Ever notice that most recipes only call for a cup of chocolate chips and you somehow end up with about 4 or 5 open bags of various kinds of chocolate chips — or any other “flavoring thing” like nuts or dried fruit for that matter? Well that was the case this week when I was looking for a cookie inspiration and so this is what I came up with. Mini chips (very meltable), crunchy toffee bits (for texture), sweet and tangy dried cranberries. Turned out quite yummy for a cookie on a whim. Now, pass the milk.
Cookies
Continuing the Valentine’s Day theme … Two types of Christmas Cookies that I often make are both Snowball Cookies (aka Russian Tea Cakes or Mexican Wedding Cookies, they have lots of names) and my Walnuß Kardamom Schneebällchen (similar cookies as normal snowballs, but with Walnuts and Cardamom). Both are delicious, but these have a new twist: hidden inside are Hershey’s Chocolate Kisses (I used the dark chocolate ones because I like them better). Hence the name: Secret Kisses. Perfect for your special someone.
Switching gears to something sorts of Valentine’s Day like. I think that I say this every year, but I have a love-hate relationship with Valentine’s Day. Ok, it’s mostly a hate-hate because of the absurdity, the consumerism and contrived nature of it all. Love? Well the reason that I might like it a little is that it is an excuse in the middle of the winter to make lots of cookies, chocolates, truffles and the like. And what the heck, you might as well have a theme. So I figured I’d start now, in case anyone wants to use these recipes for their own creations.
Still on my Meyer Lemon kick… while they are available, I will eat them! So I thought I would use some of the curd that I made last weekend and make some crumble bars (aka shortbread bars). And what pairs nicely with the tropical flavors of Meyer Lemons — why Macadamia Nuts! While these were a bit annoying to cut (should have chopped the nuts finer) they taste amazing!
Sort of Swedish Cookies. Sort of. I’m guessing that these are not *really* Swedish, because when I was looking for cookie recipes, I didn’t find these on the Internets, but the flavors are distinctly Swedish in my mind, so I went with it anyway. Cardamom always reminds me of a family friend from Sweden, who actually was the one who gave me the spatula that is pictured in the photos. She gave it to me at Christmas past so I thought it apt that I bake something that would match. Besides, I had some Lingonberry jam from IKEA. 🙂







