Novel: Carrot Cake Murder
Author: Joanne Fluke
Within the first ten pages of this cozy mystery, Ms. Fluke introduces what has become my favorite recipes of the entire series. Hannah Swenson, owner of the Cookie Jar bakery makes a batch of these delightful cookies from a friend's family recipe. They're called Viking cookies and unlike their name, have a delicate, sweet taste.
The main ingredients are white chocolate chips, rolled oats, cinnamon and nutmeg (although Hannah says that the cookies taste better when you substitute cardamom for the nutmeg). I usually prefer milk chocolate over white chocolate, but I have to say that the white chocolate chips match the subtlety of the rolled oats and slight spices beautifully.
Again, this was a huge recipe. It called for 4 sticks of butter, 2 cups of white sugar, and 2 cups of brown sugar. I cut the recipe in half and made 4 dozen cookies. After tasting the first cookie, I wished I had made the entire batch! I went ahead and substituted nutmeg for the cardamom because that's what I had in the pantry. I think the cookies still tasted wonderful.
It's been a few hours since I baked the cookies and they are starting to get crunchier with time. My husband and mother-in-law love really crunchy cookies and I think they'll come to love these. I look forward to dipping these in my morning coffee - what a way to start the day!
in one hand and my drink in another, I read about Hannah Swensen's latest cookie creation, Cappuccino Royales. They're a coffee flavored cookie with milk chocolate chips and they sounded perfect for an evening listening to thunder, watching lighting, and curling up with a good book.
packets for the Folger's Instant Coffee - it was what I had on hand and I think it turned out well. The cookies are a little on the dry side for me, but the coffee flavor is definitely pronounced. I think I'll like these best by dipping them in milk.