My Morning

This is just for Natters. A while back I lost a bet... for what, I don't remember, but the consequence of that loss was that I had to bake a batch of hero cookies for Natters. Since the concept of what a hero cookie actually is is technically up for debate, I decided that my interpretation would be the most popular of cookies (and the easiest to bake)... the chocolate chip cookie.

I should note before we continue that I can cook. I mean, I can really cook. I tend to actually really enjoy cooking when it is for more than just me because I have some great recipes in my arsenal and am not afraid to pull out all the stops to make a great supper. It's kind of fun for me a lot of the time. However, I don't bake. I mean, I just don't. There is something manly about slapping a big ol' steak on the BBQ after it's been marinating in a mixture of fluids and spices for a long time. Meat isn't fragile... at least, not in the same way that I see baking as being fragile. Most baking, whether it's cookies, tarts, cake, etc is pretty fragile. And I don't usually do well with fragile things... but, because I lost a bet, I had to put in the time.

So, I present you with my picture post of my hero cookie baking adventures. I will note that they turned out quite well, and the mess was actually minimal, so if you're expecting flour on the ceiling and a broken glass bowl on the floor, you're going to be very disappointed with this post. However, this is for Natters who probably doesn't believe that she will actually receive any hero cookies. They will make the journey to BC with my parents, so I can't be held responsible for anything that happens during that time... but I can tell you that they are quite good right now.

Here we have everything mixed nicely in the bowl waiting to be placed on the pan. I'm actually waiting for the oven to heat up because I forgot that it should be warmed before putting the cookies in there.

The mess isn't that bad. And yes, I did lick those beaters off once things were cooking. Don't tell me that you wouldn't, because not a single person on earth is capable of any self restraint when it comes to raw cookie dough. You know it... and I know you know it.

The first batch in the oven. I learned from this batch that the blob of cookie dough that I put on the sheet was entirely too large. You'll see what I mean.

That's right... 12 cookies took up almost 1.5 racks. And those aren't small racks. They also took a long time to cook when they are that big. However, they pass the gravity test... which means that when you pick them up, they start to bend from gravity. So, they are just slightly undercooked and taste fantastic. Also, very fragile.

In this final picture, we see the size adjustment on the rest of the cookies. I probably could have gotten a lot more cookies if I had made the first ones a more appropriate size. However, those big ones will just get eaten here and the smaller ones will make the 2000 km journey to BC.

Apparently that's what makes a hero cookie... the fact that it travels a long distance.

Bon Apetite!!!!!!