Chocolate Cherry Cookies #BloggersForSandyHook

Dec 21, 2012 by

Today is the one week anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy. I will be observing a moment of silence and prayer at 9:30am this morning, in memory of the angels we lost and also for the families grieving for their loved ones.

Although I’ve accepted that there is nothing that we can do to change what has happened, we can all come together as a community to honour and remember the victims in a very special way. The internet is buzzing with ways to support the Newtown Community as well as to honour the ones they lost. I’m doing my part today by joining the #BloggersForSandyHook initiative by sharing a cookie recipe with you that was chosen by my own little ones.  Although they chose the ingredients, they called these cookies “Mommy’s very special cookies”. I have not told them about the tragedy, perhaps to preserve their innocence and shelter them for just a little longer, while I still can. Its challenging enough for adults to comprehend, never mind a 3 and 5 year old.

This event is called Cookies & Crafts for Sandy Hook. Please see my previous post for more details. I’m glad that we got to bake cookies (for those contributing cookies). Kids love cookies. I am getting into making cookies more and more each year, especially as my children get older. Baking with my children is wonderful and I hope they will have fond memories of us in the kitchen. They are not always hands on, but I do talk with them while I am whisking or mixing away. They love to ask questions, so we have great conversations during cookie making time. We chose chocolate because…well, we all love chocolate in this household.  I also asked them to choose a dried fruit to add, and they chose cherries. A nice pairing, I’d say.

 

Chocolate Cherry Cookies-1

Chocolate Cherry Cookies #BloggersForSandyHook

 

bloggers-for-sandy-hook

 

 
Ingredients
  • 2 Cups All Purpose Flour, Unbleached
  • ½ Cup Unsweeteted Cocoa Powder
  • 2 Tsp Baking Powder
  • ½ Tsp Salt
  • 2 Sticks Unsalted Butter
  • 1½ Cups Granulated Sugar
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1 Tsp Vanilla
  • 1 Cup Dried Cherries
  • ½ Cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
  • ½ Cup White Chocolate Chips
Instructions
  1. Preheat Oven to 350F
  2. Line Cookie sheets with parchment paper
  3. In a medium bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
  4. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy
  5. Beat in eggs and vanilla until combined
  6. Beat in as much of the flour mixture as possible
  7. Using a spoon or spatula, fold in chocolate chips and cherries
  8. Using a cookie scoop, drop rounded dough onto the parchment lined cookie sheets, about 2 inches apart
  9. Gently flatten the tops with the back of a spoon
  10. Bake for 8-9 minutes
  11. Transfer to wire racks to cool
Notes
This recipe yields about 60 cookies Store at room temperature for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months Adapted from BHG SIP 100 Best Cookies

Chocolate Cherry Cookies-2

Chocolate Cherry Cookies

 

I feel blessed and fortunate to be able to bake with my children. In this moment, I have only prayers and sympathy for the parent’s/families that have lost a child or a relative. I pray for healing and peace.

 

Chocolate Cherry Cookies-3

 

 


Moment of Silence for Sandy Hook Victims on Dec. 21

 

For the list of shops and businesses supporting Newtown and Sandy Hook Elementary School, please click here.

 

 Here are the bloggers participating in this event:

Hezzi-D’s Books and CooksThe Red Headed BakerReal HousemomsCrazy for CrustSomething SwankyLife After LaundryTwo Kids CookingFrugal Foodie MamaThe Doctorate HousewifeHeather’s French PressOperation DinnertimeLovely PantryWhat’s Cooking Love?Cupcakes and Kale ChipsOccasionally CraftyPint Sized BakerPineapple and CoconutWine & GlueLemonsforluluA Sweet Baker, Mom On TimeoutThe Freshman Cook, Sweet Twist of BloggingA Family FeastJulie’s Eats & TreatsEat at Allie’sHere Comes the SunThe Kitchen is My PlaygroundJust My Crazy KitchenThe Sweet Chick,  The Tasty ForkWholly Delicious Dishes,  Chocolate, Chocolate and more , Yours and Mine ARE Ours,  Kitchen Meets GirlDaily Dish RecipesSweet Bella RoosPersnickety Plates

Donations are being accepted at  Newtown Youth and Family Services . Donations made to them are going to to those affected by the school shooting. You can go to their website here to donate.

On December 14, 2012 I saw a prayer on Facebook that I felt was so appropriate. I looked for it so I could share it here.

