Mint Condition Cookies

It was my dear friend Sara's birthday on Tuesday.  Sara lives all the way out in Washington state.  :(  One of Sara's favorite things in the world is a Mint Condition from Caribou.  Mint + chocolate + coffee = happy Sara.  One of the bummers about living in Washington (aside from being far away from friends and family) is that there are no Caribous.  Poor Sara.  So for her birthday I wanted to send her something to remind her of home - aka a Mint Condition.  I figured the good ol' USPS probably would not approve of me sending a cup of coffee through the mail, so I decided the next best thing was to make a mint condition in cookie form. 

Sidenote:  Why do people always take pictures of their baked goods in mugs?  When's the last time you ever used a mug to serve cookies?  But, I'm nothing if not a band-wagon joiner, so enjoy the cookies-in-a-mug picture.

I combined a bunch of different recipes and here's what I ended up with:

Mint Condition Cookies:

• 2 teaspoons instant coffee granules
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted
• 2 eggs
• 2 2/3 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• dash of salt
• 1 cup Andes Mints baking pieces (or other mint chips)
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 375.
2. Dissolve the coffee granules in the milk.  Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugars.
4. Add the coffee mixture, melted chocolate and eggs.
5. Add the flour, baking soda and salt.
6. Stir in the mint and chocolate chips.
7. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes.  Allow to cool slightly, then transfer to a wire cooling rack.

They were pretty darn good!  You could also drizzle a little chocolate over the cookies when they're cool....mmmmm.  Enjoy!

Yum

So, I'm slightly addicted to pinterest.  It's my little escape.  It gets me motivated to do cool things around the house and cook fun things.  And fun things I have cooked.  Like these:

What is all that deliciousness, you ask?  Why it is an Ulitmate Chocolate Chip Cookie 'n Oreo Fudge Brownie Bar.  Seriously amazing.  I've made them twice now and they've been a big hit.  The recipe calls for you to make your own cookie dough from scratch.  While I have THE best chocolate chip recipe in the world, I'm sometimes on the lazy side so I used a mix from a pouch.  Cheater. 

Really, you don't need much for these amazing bars - chocolate chip cookie mix, brownie mix (and the eggs, oil, etc. needed for both) and some Oreos.  I recommend the double stuff.  Why?  Why not?

Mix up the cookie dough and pat it in the bottom of a greased 9x13.  Arrange the Oreos on top (don't worry, you don't use all the Oreos so there are some for you to munch on...).  Mix up the brownie batter and pour it on top.  I like to add some chocolate chips to my brownie batter because that's what this recipe needs, more chocolate.  Bake at 350 for 45-55 minutes. 

Okay, after typing this post I may or may not be going to the grocery store to get cookie mix, brownie mix and Oreos.  Don't judge.

Chickpea Nuts

I made nuts out of chickpeas.  I'm pretty much a magician.  That, or they're not actual nuts, just baked chickpeas.  I guess the secrets out then - I'm not a magician.

Ingredients: Chickpeas, olive oil, whatever spices you want (good ol' s&p for me)

Rinse your chickpeas.

Pat dry with a paper towel.

Toss the chickpeas with the olive oil and spices.

Put them on a rimmed baking sheet and bake at 450 for 25-30 minutes, or until brown and crunchy.

Voila!  Chickpea Nuts!  (Next time I'll cook them a little longer, some were still a little soft...)

Easy, healthy little snack.  :)