I can cook. Rather well. Without recipes. A little of this, a little of that, some spices, some butter, some wine. Veg and sauces, breakfast and soups, one hell of a garlic brisket. Mashed potatoes? Lumpy and garlicy with skins left on and dairy quantites you only dream about. My palate veers towards unami. And spice. And stinky cheeses.
Cookbooks are read for enjoyment or to check a cooking time.
Baking is a different story. There is little room for creativity in the kitchen when baking. Which is why I normally don't bake. And since it has been hotter than the hinges in the DC Metro area (really not liking the new DMV name being used), I have shelved my desire for cookies until just the other night.
"Why not buy cookies?" Because I have found and slightly modified an easy recipe that makes the best cookies. Ever. Friends and family agree. And have suggested the recipe get entered in a cookie baking contest.
You'll need:
1/4 lb butter
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
3/4 tsp vanilla
1- 1/8 cups of flour
3/4 tsp of amazing salt (I'm partial to Frech gray sea salt but others do work well)
1/2 tsp of baking soda
6 oz (approx. 1 cup) bittersweet chocolate chips or chunks or bars- if you chop by hand, you get a wonderful texture
The grunt work:
Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease cookie sheets. (Or cheat and use silicone mats on air-bake sheets. This is highly recommended.) Using the whisk attachment on a stand (or hand) mixer, cream the butter and slowly add the two sugars, blend until light and smooth. Beat in the egg and vanilla, mix well. Mix remaining dry ingredients (flour, salt, baking soda) together and add to batter. Add chocolate. Spoon teaspoonfuls onto the baking sheets at least 1 inch apart. Bake 9 minutes.
You are so close to chocolatey, gooey, crsipy, chewy, salty amazingness! Let them cool for 5 minutes or so, then transfer to a cooling rack or wax paper spread out on stone counters.
Place on a 1920s creamware oval platter with lots of crazing and chipped edges.
Select a few choice victims. Cold milk optional.
I'll leave you alone for a few minutes.
Because it is Treasury Tuesday and I actually baked, today's curation showcases kitsch in the kitchen. Not a cookie but still worth a peek.
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