Saturday, January 16, 2010

Cookies

In my last post I mentioned it had been years since I baked cookies but that I ended my cookie boycott this Christmas and baked some with my mom.

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When I found out my parents were going to be in town for the holidays, I quickly told my mom that I would take a day off so we could bake some Christmas goodies together.  I guess I should have been more specific about what we would make as her mind went straight to cookies.  Her and my dad’s favorites, Raspberry thumbprints and Mexican wedding cookies.  I didn’t have the heart to tell her I didn’t want to make cookies but I did whine a lot about how much work they are.  

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I’d like to say this foray into cookie baking changed my opinion but it didn’t.  It confirmed it.  Cookies are time consuming and a lot of work.  Bars ARE better!  :)  Were they good? Yes!  They were very good but for the amount of work I really didn’t get many cookies.  And you know, no one eats two or three slices of cake at one time but two or three cookies?!  That’s just getting started.  Every time some one went into the kitchen they grabbed one (or two), well with seven people in the house  those 36/40 cookies just didn’t last.  As a matter of fact there were only a few of each one left by the end of the night.

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Click here for the thumbprint recipe I used from Land o Lakes. Unfortunately, I couldn’t  find the wedding cookie recipe that we used and none of the ones I saw on the web looked familiar.  Sorry.  The good news is while the recipe was good it wasn’t “oh, my gosh this is the best cookie recipe I’ve ever had in my cookie eating life.” good so you’re not missing out.  :)DSC02756

Here’s a picture of the official cookie ball roller, my Mom, Linda. 

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See that photo below?  I made a pan of cranberry crumb bars while waiting for the cookie dough to chill.  We’ll talk about their yumminess in a later post along with a couple of other things I made.DSC02742

55 comments:

Abby said...

You're so funny. I LOVE cookies. And I think they're easy! Sure, scooping isn't that fast a job, but a cookie-dough scoop makes it go quicker.

The cookies were beautiful even if you didn't have fun making them. ;)

Yay for cranberry bars!

Heather Baird said...

Hi Ingrid! I agree, cookies are sooo time consuming. I had an Etsy cookie shop at one time but it was too much to keep up with. It was souring my love for baking.

Jana said...

I do agree that cookies take a lot of time, that being said I am strategically planning what kind I will be sending to you! I gotta make it super cool though....

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

aking cookies can take time! Those look lovely!

Cheers,

Rosa

Julie said...

And that's why I just eat cookie dough! Just kidding...your cookies look yummy. They would have gone even faster if I'd been around.

Dandy said...

I think I'm converting to bars too.

But they aren't nearly as cute :)

Memória said...

I completely agree with you about baking cookies. I cannot stand have to keep shaping the cookies, baking them, taking them, allowing them to cool, and then starting the process all over again until all the batter is gone! haha

Nevertheless, your cookies look great. I'm looking forward to hearing about the crumble. YUM!

Mara Campbell said...

Yum about your cookies!!! I love baking them but I agree, bars are quicker. But baking cookies with my kids is one of my favorite things to do with them. Okay...maybe my second favorite...my first is eating cookies with them.

Can't wait to see the crumble!

Megan said...

I have to admit, I love a good bar recipe. But I do love Mexican Wedding Cookies too. I do, I do! ;)

♥Sugar♥Plum♥Fairy♥ said...

Ha Ha HA,i simply cant do w/o baking cookies and we arent a state where we get too many cookies off the shelf-not the great ones atleast....
I think u did an amazing job and baking with mommy's is so so much fun....
Your cookies look fantastic dear....and ur whole expierience is so so sweet....

Katy ~ said...

You are just too darned funny. I'm not much of a bar person, probably the only bar cookie I make are some shortbreads and the occasional pan of brownies,otherwise that's typically the section I skip in a cookbook, LOL. You have persuaded me though to rethink it. You're absolutely right. Cookies are a lot of work, and in my house, one or two at a time IS only getting started. Good observation. Oh, you are sooo funny!

Hugs!

Donna-FFW said...

I love bars too, but cookies are my favorite to make, I think everyone enjoys them, because of the fact they can have 2, 3 , 4, 5..

The mexican wedding cookies version I love best is from Joy of Cooking. on my blog. Love it, you you toast and grind the pecans first.

Did the kids enjoy that u made them?

oneordinaryday said...

I guess your mom doesn't read the blog? : ) I love that you got a whole day in the kitchen together. That's a good way to spend the day. Even if you had to bake cookies!!

Nice dig against the poor cookies, Ingrid, by tossing in that comment about how you made bars WHILE the cookies were chilling. haha!

♥peachkins♥ said...

my sister often makes cookies and when I look ate her it seems so easy.

Heidi said...

I must be a dork because I love making cookies. I think it's relaxing!

Can't wait to see that crumb bar recipe!!

Diana's Cocina said...

Funny! Cookies are so time consuming. Especially the way I make them. LOL! I think it's funny how you also made the bars, by the way they look delish. Your cookies look great. Two thumbs up to the official cookie ball roller.

We make my Mom's thumbprint cookies and it takes all day!

White Toast with Butter said...

I agree with you bars are better!

Anonymous said...

Since I got my cookie scoop, I don't mind, as much making the cookies. It can get tedious, I agree.

The cookies look wonderful. I like thumbprints because you can change the flavor of jelly, you use, even in one recipe. I like to experiment.

