The Obama Campaign Family Cookbook
COOKIES
Table of Contents
ZACHARY’S POLITICALLY-CORRECT CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
Submitted by Judy D from Scotia, Nebraska
(In honor of my biracial adopted son)
I was a Hillary supporter until Zachary brought the first Time magazine featuring Obama home from school telling me that this guy was just like him, "He has a white mom, black dad and his grandma took care of him. Look, Grandma, I could grow up to be President!" After reading the article and Senator Obama's book, I agreed with Zachary and became active in the campaign. I have been named as a delegate to our state convention and hope to go to Denver. I am a high school teacher. One of my bulletin boards features "Yes We Can"... read, think, write and complete assignments on time. Didn't take long for my students to realize where the "Yes We Can" came from. Two of my senior English students registered as Democrats, the first Democrats in their families, so they could join me in voting for Obama. The six Nebraska super delegates have endorsed Obama with the last one endorsing after PA. I can now donate to the state party. I refused until they had all endorsed, falling line with the state going Obama. Our red state has a good chance of turning blue in the general election.
Zachary suffers from brain damage as a result of child abuse. He is a member of our Special Olympic team and will be at the Special Olympics State Track Meet this year competing in two events. He is an inspiration to all of us and has overcome many struggles. His beautiful smile and caring attitude has won over this all white rural community. I was concerned that he would not be accepted due to racial prejudice. Thank God that the good people of this community could see past his color and recognize what a wonderful kid he is. It gives me hope that the voters will also realize that skin color does not make a person, it is what is in the heart and head!
2 cup brown sugar
1 cup sugar
1 cup butter
1 cup butter flavor Crisco
6 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
5 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. salt
1 cup milk chocolate chips
1 cup white milk chocolate chips
Cream butter, Crisco, sugars and vanilla together until light and fluffy. Add eggs and use mixer on high one minute, beat well. Sift together flour, soda and salt. Add to creamed mixture. Stir in chips. Drop onto prepared baking sheets by tablespoon. (Roll to dough into a ball and flatten to make nice formed cookies.) Bake at 375 degrees for 9 minutes. My kids love a nice soft cookie. Makes 6 dozen large cookies. Plan on at least the first two pans being eaten right out of the oven. I think kids can smell these cooking for at least two miles away and start camping out on the front porch ready to dive in!
THE NO-BAKE COOKIE
Submitted by Brooke from Charleston, West Virginia
Here's my West Virginia recipe contribution: The No-Bake Cookie. No-bakes are wildly popular in the state, and I'm sure our state legislature would even vote them the official state cookie if they weren't busy doing more important things... but I digress. Here's the recipe:
INGREDIENTS:
* 4 ounces butter or margarine
* 1/2 cup milk
* 2 cups sugar
* 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
* 3 to 4 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
* 3 cups oats, quick or old-fashioned
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
PREPARATION:
Place chocolate chips, peanut butter (if used), oats, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Combine the margarine, milk, and sugar in a saucepan; bring to a rolling boil. Boil for 1 minute. Combine the hot mixture with the oatmeal and chocolate chip mixture; stir well. Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper.
Please let me know if you need anything else for the recipe book. Thanks for all that you're doing to help Obama win! Yes We Can!
GRANDMA STOVER’S COOKIE JAR GINGERSNAPS
Submitted by Sheryl W from Redmond, Washington
Pre-heat oven to 350 F
2 C flour
2 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1 C sugar
1/4 C molasses
1 1/2 t ginger
1 t cinnamon
3/4 C shortening
1 egg
Cinnamon and sugar mixture, reserved.
Sift flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium mixing bowl.
In the large bowl of an electric mixer, combine sugar, molasses, ginger,cinnamon, shortening and egg. Beat until smooth.
Add dry ingredients 1/2 cup at a time until the mixture is smooth and evenly mixed.
Roll into 1-inch balls .Roll balls in cinnamon sugar.
Place on prepared cookie sheet two inches apart. Bake at 350F for 10-12 minutes. Yield is about 3 dozen.
JULIA'S GINGER BARS
“My mom made this a lot when I was growing up, it's easy to make and REALLY yummy.”
Pre-heat oven to 350 F
Prepare greased baking pan
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 tsp soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
1 tsp ground cloves
1/8 tsp salt
1 cup hot coffee (yup, from the pot or instant)
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup molasses
1 tsp lemon juice
2 eggs
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.