Precious Lord of Life:
Knowing that your thoughts are not like our thoughts and, your ways are not like our ways, we ask for Your perfect peace. We ask to accept even that which we do not understand. We ask for peace for the families that lost loved ones and, peace for the spirit that took their lives. We stand firmly on your promises tonight.

You promised that you would send us a Comforter. You promised that in our deepest needs, you would lift us to a place that is higher that we think or feel or live. Just know we are standing and holding on to your promises.
Lord, we ask that you give us the right language to express our thoughts and feelings about what has happened. We ask that you show us how to make sense of the senseless; teach us how to stay in love when faced with anger and hatred; to find humility and hope when we feel hopeless and lost. Give us the strength to see beyond this moment to the healing that is possible.

Give us the wisdom to withhold judgment, criticism and condemnation and use our thought and words to bless those who are hurting. Our hearts are heavy, our minds are confused and still we remember to look to You. May your angels, avatars, teachers and the presence of your Holy Spirit surround us all.

Knowing that you hear our prayers and because we ask we receive, we now rest in Thee.
We Let It Be, Trusting You.
Amen and Ashe

~Iyanla Vanzant

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M&M and Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake by Anuradha of Baker Street

Jul 31, 2012 by

Today’s post is by none other than Anuradha from Baker Street!!! Anuradha is the brilliant baker behind Muffin Mondays. You all know how I look forward to Muffin Mondays. I always get to express my creativity with each weekly selection. I can’t wait to get back into the swing of things! Check out Anuradha’s awesome Muffin Recipes, Cake Recipes, and… okay look, just go to her blog. She has everything you ever dreamed of baking! From sweet to savory, there is something there to tickle your fancy. Her photography will leave you drooling (kind of like what I’m doing right now). You’ll thank me later!

Thank you Anuradha, for being so willing and might I say determined to see this post through! You’re such a trooper and I appreciate you! You made my day with this rich and amazingly chocolatey treat! What’s funny is – M&M’s is the treat that my kids get while they are here on vacation! A sweet coincidence! This cookie cake is absolutely perfect! Chocolate is my weakness!

Please enjoy today’s post by Anuradha: M&M And Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake

***

Baker Street: M&M and Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake

I’m thrilled to be guest posting for one of our very own Muffin Monday bakers, Lyn from The Lovely Pantry today. Her beautiful blog is a marriage of her two favorite hobbies – Cooking and Photography! A Jamaican Mom who improvises recipes as she goes along, her range is worth experiencing. She could whip up anything from a Chocolate Chip Granola Bar to a Spicy Thai Tuna and Fennel Salad.

Baker Street : M&M and Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake

When Lyn asked me to guest post, I agreed immediately but the deadline was strict and even though I thought I would make it, my two traumatizing weeks at the dentist’s did not allow it. Lyn, despite being continents away, was entirely understanding and let me have additional time. I can’t thank her enough for it.

In turn I decided to bake for her my favorite chocolate chip cookie cake. A cake that is perfect for just about every occasion. It’s easy, delicious and easily adaptable. My variation today is a personal favorite – M&M and Chocolate Chips.

Baker Street | M&M and Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake

M&M and Chocolate chip is quite a mouthful as it is and trust me the cake is perfect and needs no alteration but one thing I know about Lyn is she’s a chocoholic so I decided to give it a little bit of an extra chocolate glaze for her. A slice of this is just perfect to brighten any day.

Over to the recipe: Not a cookie, Not a cake. But the best of both worlds: A cookie cake sprinkled with M&Ms and chocolate chips.

M&M and Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake

M&M and Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake from bakerstreet.tv

Adapted from Food.com
 
5.0 from 5 reviews
M&M and Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake by Anuradha of BakerStreet
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert, Treat
Ingredients
  • 1 cup butter
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ⅔ cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 cups flour, plus 4 tablespoons flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 11/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • ½ cup M&Ms
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350F
  2. In a medium bowl, mix flour, salt, baking soda, and cream of tartar. Set aside.
  3. In a large bowl cream butter and both the sugars
  4. Add eggs and vanilla.
  5. Add dry ingredients to the batter and mix until well blended.
  6. Stir in chocolate chips and M&Ms.
  7. Spread the dough in a lightly greased cake tin and bake for 20 minutes.
 

M&M and Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake from Baker Street

Happy Baking!

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