It's Cookie Season

In between singing in concerts at church and gift shopping and mailing out Christmas cards we're busy baking cookies. We plan to give 75 tins full of cookies for gifts to co-workers. What a job. So, here's a bunch of cookie recipes.

Chocolate Macaroons with Chocolate or Caramel Filling

Each filling makes enough for one batch of cookies. Whichever filling you choose, be sure to prepare it a day ahead.

Chocolate filling
3/4 cup whole milk
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
8 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
Caramel Filling
2 large egg yolks
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/4 cup whipping cream

2 cups (packed) powdered sugar
6 tablespoons water

Macaroons
1 1-pound box powdered sugar
2 cups whole blanched almonds
6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 cup egg whites (about 6 large)

For chocolate filling: Bring milk and butter to simmer in heavy medium saucepan. Remove from heat. Add chocolate; whisk until melted and smooth. Transfer to small bowl. Cool. Cover and refrigerate until thick and cold, at least 1 day and up to 3 days.

For caramel filling: Place yolks in medium bowl. Bring 4 tablespoons butter and cream to simmer in heavy small saucepan. Gradually whisk hot cream mixture into yolks. Anchor bowl with yolk mixture by placing bowl on wet kitchen towel; set aside.

Stir sugar and 6 tablespoons water in heavy medium saucepan over low heat until sugar is dissolved. Increase heat and boil without stirring until syrup is deep amber color, occasionally brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush and swirling pan so caramel will color evenly, about 10 minutes. Slowly whisk hot caramel into yolk mixture, then whisk until smooth. Transfer caramel mixture to small bowl; let stand until no longer warm to touch (caramel will become too thick if it cools too long), about 1 hour. Whisk in remaining butter. Cover and chill until thick and cold, at least 1 day and up to 3 days.

For macaroons: Preheat oven to 400°F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Blend powdered sugar and almonds in processor until nuts are ground to powder, scraping sides of bowl often, about 8 minutes. Add cocoa and blend 1 minute more. Using electric mixer, beat egg whites in large bowl until stiff but not dry. Fold nut mixture into whites in 4 additions, making thick batter.

Spoon half of batter into pastry bag fitted with 1/2-inch plain round tip. Pipe batter onto each prepared sheet in 12 walnut-size mounds, spacing mounds apart (cookies will spread slightly).

Bake cookies, 1 sheet at a time, until firm to touch in center and dry and cracked on top, about 11 minutes. Slide parchment with cookies onto work surface; cool cookies. Repeat with remaining batter, cooling sheets completely and lining with clean parchment for each batch.

Assembly and serving: Arrange 1 macaroon, flat side up, on work surface. Drop 1 scant tablespoon filling onto cookie. Top with second macaroon, flat side down. Press lightly to adhere, making sandwich. Repeat with remaining macaroons and filling. Arrange macaroons on platter. Cover; chill at least 2 hours and up to 1 day. Serve cold.

Makes 24 sandwich cookies.

Here's a favorite recipe from the Betty Crocker's Cookie Book. It makes a lot of cookies.

Holiday Fruit Drops

1 cup shortening
2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup soured milk, buttermilk, or water
3 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups broken pecans
2 cups candied cherries, halved
2 cups chopped dates

Mix shortening, sugar and eggs well. Stir in soured milk. Blend dry ingredients, stir in to wet mixture. Stir in the pecans, cherries and dates. Chill at least 1 hour. Heat oven to 400 F. Drop heaping teaspoons of dough about 2" apart on lightly greased cookie sheet. Place a pecan half on each cookie if desired. Bake 8 to 10 minutes until almost no imprint remains when touched lightly.

Pumpkin Cookies

1 cup oil
3 cups sugar
2 eggs -- beaten
3 teaspoons vanilla
5 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons nutmeg
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1 3/4 teaspoons salt
1 29-ounce can solid-pack pumpkin
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Pre-heat oven to 350 F. Beat oil and sugar in mixing bowl. Add eggs and vanilla, beating well. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices, and salt together. Add to sugar mixture alternately with pumpkin, beating well after each addition. Fold in chocolate chips and nuts. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto greased cookie sheets. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack.

Fig Cookies

1 cup chopped figs (about 1/2 lb)
1/3 cup water
1 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar,firmly packed
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups sifted flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Cook figs with water, stirring frequently, until thickened (about 5 minutes). Set aside to cool. Beat butter with sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Blend well. Sift together flour,baking powder, and salt. Mix into the creamed mixture. Stir in the cooled figs. Drop by teaspoons onto lightly greased cookie sheets. Bake 375 degrees 10 to 12 minutes, until lightly browned. Remove cookies and cool on wire racks.

Worth a Journey through the Snow

Yesterday my husband and I did a foolish thing. We drove to and from Williamsburg in a big snowstorm just to have dinner with his sister and her friend at the Trellis, our favorite restaurant. The drive home was frightening, but both the company and the food were worth the perilous journey. I had the vegetarian selection a risotto with fresh corn. The dish was sprinkled with pine nuts and shaved Parmesan cheese. The dish was accompanied by grilled shitake mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, tiny grilled patty pan squash and green beans. It was fabulous. My husband and I shared a salad composed of romaine, pear slices, cheddar cheese strips, and walnuts with a  raspberry vinaigrette.

Of course, we all had shared portions of their signature dessert “Death by Chocolate”. You can find the recipe for the dessert in the Trellis Cookbook, but it’s easier and probably cheaper just to go to Williamsburg and let them make it for you. Marcel Desaulniers was the owner chef of this restaurant for many years, but their webpage lists Michael Holdsworth as chef. He seems to be following Chef Desaulniers’ philosophy of food preparation. It was a dinner to remember.
You can buy their cookies online at http://dessertstodiefor.com/.