Cashew brown sugar cookies

Happy New Year to one and all. May the year ahead bring you all  health, wealth and happiness. Happy 2013 again.

For this special day, I have decided to post a special recipe. Hope you enjoy it :)

Ingredients: (Makes 3-1/2 dozen cookies)

• 1/2 cup softened butter (115 gms) 
• 1 cup brown sugar (firmly packed)
•  1/2 cup fine white sugar
•  1 whole egg and 1 egg yolk 
• 1/3 cup heavy cream 
• 1 tspn vanilla extract 
• 2 cups all-purpose flour 
• 3/4 tsp baking powder 
• 3/4 tsp baking soda 
• 1/4 tspn salt 
• 2 cups chopped cashew (and more for garnishing) 

 Directions: 

•  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C). 
•  Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
•  In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt and set aside. 
• In another large bowl, cream together the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. 
• Add the eggs, beating well, then stir in the cream and vanilla. 
• Gradually stir the flour mixture into the creamed mixture. 
•  Fold in chopped cashew pieces. 
• Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheets and press down a little. 
• Place half a cashew on each cookie center (optional) 
• Bake for 10 minutes in the preheated oven. 
• Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Fruit and Nut Oatmeal cookies.

When I receive an invitation from friends to enjoy a nice home cooked dinner or lunch at their home, I have the habit of carrying some goodies for them. It is not about giving them something in return for their invitation, but just a token of my appreciation. I usually like to pack something homemade, as opposed to store-bought, because I think it is worthwhile putting in a little time and effort for your friends, especially, when they slog away, making a good meal for you. But, I have to admit that I do have times when I have had, absolutely, no time on my hands and retreated to giving store bought stuff. (Guilty )

There was this one time when a friend invited me for dinner and I decided on baking these cookies for her. She is new to baking and so I had packed these cookies for along with the recipe as well. Such an easy recipe that I knew she will not have any trouble, what so ever, baking these anytime. I was sure she would love the cookies and the recipe. Sure as I was, she remarked that these cookies will never go out of style in her home and has showered me with praises.

How I came about this recipe .....when I was in India for a holiday, my sister, Preetha- who is a passionate foodie, made some of these delicious oatmeal cookies for us. She is a fantastic cook and there, you have the answer to where this recipe comes from . So, it is "SHE" actually deserves all those praises.

I love baking and especially when the results are so good, who wouldn't?

Ingredients:( makes about 45 cookies)

Butter - 1/2 pound(2 sticks/225 gms)
Light brown sugar (firmly packed) - 1 cup
Granulated sugar - 1/2 cup
Eggs - 2
Pure vanilla extract - 1 tspn
All purpose flour( maida) - 1-1/2 cups
Baking soda - 1 tspn
Salt - 1/2 tspn(optional)
Uncooked oats - 3 cups (quick or old fashioned oats)
Raisins and chopped walnuts - 1-1/2 cups

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F( 177 C)
• Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a bowl and sift twice.Set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl beat butter and sugar till creamy.
• Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Add vanilla and beat.
• Add the sift flour mixture and mix well.
• Stir in oats, raisins and nut. Mix well with a wooden spoon.(mixture will be thick and sticky)
• Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls( or easier with a small ice cream scoop) onto an ungreased cookie sheet .
• Don't press the dough down or try to shape them, as they will shape themselves while they bake.
• [ NOTE : make sure to drop the dough 2 inches apart from one another as they will spread out while baking. If each scoop of dough is dropped too close to one another, you will get one super sized oatmeal bar and not separate cookies.]
• Bake for 12-14 minutes.
• Cool for a couple of minutes on the cookie sheet and then transfer the cookies gentlt to a wire rack to cool off completely.
• Store in airtight containers.

Luv 'n' luc'
Smitha

Chocolate chip cookies

An all time favorite cookie . You must be wondering - Is there anything at all that she doesn't like? I am not answering that because right at this instant, I can't think of anything I dislike, as my mind is now full of choc choc choco chocolate chip cookies.
I love the flavor of brown sugar in cookies and this is one recipe which involves that ingredient. I remember, precisely, the very first time I had chocolate chip cookies. I was a teenager in my 8th grade. A friend, Divya, brought some of these delicious cookies to school which her mom had baked. I fell in love with them. I completed my board exams 2 years later, and we parted ways. And ever since, I have never tasted a cookie better than those that Divya brought. Till date, no cookie has beaten that taste which still remains vivid in my mind and taste buds.

Divi and I are still in touch today but unfortunately, not geographically close enough, to share those mmmm.....mmmm...cookies.

This recipe makes great chocolate chip cookies..........kinda close to those I remember from years before. Enjoyeeee!
Before the wonderful recipe, there's wonderful news. My, my!...........and here's one more award for me . I'm all smiles. Muneeba, the author of anediblesymphony.blogspot.com has presented me with this award. I feel that each award comes with a pair of wings too. Because , it always makes me fly high up into the sky:) It's been a great month for me and many thanks to Muneeba and to everyone who wishes well for me.

Have a great weekend guys:)

NOTE: Do not use an electric beater for this recipe. You just need to mix with a wooden spoon or ladle .


Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 large eggs,beaten •
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda •
• 3/4 teaspoon salt •
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips •
• 1 cup chopped walnuts ( optional)
  

Directions

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Mix sugar, brown sugar, butter, vanilla and eggs in a large bowl by hand.
• Stir in flour, baking soda, and salt. The dough will be very stiff.
• Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls 2-inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake 9 to 10 minutes or until light brown. Let cool completely on wire rack, then remove from cookie sheet and store.

