Week 41:
Cookies - Cherry White Chocolate Pudding Cookies
Event - Valentine's Day and President's Day
Recipe - http://chocolatechocolateandmore.com/cherry-white-chocolate-pudding-cookies/
Review - I made these after Valentine's day and President's day for the pink color and the cherry flavor. There was no specified recipient for these so Brian and I both took some to work to share with others. The recipe includes white chocolate pudding mix and cherry jello mix, so a bit like other jello cookies. I liked the flavor of the cherry jello but also the color! The cookies were pretty and smelled delicious as well. I think everyone enjoyed these, some went back for seconds or thirds. They were certainly easy to mix together and make quickly. I never know what to do with the leftover cherry jello mix, but I'll come up with something. I did use sugar free jello in an attempt to cut back on the sugar since you also add plenty of sugar to the recipe and there is pudding and white chocolate as well. I don't think you could notice the lack of extra sugar. I thought about chopping up white chocolate rather than use the white chocolate chips, but I didn't because I had the chips and I was feeling "lazy". I should bake with pudding more often - it makes the cookies so soft with just the right amount of chewiness. These were definitely a fun pink cookie to add to the list.Week 42:
Cookies - Soft Maple Cinnamon Sugar Cookies with Cream Cheese Maple Frosting
Event - Just because
Recipe - http://www.designeatrepeat.com/2013/11/soft-maple-cinnamon-sugar-cookies-cream-cheese-maple-frosting/?crlt.pid=camp.jifNw44sZDuV
Review - I didn't have an occasion for these cookies so they went to work as well. I enjoyed using my new baking mat to roll out the dough. It did help the cookies not stick as easily as they do to floured counter top. I also used my new circle cookie cutters. I actually got biscuit cutters because they are thicker and have handles! How handy. I do enjoy kitchen tools. The cookies were light and simple. They were tasty but I thought they were a bit dry by themselves so the frosting was likely necessary to fully enjoy these cookies. The frosting turned out to taste delicious, but was lacking in the appearance department. Maybe softer cream cheese or sifted powdered sugar would help, but nobody seemed bothered by the look because they tasted so good. A few ladies at work told me these were some of the best cookies they've had. I had to tell them they weren't my best and they were upset I hadn't brought more in! Week 43:
Cookies - Lemon Raspberry Cookies
Event - Brian's birthday
Recipe - http://heatherchristo.com/2014/03/05/lemon-raspberry-cookies/
Review - Happy birthday Brian! Brian definitely had a favorite cookie from previous weeks which was his request for his birthday cookies - Strawberry Lemonade cookies. Unfortunately, I don't repeat cookies to count for my weeks. :) However, I thought these would be a great alternative to get similar flavors. Let me tell you, my mom came to the rescue on these. I was short on time and she brought me a few ingredients. I thought the recipe called for frozen raspberries. When she brought them to me I realized the recipe actually called for freeze dried raspberries! So she went back to get some for me - going to two stores to find them. Phew. I think it was worth it, though, as those freeze dried raspberries really do provide these cookies with something special. These cookies were the perfect combination of crispy but soft (and stayed that way) and tart but sweet. I'll say I know Brian enjoyed these close to as much as those strawberry lemonade cookies, so I call that a success. Week 44:
Cookies - An Even Better Snickerdoodle
Event - Nothing, an easy recipe
Recipe - http://lovintheoven.com/even-better-snickerdoodle
Review - Time for a secret confession: I had a different cookie planned for this week and switched it for this recipe because it was easier. We got back from vacation and I still had the weekend to make the week's cookies, but didn't end up accomplishing it until Monday night. Oh. Well. That's where I'm at. :) These were perfect because they were so simple, I had everything I needed already in the pantry, and it was a smaller batch. Since I didn't have anything in mind for sharing these cookies it was nice to have a smaller batch and be able to give the normal taste testers a few extra cookies each. Snickerdoodles might just be my favorite go-to "normal" cookie due to my love for cinnamon. These were quite delicious and a perfect snickerdoodle texture of crisp, soft, and chewy. They were a cookie that I probably would've eaten a dozen out of the oven if I didn't have self-control. It was tempting. Week 45:
Cookies - 5 Ingredient Raspberry Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies
Event - St. Patty's Day and March Madness I guess
Recipe - http://bakerbynature.com/5-ingredient-raspberry-cheesecake-thumbprint-cookies/
Review - These were yummy. I have never made jam thumbprint cookies, so it was fun to do. I shared these at a March Madness watch party on St. Patty's day. They were gone before a few of the late-comers even showed up. I didn't have raspberry preserves at home, but I did have strawberry preserves. Then I had to go to the store anyway so I caved and bought raspberry - it sounded so good! Although I think strawberry (or any other flavor you prefer) would be tasty as well, I am pleased with myself for using the raspberry preserves. They went so well with the light and yummy cookies. The dough included cream cheese, thus the cheesecake. It wasn't overwhelming, just enough to give it that creamy decadent texture and flavor. They were a perfect amount of sweet. I followed the timing fairly exactly and it was wonderful to have the just cooked edges to keep the texture perfect. Yum. I will make these again and again. The dough was easy to pull together besides having to remeber to give yourself time for it to chill first. 