To cure homesickness, I recommend something you can only get at home paired with something you can only get where you are. It should be indulgent, comforting, and, above all, delicious. For me, that thing is chocolate chip cookies, paired with farm fresh milk. (Since I can't magically turn the farm into Juan's Flying Burrito for the night, I had to come up with some something else!)
Though chocolate chip cookies are a delicious cliche back home, here they are a curiosity. In fact, chocolate chips are nearly impossible to find! I ended up just chopping up some chocolate bars for mine. So far, the only version of our standard that's reached Costa Rica is the little four pack of hard Chips Ahoy. Unacceptable. My version is big, chewy, and alllllllllmost underbaked.
I've attached the recipe I used below, in case the pictures make you jealous.
2 cups plus 2 Tbs all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
12 Tbs (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled until warm
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg plus one yolk
2 tsp vanilla
1-1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
For optional convenience, line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Preheat to 325 F
Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt together in medium bowl, set aside.
Mix together sugar and butter until thoroughly blended. Then beat in the egg, yolk, and vanilla.
Add dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
Stir in chocolate chips to taste.
Roll into scant 1/4 cup balls (or just make sorta big balls that fill the dent of your palm!), then pull apart the ball and stick the smooth sides together, and place on backing sheet. You want the top of the cookie to be jagged.
Bake for 15-18 minutes, reversing the baking sheet halfway through. You should pull the cookies when the outsides are golden brown but the centers are still just a little puffy.
Cool on cooling racks. Try not to be jealous about the milk - ask around at your local farmer's market and try to find some free range milk of your own!
ENJOY!
1 comment:
First off I have to say that I love love love that you just posted a cookie recipe! And I hope that you enjoyed them in all their glory. The real reason I was posting is because I came across this blog today:
http://fedupwithschoollunch.blogspot.com/
it totally reminded me of you and your crusade against the even start lunches. Also, I got your postcard in the mail yesterday and had to say that it made my day! Oh, and I totally feel your pain on getting stitches...I broke my arm a few weeks ago and it totally sucks being incapacitated. I'll never take my hand/arm for granted again!
Anyway just wanted to send you some love and let you know I was thinking of you.
Sarah
PS-I quit my job last week and am moving back to NOLA on March 25, so you better come visit once you get back to the states!
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