Terra Americana

In England they don't eat a lot of cookies and the fall can be dreary. However, it is the land of jack-o-lanters and trick or treating.  On a cold and rainy all hallows eve I stopped in my corner shop to find Val dressed up like a clown and serving his famous chocolate biscuits, which were dressed up like spiders for the occasion. The cheerful site was instant warmth on a day when the damp crept into your bones.

His recipe was worthy of adopting for a holiday tradition.  The biscuits on their own often make an appearance in my kitchen when the cold, wet weather leaves you yearning for some comfort inside.

1 package chocolate cookie/brownie mix  - or a box of your own favorite mix
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup Earth Balanceor butter
1/4 cup cold Soy Cream or milk
1 cup melted dark, milk or white chocolate

Place dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. Cut or rub in the butter with a pastry blender, two knives or your fingertips. Add  enough milk to make a stiff dough. Knead this mixture on a flour surface until smooth. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Roll out the dough until it is a bit more than 1/8 inch thick, and cut into any desired shape. Place on greased cookie sheets, prick evenly with a fork and bake until pale gold, about 15 to 20 minutes.

When biscuits have cooled, pour melted chocolate over their tops. Cookies are ready to eat when chocolate has cooled.

For Halloween treats use diced dried apricots for spider eyes and fashion legs out of melted chocolate or licorice.

Other Recipes You May Enjoy:

• All Occasion Cookies
• Harvest Cake
• Caramel Apple Dessert Squares, an easy recipe for Dessert
• Mint Chocolate Layer Bars

Photo Credit: Julie Cecchini