Pots and Pans
Thursday, May 31, 2012
CHILDREN love it. Adults like it. Everyone adores it.
Cookies, of course! Whether small or large, thick and chunky or thin and crunchy, fruity, chocolaty or nutty, chilled or freshly baked, it all boils down to that delicious sweet treat for everyone.
It’s an all day (and night) treat after all! Taken with a glass of milk, soda, juice or plain water, it can be satisfying to the taste buds!
I bet everyone has his or her own favorites, be it the imported ones or the locally produced and manufactured cookies made of our very own nature grown ingredients.
It really isn’t hard for anybody to choose and like their particular cookie, yet depending on the budget, the more expensive ones become a real luxury and indulgence. And I bet we have our own little secret and ways of not sharing it with anyone, right?
Who can forget the most well-known and well-loved chocolate chip cookies? Plain with chocolate chips or with nuts, it is really heavenly. What about anything that is dipped or made with chocolate? And with a cup of milk, we all must be drooling by now!
Locally, I know I grew up really treasuring the rosquillos that used to be sold in cans! Just dipping in plain cold water would already do the trick for me! The “burnt” cookies the better! Remember those little center holes where we insert our little fingers pretending they are “edible” rings?
Far and wide, every place and country have a unique and delicious own version of their cookies. But chances are, basic ingredients would include only flour, sugar, milk, eggs and some flavoring enhancing agents, if not real fruits or fruit juices, nuts, chocolates and seeds.
The basic process might be the same, but the outcome is always different. And the more “exotic” the ingredients, the more expensive it becomes.
So let’s go to the very basic cookie that we have enjoyed one way or the other during our growing up period or even until now. And it is plainly called “sugar cookies,” which is also sometime known as rolled cookies.
With this very versatile recipe, one can come up with many variations and versions depending on one’s creativity and skills.
Aside from cupcakes, the next best thing in a kid’s or adult party would be cookies and depending on the theme, this can be made to fit the occasion. Either thru the use of the designated cookie cutter or decorating/frosting, this sweet treat can become the talk of the party!
And the good thing about this is that it is easy to make, cut, decorate, package and present in almost any festivities, be it birthdays, graduation, baptismal, weddings, fiesta or thanksgiving. Name it and surely the cookie will be present! Plus, this last for an indefinite period of time compared to the other “sweets.” And no mess!
1 ½ cup unsalted butter
2 ¼ cup granulated sugar
2 pcs whole eggs
1 tbsp vanilla
1 tsp lemon or almond flavoring
3 ½ cups flour
1 ½ tsp iodized salt
2 ¼ cup granulated sugar
2 pcs whole eggs
1 tbsp vanilla
1 tsp lemon or almond flavoring
3 ½ cups flour
1 ½ tsp iodized salt
Beat butter with sugar, add flavorings and egg one at a time. Combine the flour and salt. Add to butter mixture and mix well. Roll the mixture on parchment paper for easy removal if cookie cutter is used. Bake at 350 degrees till light brown, about 10 to 15 minutes depending on the size of cookies made. Cool. Remove from pan. Decorate as desired.
P.S. Nuts and dried fruits can also be added if desired. Half brown sugar and half white sugar can also be substituted. Cake or cookie sprinkles, plain or colored sugar can be added on top of the cookies before baking for a more festive look.
(Website: www.potsnpans1976.weebly.com; email: potsnpans1976@yahoo.com)
Published in the Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro newspaper on May 31, 2012.
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