Terra Americana

THIS IS WHAT A TON OF COOKIES LOOKS LIKE....It has been a long couple days.  A company in California decided at the last minute that they wanted to send their employees home with a treat for the long Thanksgiving weekend.  That meant working all weekend around here.  We did it, their mixes are done and the truck just left for the 5 day journey to the golden state.

Now I am getting ready to go home and relax.  Yes, I am going to ignore the cleaning I need to do and leave my laptop on my desk.  I may sit on my couch and read or I may take the time to do some holiday planning....

While packing the order I was thinking about the gift giving of my own.  I have goat cheese, tomato chutney, chocolate pumpkin seed bark and a couple other treats to give all ready to go.  The one thing I have never gifted are our cookie mixes in the jar.  My cousin's children may get a kick out of them.  But I am going to follow my cranberry fetish and evolve our tried and trusted recipe.  Try it out is you have the time and let us know what you think...

Simple Sweet Cookies -  Procedures for 32oz Mason Jars

• 1 tsp Kosher salt
• 1 tsp Orange Vanilla Sugar
• 1 cup flour  (for gluten free cookies go with 1/3 cup each Corn, Rice and Arrowroot Flours) -  then Tap jars lightly on counter to help the  cocoa settle
• 1/3 cup brown sugar (use more if you need to) - pack with bent spoon
• 2/3 cup  Double Chocolate Chips
• 1/3 cup Extra Plump Dried Cranberries
• 1/3 cup brown sugar (use more if you need to) - pack with bent spoon
• 1 cup flour (for gluten free cookies go with 1/3 cup each Corn, Rice and Arrowroot Flours) -  then Tap jars lightly on counter to help the  cocoa settle
• 1 cup sugar pack with back -  of your 1/3 cup - fill with more if needed - tightly  to top

Directions for the tag:

Preheat oven to 375f.  
In a mixing bowl combine the contents of this jar with
1/2 cup butter, softened
(Or use  canola oil for more heart healthy cookies)
2 eggs  and  1 tbsp water

 If you find it difficult to remove the brown sugar, add piece
 of fresh bread to the jar & let it sit covered for several hours.
   Drop from teaspoon 2" apart onto a greased cookie sheet.
Bake for about 12 min or until cookies begin to brown.
This jar yields Approximately 4 dozen cookies.

More gift ideas:

• Out of green tomatoes comes a recipe for raspberry jam
• A recipe for spicy and sensational Hot Tomato Relish
• Food gift packaging, simple and innovative ways to make your mark.
• Beer bread mix, an easy last minute gift that can be gluten free too!

Photo Credit:  Justin Hansen & Julie Cecchini