Cookies from Across the Country

With St. Patrick's Day on the horizon, I thought now would be appropriate to share this recipe from my friend Liz.  Liz and I met in college in an ancient literature class.  As riveting as the class may sound, the friendship that grew from meeting Liz in that class is much more exciting.  Liz and I were friends throughout college, and then she began teaching at the elementary school across the street from the middle school where I teach.  Having a built in best friend in the same corporation as you teach in was a  blessing.  Liz married her husband a little over a year ago in September 2010.  I was the maid of honor in her wedding, and then she moved out to California to live with her husband and they had a beautiful baby girl, Ava.  When I married my husband in December 2010, Liz flew back and was my matron of honor.

I am sharing this timeline with you to make this point - food, even recipes, bind people together.  Sure, Liz and I have some hilarious stories from our college days to chat about, but a topic of conversation these days is "What have you cooked lately?", "Should I take the peel off of this vegetable before I make it into baby food?", or "Did you see that one recipe on Pintrest?"  Liz is the sister I never had.  She is an amazing friend, and even though she lives on the west coast, I can talk to her any time and pick right back up from where we left off on the last conversation.

Liz and I differ in one main area - She is a baker.  She loves to bake!  Liz loves to make cookies, like the recipe below, and send cookies off with her husband to share with his coworkers.  I can attest - these cookies are TASTY!  If you need an excuse to make them, blame making them on St. Patty's Day since they have bits of green in them.  Who am I kidding?  Who needs an excuse to bake cookies?  :)

-Olivia

Nutella Cookies with Andes Mint Chips
 
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter-softened
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup Nutella
Andes Mint chips
 
Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
 
In another bowl, cream butter and sugars.  Add the eggs and vanilla.
 
Gradually add flour mixture until combined.  Stir in Nutella and Andes Mints.  
 
Bake at 375 for 10 minutes.  Use parchment paper.
 
Makes about three dozen.


Recipe from:  Our friend Liz!


Before baking:

After baking: