Tuesday, December 16, 2008

TWD: Buttery Jam Cookies


Well, the Tuesdays with Dorie Cookiepolooza has come to an end. This week's selection comes from Heather over at Randomosity and the Girl. She picked this recipe because it's the time of year where there is lots of baking, and these are quick and easy. For me, this week's selection was a matter of survival! I am not kidding! (exaggerating, perhaps, but not kidding). Heather finds herself without the internet, I find myself without heat. I can't complain too much, what with half the country in the deep freeze. But a chilly house is a chilly house, so I needed to bake the cookies to stay warm. (Worry not, I don't have slum lords and I did pay the bill. Just a little glitch that will be fixed when the gas man comes out tomorrow. Perhaps I'll leave him some of these cookies like he's Santa!).

Some of the TWDers were won over by these cookies, others were not. Many found their cookies came out of the oven exactly the shape they went in. I really appreciate all the sharing that goes on at the site -- it has saved me more than once. Based on the shared experiences this time, I was extra careful not to over mix the dough so my cookies spread just a bit. I also made sure the cookies didn't have any burnt bottoms. And because I'm just a generous kind of gal, I taste tested each batch as it came out of the oven. I like to think of it as "quality control."

Because I did make the cookies small (I took the "rounded teaspoonful" directions literally) I got the 45 cookies as promised in the recipe (and no stomach ache after all the tasting). As for their taste, they grew on me. When reading the recipe it was pretty clear that there wasn't a lot of flavor outside of a small amount of ginger, the jam (I used apricot) and the vanilla. As Dorie said, it's a "side of the saucer" cookie, not the stand alone kind. I'll be curious what they taste like tomorrow, as a few bakers found they liked them better the next day. They'll go great with the morning tea I bet. These are the first cookies that were successful enough to go into the office for the co-workers. We'll see what they think of them (if a success they may see them again as their holiday gift!).

13 comments:

Shelby said...

At first when I read you were chilly I thought you were on the east coast as so many people had lost power (many still without!)

Great job on your success! I hope your co-workers enjoy them!

Pamela said...

Stay warm!! Hope the gas man fixes the problem right away. I was surprised that I actually liked these cookies. I was ready not to, that's for sure.

TourGuide Jenn said...

HoneyB - I know -- I shouldn't complain when so many people are REALLY cold. I lived in Massachusetts for 5+ years, so I actually do know cold.

Pamela -- I was with you -- I didn't expect to like these cookies. And I like them much better this morning after they fully cooled. Another important lesson in patience!

Debbie said...

Jenn-- it is so kind of you to take such care with quality control in your kitchen. I'm kind like that too. Your cookies look great.

I'm cold here in Texas too.

Peggy said...

Oh I definitely could not stand a chilly house. I like it warm. Sorry about yours.
But your cookies look great

Anonymous said...

Quality control - I like it! Normally I practice very strict quality control in my kitchen, but a stomach flu (or something) has made me reluctant to taste anything today.

I'm glad to hear the taste grew on you and I'm sure your colleagues will appreciate your success :)

Danielle said...

I am going to do the same thing wait to form my final opinion of these cookies after I have them with coffee tomorrow morning!

Flourchild said...

I hope your warming up! It's really cold in Idaho..this weekend the high will be 9*brrrr..Your cookies look great.

TourGuide Jenn said...

Updates -- house is properly warm (still feeling guilty about those folks in other parts of the country with no heat!) and the co-workers devoured the cookies in record time, with a few pleas for more. A successful day all around!

Anonymous said...

Sounds like everything is swinging again! Always nice when the co-workers gobble up the spoils. Nice job!

TeaLady said...

Quality control. I love that. That will be my reason from now on for eating one cookie fresh from the oven each time.

Jules Someone said...

Lucky office! BTW, it's -4 outside my house today. Brrrrrrr.

TourGuide Jenn said...

Ever since the weather has turned so bad in the country I've really regretted whining about the "chilly" house (which to me "chilly" is warmer the "cold"). But the cold temps we got came all the way from the Yukon, so you know that's cold!

I will keep sending warm thoughts to you mid-westerners and east coasters. I did live in Massachusetts for 5 winters, so I really do know what cold and snow are like.