Week 21:
Cookies - Almond Meltaway Cookies
Event - Leza and John's Anniversary
Recipe - http://www.thenovicechefblog.com/2013/03/almond-meltaway-cookies/
Review - I decided to make these cookies to celebrate Leza and John's anniversary because they reminded me of all the italian wedding cookies at their wedding. These were delicious. They really did melt away in your mouth. I loved the texture of these cookies. The glaze turned out better than any I've made so far. I think it may have been due to actually sifting the powdered sugar to even it out and having the right measure of everything to get the right consistency. It was a pretty white instead of a somewhat clumpy clear-ish glaze I've made in the past. It was also a bit thicker so it stayed on the tops of the cookies better instead of dripping down. This may have been helped by using the back of a spoon to apply the glaz, as well. Delicious and beautiful are always a good combination for my favorite cookies. The best part was getting an excited and grateful text from my cousin telling me they loved the cookies! I'm happy they were included in the challenge.Week 22:
Cookies - Pretzel Cookies with Chocolate and Peanut Butter Chips
Event - For Laura, who wanted to be part of my challenge
Recipe - http://sugarcooking.blogspot.com/2010/07/pretzel-cookies-with-chocolate-peanut.html
Review - These were at the top of the list. I had high expectations for these cookies and they came through. Laura lived in my mom's neighborhood growing up, we went through school together behind my brothers and her sister. She's good people, so when she asked on Facebook to be part of my cookie year of course I said sure. She was kind enough to come pick them up so I didn't have to mail or deliver them. When I told her what kind of cookies I made her she said "It's like you know my soul!!" :) So, definitely a success! That's probably the best reaction I have had, and that's the best part about making all these cookies. The salty sweet combination of these cookies is heavenly - a perfect balance. I suggest you try them. They were also quite simple to make and turned out looking great. The extra sea salt on top of the cookies really takes it over the edge, as well. I tried one without the salt because I was unsure, but it was a truly vital part to the deliciousness of this well rounded cookie.
Week 23:
Cookies - Strawberry Chip Cookies
Event - Jake's birthday
Recipe - http://www.madefrompinterest.net/strawberry-chip-cookies/#_a5y_p=3537754
Review - Easy and delicious! These used a strawberry cake mix which made mixing them up super simple. I didn't even use my stand mixer, just mixed everything up with a spoon. I have grown to be quite fond of white chocolate chips. It certainly made for a sweet cookie. Again, I think these were both tasty and pretty, with a good texture. I could have made them a little smaller in size since they were so sweet, but that's just preference. For those that love strawberry cake - I would recommend this cookie. They might also be fun to make for Valentine's Day since they are a perfect pink color. It was fun to deliver these as I always enjoy visiting the Bolins.
Cookies - Strawberry Chip CookiesEvent - Jake's birthday
Recipe - http://www.madefrompinterest.net/strawberry-chip-cookies/#_a5y_p=3537754
Review - Easy and delicious! These used a strawberry cake mix which made mixing them up super simple. I didn't even use my stand mixer, just mixed everything up with a spoon. I have grown to be quite fond of white chocolate chips. It certainly made for a sweet cookie. Again, I think these were both tasty and pretty, with a good texture. I could have made them a little smaller in size since they were so sweet, but that's just preference. For those that love strawberry cake - I would recommend this cookie. They might also be fun to make for Valentine's Day since they are a perfect pink color. It was fun to deliver these as I always enjoy visiting the Bolins.
Week 24:
Cookies - Lemon Pillow Cookies
Event - Grandma's makeup birthday cookies
Recipe - http://noemptychairs.me/2014/12/10/twelve-days-of-christmas-cookies-lemon-pillow-cookies/
Review - The name says it all. They were pillows of lemony goodness. I don't think they were as lemony as some would prefer, but I enjoyed them. When you took a bite it was like a taking a bite of a cloud. I do think these were even better right out of the oven because the texture was more pronounced. The dough balls were rolled in sugar so when they were freshly baked they had a perfect sugar crust on the outside before you got to the pillow center. Although that texture stayed when they cooled, it wasn't quite as obvious. I did like the cracked look this gave them, though. The important thing is Grandma enjoyed them and I think she was happy to have a week dedicated to her, even though she's been able to try most of the cookies. She was impressed that they stayed soft and delicious as long as they did.
Cookies - Lemon Pillow CookiesEvent - Grandma's makeup birthday cookies
Recipe - http://noemptychairs.me/2014/12/10/twelve-days-of-christmas-cookies-lemon-pillow-cookies/
Review - The name says it all. They were pillows of lemony goodness. I don't think they were as lemony as some would prefer, but I enjoyed them. When you took a bite it was like a taking a bite of a cloud. I do think these were even better right out of the oven because the texture was more pronounced. The dough balls were rolled in sugar so when they were freshly baked they had a perfect sugar crust on the outside before you got to the pillow center. Although that texture stayed when they cooled, it wasn't quite as obvious. I did like the cracked look this gave them, though. The important thing is Grandma enjoyed them and I think she was happy to have a week dedicated to her, even though she's been able to try most of the cookies. She was impressed that they stayed soft and delicious as long as they did.
Week 25:
Cookies - Pumpkin-Oat Chocolate Chip Cookies
Event - Halloween/Fall
Recipe - http://www.cookingclassy.com/2014/08/pumpkin-oat-chocolate-chip-cookies/
Review - My first of several pumpkin cookie recipes! I enjoyed these. I have a pumpkin chocolate chip bread I make every fall and these reminded me of that. The oats in this cookie give it a great texture, just the right amount of chewiness while still a soft cookie. The only thing I would change about this recipe would be to cut it in half!! I didn't give these away, so I ended up giving them to Brian to take to work and I took them to a Halloween party, but there were still plenty of cookies left. I liked them better when I added a few chocolate chips to the tops of the cookies, it made them look more like chocolate chip cookies. I put them in the fridge and that made them stay moist and delicious as well. I don't always love pumpkin, but I'm looking forward to more pumpkin recipes coming up.
Cookies - Pumpkin-Oat Chocolate Chip CookiesEvent - Halloween/Fall
Recipe - http://www.cookingclassy.com/2014/08/pumpkin-oat-chocolate-chip-cookies/
Review - My first of several pumpkin cookie recipes! I enjoyed these. I have a pumpkin chocolate chip bread I make every fall and these reminded me of that. The oats in this cookie give it a great texture, just the right amount of chewiness while still a soft cookie. The only thing I would change about this recipe would be to cut it in half!! I didn't give these away, so I ended up giving them to Brian to take to work and I took them to a Halloween party, but there were still plenty of cookies left. I liked them better when I added a few chocolate chips to the tops of the cookies, it made them look more like chocolate chip cookies. I put them in the fridge and that made them stay moist and delicious as well. I don't always love pumpkin, but I'm looking forward to more pumpkin recipes coming up.