Note: Make note of the2-inch space between cookies while spooning them out onto the cookie sheet. If sufficient space is not left then, you will end up with a big bar instead of small cookies.

Luv 'n' luc'

smitha

Raspberry thumbprint cookies

Love is in the air............
I believe that there's love inside every person and the word exists in every language. Malayalam - Premam ,Tamil - Kaadhal ,Hindi - Ishq, French - Amour,German - Liebe ,Spanish - Amor, Italian - Amore, Chinese - I .
Hmmmm!................. I've run out of languages. Can't think of anymore. Just hoping that the ones I've mentioned atleast are right .

If there's a day to celebrate love, why not. Causes no harm to anyone. It's fun.
People have varied views about Valentine's day. Many think it has become a purely commercialized thing. I agree. But, it does not have to be expensive gifts and extravagant displays. Even something simple and sweet will say it all. So, I planned to do a special little something for my sweetheart. I decided to bake my love :) . Made these cookies in advance for hubby dear. And I didn't want to be too cheesy in making heart shaped stuff. So, I drew inspiration from a picture in a cookbook and put each cookie in small, delightful, fluted cupcake-cups. (I was lucky to have found some that matched the color of the jam). Doesn't the pic look adorable? Cute as a button I thought.

Happy valentine's day to all the Romeo-s and Juliet-s out there. Have a fun-filled and romantic day and year ahead. Let me know what you think about Valentine's day.
So, what are you doing for your loved ones??? Just inquisitive ...... ;)

Ingredients :( makes about 20 cookies)

• Hazelnuts( toasted and skinned) - 3/4 cup ( can be substituted with toasted almonds or walnuts or pecans)
• Sugar - 1/4 cup
• Room temperature butter - 3/4 stick (85 gms)
• Vanilla extract - 1 tspn
• Salt - 1/8 tspn
• All-purpose flour - 3/4 cup and 2 tbspns
• Raspberry jam - 1/4 cup ( can be substituted with any jam you have at hand)
  

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 F (177 C)
• Take 1/4 cup of hazelnuts and chop them into tiny bits and spread them on a sheet of wax paper or a plate. Set aside.
• In a food processor, process the remaining 1/2 cup of hazelnuts and sugar until finely ground.
• Add butter, vanilla and salt to the hazelnut-sugar mixture and process again till blended.
• Add flour and blend till everything is well combined.
• Transfer dough from the processor into a medium bowl and press it together with your hands.( be cautious of the processor blade)
• Take 2 tspns of dough in your hand and shape into 1-inch balls( dough maybe slightly crumbly. If it is too crumbly and you are unable to form a ball off it, add a tspn of milk to the mixture)
• Roll the ball in the nuts that were spread on wax paper or plate.Gently press nuts into the dough.
• Do the same with the rest of the dough and place about 1-1/2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
• With your finger tip, very gently make a small indentation in the middle of each ball. Fill each dent with 1/4 tspn of jam and bake in the middle rack of the oven for 16-18 mins until golden brown round the edges. ( If you are making smaller cookies, baking time should be decreased. Otherwise the cookies will get burnt)
• Cool on a wire rack.
• Once cooled, you can place each cookie in individual fluted cups to give it that special look.

Have fun!

Luv 'n' luc'
Smitha

Sugar cookies

I seem to be whining about winter all the time. Why wouldn't I? I hate wearing woollies, socks and gloves even when I'm at home, but chill winter days call for it. Having had snow and rain resulting in ice, my hubby even had his car skid 180 degrees on the highway. But, thank goodness! He was safe.

The rains, snow and winds continue and enduring all this bad weather makes me grumble, grumble, grumble.
With all this wet, dreary weather, what one desperately needs is a dose of comfort food. Although stews and soups are probably the perfect remedy, all I wanted was an excuse to stand near my hot oven even though my heater worked incessantly to raise the temperature at home. I ended up making sugar cookies. Just one piece was enough to lift my spirits and satiate me but it was otherwise for hubby dear ..............he devoured a dozen.

Ingredients:( makes 30-35 cookies)

• All-purpose white flour - 3 cups
• Baking powder - 3/4 tspn
• Salt - 1/2 tspn
• Butter - 1 cup( 2 sticks)
• Sugar - 1 cup( plus more to sprinkle on top)
• Egg - 1 large
• Milk - 1 tbspn
• Vanilla extract - 2-1/2 tspns

Directions:

• In a bowl stir together flour, baking powder and salt and set aside.
• In another mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar till creamy.
• Add egg, milk and vanilla and beat well.
• Add the flour mixture to make a smooth and slightly stiff dough.( If it is too soft, add upto 3 tbspns more of flour)
• Let dough stand for about 5 mins
• Divide dough into 2 and place each portion between 2 sheets of wax paper. Roll out each portion of the dough till about 1/4 thick. (wax paper prevents the dough from sticking while rolling out. If you don't want to use wax paper, roll out on a floured surface)
• Now, place each portion of the rolled dough along with the wax paper on 2 baking sheets and freeze for 25 mins.( or refrigerate for 45 mins)
• Preheat oven to 375 F( 191 C)
• Grease a baking sheet.
• Take one portion of the chilled dough, remove wax paper and use 3-inch cookie cutters to cut the cookie and place the cookies 2 inches apart on baking sheet.
• Bake for for 8-10 mins.
• Take the tray from the oven and sprinkle some sugar on the cookies. Bake for 1 more minute.
• As soon as they come out from the oven, let the cookies rest for 2-3 mins on the cookie sheet.
• Transfer to wire rack to cool completely. Store in airtight containers.
• Repeat the same process with the remaining dough.

Luv 'n' luc'
Smitha