about kids eating those??? (Again, PLEASE watch this video!)

Cookie Monster, he’s the Id (psych. anyone?). He wants cookies, he needs cookies, he eats cookies. He consumes shamelessly, whole-heartedly. And I like that. Go you Cookie Monster – go get yourself some cookies!

Nom nom nom!!!

First I made Chocolate Cookies. They are from this Homemade Oreo Recipe, but I skipped the filling, and added walnuts. 

Chocolate Cookies




Chocolate Wafers Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup unsweetened Dutch process cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup room-temperature, unsalted butter

1 large egg
½ cup chopped walnuts


Directions:

1. Set two racks in the middle of the oven. Preheat to 375°F.
2. In a food processor, or bowl of an electric mixer, thoroughly mix the flour, cocoa, baking soda and powder, salt, and sugar. While pulsing, or on low speed, add the butter, and then the egg. Add the walnuts. Continue processing or mixing until dough comes together in a mass.
3. Take rounded teaspoons of batter and place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet approximately two inches apart. With moistened hands, slightly flatten the dough. Bake for 9 minutes, rotating once for even baking. Set baking sheets on a rack to cool.



Then I made Chocolate Butterscotch Chip Cookies. Thanks to a family full of Cookie Monsters and a childhood kitchen where the cookie jar was a permanently full fixture, I know this recipe by heart:

The Cookies


Ingredients
1 stick butter (softened to room temp.)
1 cup brown sugar
½ cup sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla (also good with rum, if you have it on hand)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 ½ cups flour
 1 1/2 cups chips (this time I used semi-sweet chocolate and butterscotch chips)



Directions:
1.Preheat oven to 375*
2. Thoroughly mix butter and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until smoothe.
3. Mix in dry ingredients.
4. Mix in chips.
5. Drop tablespoon-sized balls onto cookie sheets.
6. Bake 8 minutes. Remove from sheet and cool on wire racks.




You'll have a lot of cookies, but just seal them in bags/tupperware and pop them in the freezer. Then you'll have a cookie whenever you need one! (And don't even get me started on my love of cookie dough...)

Enjoy!