First, some fresh peonies for the nightstand (which were immediately pillaged by a certain someone who left his calling card of teeth punctures and shredded leaves). Then, a surprise gift from Gwyneth in my inbox! Katie Lee Joel's recipe for Dark Chocolate Chunk and Dried Cherry Cookies. Sooo what the doctor ordered...
YIELD: about 4 dozen cookies
2 1/4 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2/3 cup dark brown sugar, firmly packed
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
8 ounces dark chocolate, coarsely chopped (be sure to use a high-quality chocolate with more than 60% cacao)
1 cup dried cherries (about 6 ounces), coarsely chopped
1 cup pecans, coarsely chopped (optional)
Preheat the oven to 375ºF.
Sift the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt together into a bowl.
In the bowl of an electric mixer (or in a bowl using a hand mixer), beat the butter with the sugars until light and fluffy, about three minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until incorporated. Beat in the vanilla. On low speed, add the flour mixture. With a wooden spoon, fold in the chocolate, cherries and pecans (if you’re using them).
Scoop by the heaping tablespoonful onto two nonstick or greased cookie sheets. Bake until golden and chewy, about 12 minutes, rotating the sheets after six minutes. Transfer the cookies to a rack to cool and repeat the process with the remaining dough.
Heavenly....
All followed up with a quickie pooh trip to the Van Cleef and Arpel's store in Bethesda to try on the bracelet and earrings they are "holding" for me. Indefinitely...
Ahhh....the Alhambra Vintage bracelet in yellow gold and white mother of pearl...throw in the matching earrings and I'd be solid for, ohhh, at least a week...
Thank you, everyone, for all of the kind thoughts and words. They were truely appreciated. As I said yesterday, everyone going though IVF should be so lucky. XXOO
Dear Allie in Gtown,
ReplyDeleteEven in the midst of great sorrow, you manage to muster up your great taste. I have only seen the Alhambra collection online and in print. I think a trip is in order to see it in person. Thanks for sharing, Denise
Now when the cookies crumble, it is indeed time to find a new recipe or to just toss them and go shopping.
ReplyDeleteI think either sweet trinket would be a nice treat to make me feel better too -
pve
Hang in there :) thoughts & prayers are with you, and I am happy you have those peonies to make you smile!
ReplyDeleteChin up! This too shall pass! In the meantime, I prescribe you an entire pint of your favorite ice cream - eat it out of the bucket once daily! Feel better!
ReplyDeleteI cannot believe that for the few short weeks I have been living here I did not know that there was a Van Cleef and Arpels store so close to me! I clearly need to do more investigating!
ReplyDeleteFeel Better Friend.
ReplyDeleteLove the bracelet. Escapism is awesome. xoxo
ReplyDeleteOh we are so thankful for great friends and great jewelry. Thinking about you! xoxo
ReplyDeleteI'm absolutely mad about that quatrefoil mother of pearl bracelet!! I can't imagine ever feeling ill with that chicly wrapped around your wrist!
ReplyDeleteI love those flowers. They're such a great touch for the room.
ReplyDeleteI had a baby 3 years ago at the age of 45. As in a "huge surprise"...I had extremely high FSH levels, low estrogen, 6 big fibroids AND irregular periods. I thought I was peri-menopausal and went in for some supplements and the doctor said "Honey, you're pregnant"..(and to top all that - I had a very smooth pregnancy...huh??!)...
ReplyDeleteAnyway, my point is...never give up! The doctor says I'm a walking medical mystery.