It’s well known that the stove is my nemesis. For the safety of all who live in my home, I tend to avoid it with exception to boiling water for tea. However, the oven and I get along just fine. Lately, I’ve been hanging out on Heidi Swanson’s 101 Cookbooks. I admire her cooking and her photography even though I know better than to attempt any of it. Heidi is a goddess at the stove!
However, Heidi is no slouch with the oven either and it’s with these recipes that I feel like I can dive in and try. Last week, I whipped up her baked doughnut concoction. And by whipped up, I mean I spent the glorious three hours required to make those things happen. We were munching on amazing doughnuts into the wee hours, since I didn’t get an early start. When sunlight finally made an appearance the next day, the doughnuts had done their own disappearing act; nowhere to be seen for a close-up. Wonder how that happened?
The thing about finding a good recipe source—you know, one where the directions are clear that even I can follow them without injuring myself and the results actually look like the photos in the sample recipe—is that it tends to inspire you to try more. The inverse is also true. I once chucked a Frugal Gourmet cookbook after attempting a simple caramel sauce three times only to meet utter failure each time. The author had neglected to point out that you shouldn’t stir your sauce and of course, I did. Stir and stir and ooh, stuck. Can’t remove stirring utensil. Solid brick of sugar. Wait, now burning sugar!! Three spatulas later I chucked the smoldering brick of sugar and the book into the garbage and sat down to have myself a good cry!
With age comes experience I guess. I know NOW that you leave candy alone to bubble and bubble—but it wasn’t Graham Kerr who told me! At the tender age of 22 I had no idea and the complete frustration of trying something over and over BY. THE. BOOK. only to fail leaves a girl questioning her sanity along with her domestic skills. Of course, it probably didn’t help that I chose Thanksgiving morning to attempt that recipe for the first time ever. . . but that’s a different warning to the wise.
Anyhow, last night’s journey into 101 Cookbooks led me to a recipe from David Lebovitz’s Great Book of Chocolate for Chocolate Chip cookies. Oh my. Oh. My. There are no words—despite evidence to the contrary on this present page!
I’m not going to print the recipe here, because I don’t have permission and it’s copyrighted. Copyright should be respected, no matter what those loony libertarians suggest! Not to mention, bad karma might take the edge off these marvels. That would be, well, bad! However, Heidi has permission and you can look at it on her site.
And look you should! I did substitute fake egg for real egg but I doubt it made any difference in taste. We’re not walnut fans around here, so I used pecans. In my convection oven, this amazing cookie took at least 24 minutes to bake, with a few extra minutes baking out of the oven on the hot sheet. That may seem like a long time, but at least you’re not hovering near the oven every 3 minutes worrying that your chocolate fix is going to burn. Anything to keep you from obsessively flicking the oven light on and off. What? You don’t do that?
I have to say, I’ve found my chocolate chip cookie recipe of choice. You know, until Heidi puts up another one I just have to try!
They look delicious. I almost bit the screen. I typed that out loud, didn’t I? ooops 😀
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Oh, they are so good. Rich, but good. The perfect cookie to munch while perusing job postings. ~W
First off, that photo is gorgeous. Secondly, why didn’t anyone tell me there’s such a thing as baked doughnut concoctions before now?!? I’m trying to keep myself from clicking that link.
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Oh! And the doughnuts are divine! IZ used the left-over day olds as French Toast base the next morning—I don’t even want to think about the calories in that! I’m so not going to be seen in a swimsuit this year! ~W
I am a huge fan of chocolate chip cookies. You can bring me some when we meet!
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I will! We should do that soon. ~W
That looks delicious! If I were a baking woman myself I would have made pie… because it is Pi Day…3.14…well, I thought it was cool. And I will say that growing up in a place where Krispy Kreme reigns supreme the idea of a baked doughnut is… well… crazy. But it does look mighty good.
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Of course you thought it was cool, math girl! It’s also St. Pats today–but we skipped it (OH THE OUTRAGE) this year. As for Pie, being a good Southern girl, there is little doubt that pie ranks high on my list of preferred sugar. (Chocolate meringue to be exact!) But, they take more time and energy than I had last night. These chocolate chip cookies were quick and easy and, honestly–amazing! 😀 ~W
Pardon moi? but WTF? I think I have short circuited…I clicked to here from Babette’s and ended up in the twilight zone of 2004? You wrote equally great stuff back then. 🙂
So, those cookies look yummy. More at length when it isn’t so shocking. xoxox
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I blame Google. Think I can sue? Heh. Because Babette’s blog only allows you log in with your google account to post comments. . . and my account it linked to my old blogger blog, the hyperlink takes you to that. It took me awhile to realize what happened… I need to ask Babette to open comments to those who are not “bloggspot” bloggers. 😀 ~W
All I can say is these cookies qualify for the “make you sick, good” status. I can only manage about 4. Part of me wants to bless you and the other part wants to curse you. 🙂
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4? I’m going to assume that’s your daily total, not your “in one sitting” total. Otherwise, I’m cutting you off. They are surprisingly good with red wine! 😀 ~W
just wonderful! I tried to carmalize onions the other day to impress someone and they ended up in the trash…luckily dinner was not ruined. I usually try out recipes on the all important holidays without a dry run first…sometimes I like to live dangerously!
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I only bake—but I’m famous for making guests be my guinea pigs. Sometimes, that’s to their advantage. When it isn’t, I make sure I have a dark chocolate stash as a back-up. Why live life safely? 😀 ~W
Ok, HI! Those look wonderful. I don’t even really like cookies (give me a bag o’chips!). I might have to make some cookies today. 🙂
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Don’t like cookies? I don’t know about you. :D ~W
Yum! It seems that you and I were one track thinking yesterday! Your cookies look delish! And, I’m a fan of 101 Cookbooks too!
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I adore the photography on Heidi’s site. I’m pretty excited to see her book. And, weird about the cookies, eh? 😀 ~W
Mmmm…these would have to be strictly rationed at my house.
So sorry to put you through the blogspot mill. Thanks for making the the heroic effort to comment!
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That’s me… wonder woman. Heh. No, seriously, it wasn’t that big of deal once I remembered my google account. At least your site will send people to my old address. On some blogspot site, my link ends up with an error code that says, “We’re sorry, but this profile is marked private.” And darned if I can’t figure out how to fix that! ~W
Yummy! I have a chocolate chip recipe from Todd English that is a real winner…but from the look of that photo, I just might have to try out your recipe.
Bunny + ducky sugar cookies are in order for Friday afternoon. I might have to add chocolate to them somehow!
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Oh, I’m a big fan of sugar cookies. Especially those that are kid decorated! Have fun baking! 😀 ~W