The Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies.

I admit it. When it comes to making chocolate chip cookies, I usually buy the tube at the grocery store. It's not that they are easier. It's that they are better! Whenever I tried to make chocolate chip cookies, they always turned out cakey. I don't like cakey cookies, I like chewy cookies. So, I stuck with the roll.

Until, while reading my favorite blog... Cookie Madness, I came across this recipe that was posted on epicurious. It made sense to me... I had melted butter for recipes in the past, and they turned out crappy, but it was because I never chilled the dough (which, the recipe doesn't specifically call for, but in the cookie madness post about the recipe, she recommended chilling the dough.

So, I made 4 cookie sheets worth (only about 26 cookies) and chilled a HUGE log to make the rest later. I wonder if I can freeze the cookie dough log? Anyway, the only changes I made to the recipe, were that I used a whole tbsp of vanilla and I used half milk chocolate chips and half semi-sweet and I added a few more chips than the recipe called for. They turned out perfect! They are a little crispier on the outside than I would like, but this is a great starting point! The best cookies I've ever made!

Biscuits... or as some friends of mine like to call them... "Bisthcuits"

Biscuits much like politics and religion, are a personal thing. Everyone has a mother, grandmother, aunt, etc that made the best biscuits. And after looking at tons of recipes, there really shouldnt be much difference in biscuits, because the recipes are all so similiar. Which means, that technique is imperative. Which also means, that they are likely not going to be perfect when you attempt them the first time.

When I was growing up, I hated breakfast. Every Saturday and Sunday morning my mom would make a big breakfast of homemade biscuits and gravy, sausage, eggs, bacon, etc... and I always fixed myself a bowl of cereal. Of course though, as I've gotten older... I've learned to love biscuits and gravy. Although, I still don't like my mom's that much. Sorry, mom!

I found this recipe on foodtv.com. It had awesome reviews and claimed to be very easy. It is a recipe by Tyler Florence (who, created my favorite cheesecake recipe), so I figured, it's worth a shot.

I followed the recipe exactly... except when it came to folding with my hands, I needed a LOT more buttermilk to get the mixture to the sticky texture. I probably added another 1/4 to 1/3 cup of buttermilk (I didnt have any regular milk, or I would have used it). I also didn't roll out the dough as described in the recipe. I wasn't making them in my kitchen, so I was hesitant to make a huge mess (and I was in a hurry). So, the texture wasn't exactly what I like in a biscuit. But the flavor turned out right on. I'm anxious to try them again and roll them out properly.

Danish Wedding Cookies...

My favorite store bought cookie has always been.... the Keebler Danish Wedding Cookie. I haven't had these cookies in a LONG time. But the week before my first marathon, I had a fever... and the only prescription was Danish Wedding Cookies. So, before one of my training runs, I stopped at publix and bought a box and opened them in the car on the way to the park. I stuck my hand down inside into the powdery cookies and pulled one out...

"What the hell???? They changed them????"

Yes, they have been put on a diet. They are much thinner and have a much lighter coating of powdered sugar (if you can even call it a coating). I was disappointed. So disappointed that I only ate about half the box before my run!!

So, the quest began to find a recipe for original danish wedding cookies.

I found one recipe that swears that they taste just like them... (even better, some claimed!). But looking it over, it contained cinnamon (definitely not a flavor in the cookies) and didn't include any kind of coconut flavor (I could have sworn there was a hint of coconut flavor in the original cookies) or mini chocolate chips... so, I altered it...

Danish Wedding Cookies
20ish Servings
Soundtrack: Fully Loaded cd by Velvet Underground

1 cup + 2 tbsp of AP flour
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup pecans, finely chopped
1/2 cup powdered sugar, sifted and divided
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/8 tsp coconut flavoring
1/3 cup mini chocolate chips

Combine all ingredients except for 1/4 cup of the powdered sugar into a bowl and stir well until blended. Batter will be crumbly...

Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Place on ungreased cookie sheets. And bake at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

Remove cookies to wire racks to cool slightly. Roll cookies in remaining powdered sugar and cool completely on wire rack.

So, the next time I make them... I think I will cook them for a little longer... a little closer to the 12 minutes and I also might chill the dough for a few minutes before shaping into balls and baking.

Taste wise, they taste a lot like the pink bag cookies, but texture wise... they are more melt in your mouth, than crunchy.

Yum.

Oh and they are called wedding cookies... because..."the marriage of the nuts and sugars represent the bumps in the road and the sweetness that surrounds a happy marriage." Awwww...

Inaugural Post!

So, as an introduction... the mission of this blog is to encourage myself to cook more and try new recipes, etc... But, I can't promise that everything will be all about food, recipes, etc... because... I get off topic a lot in life...