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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Double Chocolate Cranberry Cookies for #SundaySupper

Dec 9, 2012 by

Cookies! Last year, I wondered if I could make them. I did …and they came out great! this year, I’m all in! I’m experimenting and finding tons of awesome cookie recipes. I’m not going to get to try them all but I’m building up a nice collection! That’s what makes this #SundaySupper so awesome! This weeks theme is Holiday Cookie Exchange! The titles are wonderful and I can’t wait to see everyone’s cookies!

Who doesn’t love a good cookie? We love cookies at my home, but I don’t buy them often. I feel much better making them myself, even if it’s just for the season. It also brings me comfort that they are home-made, and made with love. And a few chocolate chips. After all,  chocolate is love, right? Check out my Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookies and Ginger Molasses Cookies. Crowd pleasers!

The cookie I’m sharing with you has been tested by me twice. I guess when I say “me”, I really should be saying “us”. The first batch was good, it was finished quickly and you know that’s a good sign.I made some slight changes on the second batch. I used a bit more cocoa powder and used white chocolate chips instead of dark. That’s all. And that’s what I’m sharing with you today.

 

Double Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

 

Double Chocolate Cranberry Cookies for #SundaySupper
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
These cookies are sweet with a hint of tartness. A wonderful combination and very festive.
Author:
Recipe type: Cookie
Ingredients
  • 1 Cup Wholewheat Pasty Flour
  • ½ Cup Dutch Processed Dark Cocoa Powder
  • ½ Cup + 2 Tbsp Butter, softened
  • ½ Cup Brown Sugar
  • ¼ Cup Granulated Sugar
  • ½ Tsp Baking Powder
  • 1 Egg
  • 1 Cup White Chocolate Chips
  • ¾ Cup Dried Cranberries
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350F
  2. In a small bowl, sift in flour and cocoa powder. Combine with a whisk. Set aside
  3. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar and baking powder until combined
  4. Beat in egg until combined
  5. Beat in as much as the flour with the mixer
  6. Fold in chocolate chips and cranberries with a wooden spoon or spatula
  7. Using a cookie scoop, take up rounded portions and roll into a ball. Flatten then round the edges.
  8. Place on a parchment lined cookie tray with about 2 inches apart.
  9. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to rest in the tray for about 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely
Notes
This recipe yielded 33 cookies Store in an air tight container for 3 days at room temperature or freeze for up to 3 months

 

I’m no cookie expert. In fact, I’ve made cookies that could compete with a rock. I kid you not. I didn’t give  up though. I had to really learn about the importance of cooking time, and not necessarily how they look when they come out of the oven. Baking for too long, is just a no-no. The good thing about cookies is that once you get the hang of it, its smooth sailing after that!

Scoop, roll, flatten, shape.

 

Double Chocolate Cranberry Cookies – Ready for baking!

 

To make these cookies, I did a test run first with about 3 cookies. I learned that they do not spread much. I found that they came out  better if I hand rolled and formed them. I used a cookie scoop so the cookies were very similar in size. Who ever came up with those scoops is a genius.

 

Double Chocolate Cranberry Cookies – Freshly baked

 

 

Double Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

 

These are great for giving as gifts!

 

Double Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

 

My family really enjoyed these cookies. The inclusion of cranberries really made it festive and even more delicious.

 

Double Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

 

#SundaySupper has a special host this week, who knows all about Cookies ~  Janet Keeler, Food & Travel Editor for the Tampa Bay Times and Author of Cookielicious. Janet be joining us with tips on baking for the Ultimate Cookie Exchange and to answer any of your baking questions.  Grab a glass of milk and join us for The Ultimate Cookie Exchange during #SundaySupper this week.  We are giving away 5 signed copies of Cookielicious with 150 fabulous recipes to bake and share.

 

The Sunday Supper Favorite Cookie Exchange Cookies:

 

Do you have a favorite cookie to take to a Cookie Exchange?  Please join on us on Twitter throughout the day during #SundaySupper on December 9th.  In the evening we will meet at 7pm EST for our #SundaySupper Ultimate Cookie Exchange live chat.

All you have to do is follow the #SundaySupper hashtag or you can follow us through TweetChat.

We’d also love to feature your recipe for The Ultimate Cookie Exchange on our #SundaySupper Pinterest board to share them with all of our followers, too.

 

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