Tis the season where the sniffles are persistent uninvited guests. Daisy still has a bit of a cough, but was very excited to go back to school today and see her friends. When I picked her up and we headed home, I asked about her day. I speak to her in Armenian, but she usually replies in English, which is easier to enunciate. I asked all the usual things, like who she played with, what did she eat, did she learn a new song. Suddenly, she started reciting a little ditty about Autumn in Armenian:
Slowly creeps in the misty fog.
My heart melted, hearing her speaking in full sentences. I grabbed my phone and got it all on tape.
Now, I listen to the recording, especially toward the end of the day at the office, when I miss her most. On the drive home, I look forward to doing something fun with her, like baking. I am Armenian, after all. My people practically live on coffee and pastries. The best thing to bake with kids is a big batch of cookies. Growing up in the States has made me quite the chocolate chip cookie connoisseur, but I have not found that perfect recipe, the one that takes me back to the bake sales from my school days. Luckily, I did find an excuse to keep looking.
We had guests coming for dinner on Sunday, so I called my favourite my little blue-eyed culinary consultant for some ideas. When I asked her what we should bake, she suggested cookies, “Crumbs Cookies.” Never heard of them. So I googled it. (Yes, google is now a verb.) The first thing that came up was Fregolata, a big, crumbly Italian almond cookie with a very sexy name. Irresistible indeedy, but I doubt Daisy has ever had one. So I showed her more photos and she pointed to the chocolate chippers and nodded, “See, Mama?”
I am always happy to bake chocolate chip cookies for any reason, on any day. There is never a bad time for them, even on Ordinary Tuesday. This was an especially good idea since it meant I was going to bake with my little sweetheart. A good chocolate chip cookie recipe is a hard find. There are just so many out there. So I went right to my girl, Dawn of the charming Vanilla Sugar Blog. She’s a Cape Cod surfer girl who knows her cookies. Her signature Friday Links are a fun read and I always learn something new, like grating butter. Yes, grating butter. I couldn’t believe my eyes, either, but it makes perfect sense. In case of a Chocolate Chip Emergency (You know what I’m talking about.), there is no time to wait for the butter to soften to room temp. That’s when you grab the cheese grater.
Daisy’s Crumbs Cookies
Inspired by Vanilla Sugar Blog
1 tsp instant coffee
handful dried sour cherries
handful raw pistachios
This is now officially my fav chocolate chip cookie recipe, or as Daisy calls them, Crumbs Cookies. They come out crunchy, crumbly on the outside and chewy on the inside. The sour cherries and pistachios offer a make every bite a little different. As for the coffee, no one will ever guess you sneaked a pinch into the mix. They will just keep asking you what chocolate chips you used because they taste so darned chocolaty! Old fashioned recipes are the best. Picture a sweet purple-haired granny in her country kitchen, wearing a cotton smock apron, turning the dough around the bowl with a wooden spoon, despite the pain of her tired hands. She recalls the recipe from memory, like so many other delicious things she makes. This is that kind of recipe. She’s a keeper. These cookies taste so good that they demand a smile. I have already made them twice in the last week. But most of them were given away, because if they stayed at home with us, I could not stop eating them. Now I am looking for another excuse to bake them again and with the holidays coming, I should not have any problem finding a good one. You have my guarantee that Daisy’s Crumbs Cookies are easy to make, even at a moment’s notice. Keeping your hand out of the cookie jar, however, is not so easy.
These cookies look incredible, I love the recording of Daisy's voice, and the passion in yours when you talk about doing things with her. You have a beautiful blog, I am looking forward to hanging out more here.
That recording of Daisy is so cute, you and her have the most special connection 🙂 Reminds me of my mum and I! I love these cookies, especially the gorgeous stack shot and will definitely be trying this recipe!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Hi Colette! What a great post, I love reading your wonderful stories. These cookies sound so yummy! I'm always looking for another chocolate chip cookie recipe! I have a recipe that uses espresso coffee and it adds such a nice flavor! Thanks so much for sharing Daisy's wonderful recording! She's got such a adorable voice!!
Awww love when people create their own spin on recipes.
These sound so good, going to print off the recipe and make them soon!
Thank you for the shout out!
Love your blog, Dawn and your recipes! Thanks for stopping by. xo
Hi, Sweetie. So glad you enjoyed the post. Hope you try the Rx. xo
Oh, Chippy, I'm so glad I recorded it – she absolutely refuses to recite it for me, claims she's shy.
Glad you have a wonderful family, too. Hope you try these cookies. xo
Hi, Nicky. Love your blog, too. Thanks for stopping by. Yes, she's my li'l sunshine!
Colette, what a darling post – I absolutely adore the picture of the cookies in that pretty purse – what a way to photograph those lovely, delicious sounding cookies. And what better way to share precious time with our kids than bake wonderful chocolate chip cookies with them!
Hope you and your family are all well – it has been one busý month and I am sorry for being a bit slow on comments but there were so many things going on and I was gone for a good ten days for “repairs” to my stomach…not that nice…left-over problem from January.
But all is well that ends well and I hope things will go their “normal” way again.
Feel yourself hugged and give a big fat kiss to your little darling daughter, the charming inspiration for your post!
Andrea
What a beautiful entry that celebrates what cookies are about: not only deliciousness, but the delight of connection. I adore this.
I love Autumn too! I never thought of putting instant coffee in my choc chip cookies. Great idea.
The recording is just perfect, Colette… what a gift! And the cookies? Can't wait to find our how you will use the dough, although I have my suspicions! 😉 xo, d