Chewy Brownie Cookies

2/3 C. shortening

1 ½ C. brown sugar

1 Tbs. water

1 tsp. vanilla

2 eggs

1 ½ C. flour

1/3 C. baking cocoa

¼ tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. salt

12-oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips

Mix shortening, sugar, water & vanilla. Beat in eggs. Combine dry ingredients, mix in until blended.  Add chips.  Drop on ungreased cookie sheet; bake at 375 degrees for 7-9 minutes, until set- they will appear soft and moist- do not overbake.  Cool on sheet for 2 minutes, remove to rack.  Makes 3 – 3 ½ dozen.

*Christmas Option: Upon removing from the oven, place a single Andes Mint on top of each cookie, smoothing with a spreading knife as they melt.  This “frosting” will harden as the cookies cool.

Extra-Special Crispy Rice Treats

¼ C Butter or Margarine

40 large Marshmallows

6 C Crispy Rice cereal

1 package White Chocolate chips

Grease a 13 x 9 pan.  In a large bowl, combine cereal and white chocolate chips.  Melt butter and marshmallows in large saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly.  Once smoothly melted, pour marshmallow mixture over cereal and quickly stir to combine.  While still warm, transfer to greased pan and with clean hands, pat down evenly to fill to the corners and edges.  Allow to cool before cutting into squares with a sharp knife.  Remember to share!

Oatmeal Pumpkin Spice Cookies with White Chocolate Chips, Craisins, and Walnuts

I don't often do this, but, I saw a photo of someone else's cookies on Facebook and was seized by a craving so strong I couldn't shake it until I had made them myself.  No, that's a lie.  I always do that.  It's just not often that it happens with cookies.  When I couldn't find the exact recipe I resorted to Pinterest and made the recipe that most closely resembled the cookies I was not imagining almost non-stop.  I then made a few changes in order to bring them to exactly what I wanted, and here they are.  So yummy, and full of good things they are practically must be good for you!  (I sure hope they are, because I am now alone in the house with an entire recipe fresh out of the oven...)

Lemon-Glazed Persimmon Bars

Found on Pinterest during my frantic search to find ways to use the generous harvest of persimmons from my uncle's farm last year, these became a REASON to get persimmons, not merely a means of responsibly consuming them.  I love lemon bars in general, but these are AMAZING.  

Use the jelly-like pulp of ripe Hachiya persimmons.  These are the variety that are shaped like an acorn and are ripe once they feel about like a ready-to-burst water balloon. 

And just try not to eat the entire pan of these the first day all by yourself....


Unsalted butter, for greasing pan
1¾ cup flour, plus more for pan
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
1 tsp. kosher salt
½ tsp. ground cloves
1 cup pureed persimmon pulp
2 tbsp. plus 1½ tsp. fresh lemon juice
1 tsp. baking soda
1 cup sugar
1 cup finely chopped dates (or raisins)
½ cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted

*Optional: fresh lemon zest, added to batter and/or glaze

1. Heat oven to 350°. Grease and flour a 10" x 15" x 1" jelly roll pan; set aside. Whisk together flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and cloves in a bowl; set aside. Whisk together persimmon pulp, 1½ tsp. lemon juice, and baking soda in another bowl; set aside. Whisk together sugar, dates, oil, and egg in a large bowl; add dry ingredients and persimmon mixture, and stir until just combined. Pour into prepared pan, and smooth top with a rubber spatula; bake until lightly browned, about 25 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, make a glaze by whisking together remaining lemon juice and confectioners' sugar in a bowl until smooth. Let cookie sheet cool for 5 minutes and then pour glaze over warm cookie sheet, spreading it evenly over the top with a rubber spatula. Let cool to harden glaze, and then cut into finger-sized bars.

(Originally found on Yummly.)

Modified Toll House Cookies

This is from the most stained page in my cookbook.  The formula below is the result of a months-long quest for the Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie.  As yesterday was the first day of school I normally would have made a batch of these for Isaac to come home to, but he baked a double recipe only a few days ago and even took some in his lunch.  He's quite the cookie-monster when it comes to whipping up a batch of cookies!