Flashback Friday ~ Spring Forward and Chocolate White Chocolate Chunk Cookies

I've been loving me some fruit lately. Following the new Weight Watchers program is easier knowing you have "free" crunchy apples that won't eat up your daily allowance.


But even with all of those sweet freebies, I still feel the need to bake up some goodies. One of my co-workers had a hunk of white chocolate left over from Christmas baking, so she generously offered it up to me. Maybe she knew I would return the favor and bring something in to work...and she was right! :-)

I found the perfect recipe to use the white chocolate. I didn't have quite enough to make up the total chocolate called for in the recipe, so I added in some semi sweet chocolate chunks and pecans. They taste kind of like brownies. The Barefoot Contessa helped me out...




Chocolate White Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Ina Garten - 2001 Barefoot Contessa Parties

• 1/2 pound unsalted butter at room temperature
• 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 extra-large eggs at room temperature
• 2/3 cup good unsweetened cocoa
• 2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 1/2 pounds good white chocolate, coarsely chopped (or half white chocolate, half semi sweet)
  
• 1 cup chopped pecans
  

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Cream the butter and both sugars until light and fluffy in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the vanilla, then the eggs, 1 at a time, and mix well. Add the cocoa and mix again. Sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt and add to the chocolate with the mixer on low speed until just combined. Fold in the chopped chocolate and nuts if you're using.

Drop the dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, using a 1 3/4-inch ice cream scoop or a rounded tablespoon. Dampen your hands and flatten the dough slightly. Bake for exactly 15 minutes (the cookies will seem underdone). Remove from the oven and let cool slightly on the pan, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

For the Flashback...let's look forward to Spring~ These are from April 2007.


These little daisies never seem to last in my garden for some reason although I've heard they can become weeds. I'd like to have the problem!



Everything is so fresh and clean in the spring!


And cheery and sunshiny!


I can't wait to see my front yard look this happy again!


Hang in there my winter weary friends....spring will be here soon!

If you have a flashback you'd like to share add your link here


I'm joining in over at Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday. Check it out HERE.