Chocolate Chip Cookies with White Chocolate and Dried Cherries

I made these cookies for a friend of ours whose mother passed last week. I was trying to come up with something to say how very sorry I was about her loss….but the words just wouldn’t come together. I mean…are there really any words?

The truth is, I’m not really good with words. I cook…I bake and that’s how I communicate how I feel towards my family… ‘I love you’, ‘I care about you’…. ‘I’m proud of you’…and ‘I’m sorry’. Then I knew the only way I could show how much I cared, was to bake.

Then I started thinking of myself…and my relationship with my mother growing up. She didn’t bake much, but when she did, it was special. She made just the basic things, and chocolate chip cookies were one of them. Strangely, I didn’t like chocolate as a child (gasp—I know…crazy considering I would move mountains just to have it) but she would always be sure to make a few of the chocolate chip cookies without the chocolate…just for me.

So when I think of ultimate comfort and memories with my own mother, I think of those really cherished moments I spent watching her bake….and the special cookies she would make just for me.

I sought out one of Dorie’s recipes, because I was sure it would be a hit. (PLUS- I'm in TWD and that book is ALWAYS on my counter! What would you expect???)

I even added my BEST ingredients: my cherished fleur de sel, good gourmet chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, dried cherries, powdered vanilla, and an extra splash of my homemade vanilla extract.

The end result? Amazing cookies. Hands down, one of my favorite chocolate chip cookies. Soft, chewy, and full of flavor. The Fleur de Sel makes them I think...but the rest of the ingredients aren't too shabby!!

So bake away….it shows you care ;)

“My Best Chocolate Chip Cookies”
Recipe derived from: “Baking From My Home to Yours” by Dorie Greenspan

Ingredients:
2 1/8 cups all purpose flour
1 ¼ teaspoon fleur de sel sea salt
¾ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla powder
2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
¾ cup white chocolate chips
½ cup dried cherries, chopped


Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees, line two baking sheets with silicone mats (use parchment if you don’t have silicone mats).

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking soda and vanilla powder. Set aside.

In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment (or hand mixer), beat butter until creamy. Add both sugars and beat on medium speed for about 3 minutes until fluffy. Add vanilla then eggs one at a time letting them fully incorporate after each addition. Put the mixer on low and gradually add the flour mixture just until it’s mixed in. Fold in the chocolate chips, white chocolate chips and dried cherries with a rubber spatula.

Using a cookie spoon or rounded tablespoon to form dough into little balls then place onto the cookie sheet. Space them about 2 inches apart. Bake about 10-12 minutes. Let the cookies cool down for about a minute then remove with a spatula and cool on a cooling rack. Be sure to cool the baking sheets in between batches!

For best results: Refrigerate the dough for an hour before baking. They seem to spread less.

Homemade Granola

I never really thought about making Granola myself until my husband and I went on our one year anniversary trip to Napa/Sonoma Valley in August. We stayed at the Kenwood Inn and Spa www.kenwoodinn.com for a few days and they made the best homemade granola I have ever tasted. I was hooked! So upon my return home, I made a batch and it’s now one of my favorite things to munch on at my desk at work. (This is now my THIRD time in one week to make this).

It’s filling and it can sustain me until lunchtime (I know, even for me). PLUS, it’s got that added bonus of oats for a cholesterol reducer, dried fruits with antioxidants, cinnamon which is also heart healthy, and if you use the right nuts, you can get some omega 3’s in there as well. It’s got a nice light crunch, and very cinnamon-y. So there you have it…not only is it healthy, but it’s GOOD!

I dare you to make a batch and not eat it in one sitting. Go on…give it a try!! You have nothing to lose but those preservatives in your other morning cereals and chances are you have most of these ingredients just sitting in your pantry.

Recipe derived from "The Joy of Baking", with my personal changes

Coco’s Homemade Granola

3 Cups of Oats (not instant)
½ T Wheat Germ
¾ Slivered Almonds (or any almonds, something chopped is easier to eat)

1/2 Cup Chopped Pecans
½ Sunflower seeds
1 T. Cinnamon (I don’t know about you but Im wild about cinnamon and its good for you, so I added 2 T.)
1 t. Vanilla (I’m not shy on vanilla, feel free to add a ½ t. more)
¼ t. Kosher Salt
1 T. Brown Sugar (optional-I used it)
2 T. Honey
2 T. Canola Oil
½ Cup Pure maple Syrup (Grade A Dark Amber) Spare yourself the disappointment and please don’t use the processed junk--no I won't name names. :)
1 Cup Dried Fruits—reserve. (I have used dried cherries, blueberries, raisons, dates.)

Ingredients

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Lightly grease pan, OR you can use parchment paper.

In a large bowl combine: Oats, wheat germ, nuts, sunflower seeds, cinnamon, salt.

In another bowl combine: Vanilla, Brown Sugar, Honey, Canola Oil, and Maple Syrup.

Add the liquid mixture to the dry mixture. Stir until combined. Spread on baking sheet.

All ready for the oven

Cook for 30-40 minutes. Stirring occasionally. (This allows the mixture to brown evenly and great that nice light crunch).

Cool on wire rack, breaking up any large chunks/pieces while warm. Store in airtight container in the refrigerator to keep fresh for several weeks.

Add the dried fruits once mixture is cooked and cooled.

Cooled granola with various dried fruits

**Makes 5 cups


Top with lowfat yogurt for a great breakfast or treat!

Granola with yogurt, now if I could just start making my OWN yogurt...we're in business!

Me, taking a break on Saturday while working on new recipes