Thanks for sharing your delicious cookies.

Mimi said...

Cookie or bar, it doesn't matter, I just like to bake.
Mimi

teresa said...

honestly, i should probably stay away from all of them right now because of the diet! lol! i love cookies, but i really like bars because of all the layers in them. your cookies look fantastic!

Laura said...

Although I LOVE cookies, I understand where you are coming from bc there are some kinds of cookies I never make (the kinds you need a press for) and some I rarely make (roll-outs and slice-n-bake). They just seem like too much work. And I do love bars as well.

April said...

Cookies are time consuming, but they did look yummy! those cranberry bars look fantastic!!

Reeni said...

I don't hate making cookies as much as you but I do love bars a whole lot more! Their just richer and much more satisfying to eat. The cookies look scrumptious!

Steph said...

My favourite thing to make is cake because of how pretty the batter looks. Cookies are only worth it if they're chocolate chip! Make the NYT recipe when you're in a cookie mood, it's the best I've had.

Monica H said...

I'm still proud of you for making cookies! But I have to say how excited I am to see more of that cranberry bar! so pretty.

grace said...

i LOVE that you made bars while in the middle of a cookie endeavor. you and i are cut from the same cloth, ingrid. :)

Eliana said...

Cookie baking is the absolute best. And these look incredible Ingrid.

karen@Mignardise said...

I couldn't agree more - cookies are a pain in the butt!
I made a couple of dozen last week for my son to take to a team dinner, then he FORGOT to take them.

I'll be making a cake next time, Your cinnamon swirl cream cheese bundt cake, probably.

Mireya said...

I'll pass on the cookies - lemme have a piece of that cranberry crumby goodness!!!

CookiePie said...

Cookies do take a while - but yours look great! I can't wait for that cranberry crumb bar recipe, too!!

Lot-O-Choc said...

Mm wow your cookies look delicious, I like the look of the jammy middle, and that cranberry crumb bar at the end!! Wow mouthwatering!! Looking forward to seeing that :) yumm.

The Blonde Duck said...

I love cookies...bars...pies...puddings...

Velva said...

I can see why those cookies did not last long! They look scrumptious. I am not baker, I don't have the patience but, man can I enjoy the results!!
You did good with your mom. I think you may even have started a tradition with her each year :-)

Gretchen said...

That was sweet of you to do some baking with your mom - making cookies and memories. The cookies look great! Can't wait for the crumb bar recipe!

Lori said...

I really loved cookies for a long time but I would have to say I totally agree with you for like the past year- just not lovin the cookies. This kind is one of my top ten though. I can see why they disappeared quickly.

buns, buns, buns, hint, hint, hint.

Deborah said...

How fun that you got to bake with your mom! They all look great - I wish I lived close by so you could have dropped some off to me!

Lynn said...

Well good for you, Ingrid, for trying the cookies anyway :) Sometimes we just know what we like to bake. Personally, I love to make cookies but shy away from cakes as I never have much luck there. I'm blaming my pans ;)

Debbie said...

I love cookies Ingrid and remember while I am baking them how much work they can be....I agree that bars are much easier. A really easy cookie to make is a spritz cookie using a cookie press...Very simple. I think you would like making them.

Barbara said...

I love cookies too! And the wedding cakes are an old favorite around here. They are worth the extra effort. (Especially when you have moms or daughters around to help!)

Lo said...

Hey Ingrid -- Despite the fact that I've got to laugh at you for disliking the cookie process so much, I have to admit to enjoying this post.

Although I'm a big cookie fan, what I LOVE about bars is that you can pack so much goodness into a small space. :) Plus, brownies are a bar... and who can argue with brownies??

Elle Bee said...

The cookies do look quite cute, but the bars at the end looked deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelicious!!!

Unknown said...

Hahaha I love cookies, but yes, they are a lot of effort! Only you could be happy making bars while the dough is chilling! Lol!

Jo said...

Great batch of cookies but I particularly like the thumbprints - love the jammy bit that is. Haha!

Pam said...

The cookies look really pretty and tasty, so do the cranberry crumb bars.

Teanna said...

Yaaay! You made some cookies! Ingrid, these look great! I LOVE LOVE LOVE Mexican wedding cookies and I love Raspberry Thumbprints! Why didn't you send me any??? :)

Anonymous said...

Those cookies look absolutely delicious! My mom makes homemade apricot and blackberry preserves that would taste fantastic in these...will definitely be making these soon!

Amanda said...

You crack me up, but you're right, cookies are time consuming! They look great though!

Robin said...

Cooking with mom is the best! Glad you got to spend some time together. Cookies look good though, I esp love the Mexican Pecan Sandies, my Ma makes thumb prints too and we go through them like crazy too. Have a fun weekend Ingrid!

Keeley said...

Cranberry bars? Yummmm! Where's the recipe?

Emily said...

These cookies look incredible, Ingrid!

Clumbsy Cookie said...

Hope you don't go such a long time without baking cookies now! They look great!

The Blonde Duck said...

I know how much you like bars....I found these on a blog.

http://www.eatmedelicious.com/2010/01/cream-cheese-swirl-blondies.html

Kathleen said...

I love bar cookies and I agree they are much easier to make!

Debbie said...

Funny.....I've never thought cookies were that time consuming.
Well.... maybe.
I bet you had fun with your mom tho.

sanjeet said...

he cookies were beautiful even if you didn't have fun making them.

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