Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Chocolate Mint Brownie Cookies for your Valentine

Valentine's Day has always been a bit toooo much for me. Maybe it started in first grade. A little boy named Ronnie dropped his cache of Valentine cards. I kindly told Mrs. Hiatt I would help him pick them up. As I was bending down, he planted a soggy, wet kiss on my virginal cheek. I did what every self-respecting tomboy would do: I slugged him with a lean upper cut to the ribs followed by a kick to the shins. Then in fourth grade, Louis asked me to be his Valentine on February 13th. I told him "Up your nose with a rubber hose." The next day I got a Valentine from Louis. "Dear Prudy, I hate you. Love, Louis. " By the time I got to Junior High, everyone who was anyone was sending a candygram. You could pay fifty cents to have a lollipop and a love-note delivered to your secret love during sixth period. I think I got three, a couple from my best friend Wendy Foss and one from a hefty boy named Dan that I'd been hiding from for the last six months. Dan wrote: "Dear Prudy, Everytime I call your house, some kid answers and says you're not home. Are you avoiding me? I love you. Dan" I tore the note up and threw it in the trashcan, then I ate the lollipop. On the other hand, my sister Michelle got so many candy grams that she couldn't even carry them. Wendy and I had to help her heft them home. " Dear Michelle, I think we might get married some day." "Dear Michelle, You're like totally the prettiest girl I ever saw. Let's make out during Home Ec." "Dear Michelle, you are soooo much more awesome than your sister. How can you stand her?"
See what I mean? Valentine's Day! And now I'm happily married with a bonafide Valentine, but he's out of town on a business trip. Maybe I should send a candygram to his hotel. "Dear Quiet Man. It's lonely without you. I miss your....quiet. Your calm. Your stillness. Come home soon and we will sit in solitude. Together." Love, Prudy
Here's a Valentine that will always work out for you-Chocolate. I baked up these lovely chocolate mint cookies last night while the charges were filling out their Valentines. I found the recipe on the Nestle Very Best Baking website. They've got all sorts of fantastic Valentine treat ideas, so swing by and check it out. I found what I was looking for. These cookies have got just the perfect amount of mint and vanilla to make them refreshingly delicious, plus they are easy and cheap to make. I wish I could send some to Ronnie, Louis, Dan and most especially my Quiet Man. Here's hoping they all have a chocolate-y Valentine's Day.
Chocolate Mint Brownie Cookies from Nestle
Estimated Cost: $3.50 for about 2 and 1/2 dozen
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups (9 oz.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels, divided
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
3/4 cup chopped nuts
MELT 3/4 cup morsels in small, heavy saucepan over lowest possible heat. When morsels begin to melt, remove from heat; stir. Return to heat for a few seconds at a time, stirring until smooth. Cool to room temperature.COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, peppermint extract and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in melted chocolate. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in remaining morsels and nuts. Drop dough by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.BAKE in preheated 350° F. oven for 8 to 12 minutes or until sides are set but centers are still soft. Let stand for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.
Next Up:
Cheddar Fondue

13 comments:

Katie and Mark said...

LOL What a crack up! I love you....and this post. I am not a huge fan of Valentine's Day either-although it drastically improved 9 years ago when I met my fovever Valentine. :) I should bake him these cookies to take to work in Monday.

Anonymous said...

Prudy:

I read your blog today. How about that? Good timing huh? See you later...

Tightwad Mom said...

LOL! Prudy you are my kind of gal!!!! I am a firm believer that chocolate will solve any problem. These cookies certainly fit the bill!

Familia Henao said...

SOOO funny---LOL. All I could do while reading this was laugh. These cookies look right up my alley. Mint and chocolate..... :)

The JR said...

Those stories crack me up! Your sister sounds like mine.....

Seth and Julie said...

Ha,Ha! So funny! Your post actually reminded me that my friend and I once sent each other unsigned candygrams. We never lied and said they were from anyone else. We just told anyone who asked that we got an unsigned Valentine. Ours came with a balloon so everyone could easily see how many you had received and we thought that our mystery grams might turn a few heads our way. I am pretty sure no one even noticed because there were the other girls, like Michelle, who had so many balloons they were likely to fly away without seven boys on either side to help them down the hall. Thanks for a good laugh and a little jog back through memory lane.

Unknown said...

Oh I remember the humiliation of candygrams, that was awful As if I needed any further validation that I was skinny, shy and a head taller then all the boys. At least Michelle let us read her notes.

Unknown said...

Oh I remember the humiliation of candygrams, that was awful As if I needed any further validation that I was skinny, shy and a head taller then all the boys. At least Michelle let us read her notes.

Prudy said...

Wendy-You always had PLENTY of admirers! In fact, even now, when I watch movies I always think famous actresses look like you. Kiera Knightley, Winona Ryder, even Angelina Jolie. I always see your face in the gorgeous beauties of the world. And being skinny and shy is a heck of a lot better than being chubby and obnoxiously bold. I oughtta know. We did OK, though, didn't we, old buddy old pal?

Prudy said...

I want a candygram!!!!!!!!!!!!!
<3 sailor

Anonymous said...

I wonder if the kids from Lauries bus will ever send her a candy gram? They seem to like her.

Heather said...

Thanks for sharing. I am featuring this post on Monday in my shout outs. Thanks. http://www.cookingfrommyfoodstorage.blogspot.com

Loraine Karins MLB BLOG said...

Oh, I remember candygrams shame, this is terrible, as if I need any further verification, and I was very thin, shy and a head taller and then all the boys. At least michelle let us read her notes.
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