Place in greased pan.
Bake in pre-heated 350 degree oven for 25-30 minutes.
Allow cake to cool completely before frosting
Frosting:
1/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 to 3 tablespoons water
Mix all ingredients, adding just enough water to make it spreadable.
Spread over cooled cake
· This recipe was previously submitted to the Obama Web Site when IAforObama was collecting good things to take to caucus! She has given me permission to use them in this recipe collection as well. I was not able to locate every submitter, but I have done my best to give proper credit. I would like to thank Maeve from Iowa for allowing me to use these recipes from her weblog.
CHOCOLATE DROP SUGAR COOKIES
Submitted by Patty from New York
Preheat oven to 350 F
Grease cookie sheet or nonstick cookie sheet
2/3 c butter or margarine
1 c sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 c flour
1/2 c Hershey's Cocoa (or any other kind)
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 c buttermilk or sour milk (1 tsp vinegar/milk)
Sugar to sprinkle on top
Beat butter/margarine & sugar in large bowl till blended. Add egg and vanilla. Beat until fluffy.
Mix in a separate bowl: flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt.
Add flour mixture & buttermilk (sour milk) alternately to butter mixture. Mix well. Drop by teaspoon full onto cookie sheet, about 1 1/2" apart (cookies will spread some)
Bake 13-15 min. Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle with extra sugar. Remove from cookie sheet and put on cooling rack. Makes a couple dozen, (depending on size of cookie)
· This recipe was previously submitted to the Obama Web Site when IAforObama was collecting good things to take to caucus! She has given me permission to use them in this recipe collection as well. I was not able to locate every submitter, but I have done my best to give proper credit. I also would like to thank Maeve from Iowa for allowing me to use these recipes.
EASY MARSHMALLOW FOUR LAYER BARS
Submitted by Patty from New York
THESE ARE A HUGE HIT FOR ME - got recipe from Hershey's website a few years back.
Preheat oven to 375
grease 13" x 9" baking pan
1 package chocolate or yellow cake mix
1/2 stick of margarine, melted
1/4 c water
3 c mini marshmallows
1 c M & Ms plain
1/2 c chopped nuts - any kind
Mix cake mix, melted margarine, and water until blended in a large bowl. Spread onto bottom of baking pan. Bake 20 min - remove from oven.
Layer marshmallows, M & Ms, and nuts over the top.
Return to oven and bake about 3-4 min. more or until marshmallows begin to melt.
Cool and cut into bars. Yield: 12-16 depending on size.
· This recipe was previously submitted to the Obama Web Site when IAforObama was collecting good things to take to caucus! She has given me permission to use them in this recipe collection as well. I was not able to locate every submitter, but I have done my best to give proper credit. I also would like to thank Maeve from Iowa for allowing me to use these recipes.
BROWNIES FOR BARACK
Submitted by Terri from Florida
1 C Butter or Margarine
2 C Sugar
2 tsp Vanilla extract
4 Eggs
3/4 C Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1 C All-purpose flour
1/2 tsp Baking powder
1/4 tsp Salt
1 C chopped nuts (optional)--(I use walnuts mostly)
Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Grease 13x9x2-inch baking pan.
In a large microwave-safe bowl, place butter. Microwave at HIGH (100%) for 2 to 2-1/2minutes or until melted. Stir in sugar and vanilla. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well with spoon after each addition. Add cocoa; beat until well blended. Add flour, baking powder and salt; beat well. Stir in nuts, if desired. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until brownies begin to pull away from sides of pan. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars. Makes about 36 brownies.
Ok -- that's the actual recipe, but I change it a bit. I omit the salt because I can't use it and never have it in the house. I add about a teaspoon of rum extract. I don't have a microwave, so I've melted the butter on the stovetop sometimes and sometimes just use softened butter. I haven't been able to see a difference with the results either way. I also add chopped nuts to the top. I almost always bake with butter. I used 'I can't believe it's not butter' once and no one complained :) I've used Hershey's, Nestle's and Godiva unsweetened cocoa powder at different times. People at work tell me I should go into business with these. :D
My Bailey's fudge, Kahlua balls and Amaretto truffles get even bigger reviews, but I think we should probably save the alcohol for the celebration afterwards .. :)
CHOCO-SCOTCH CAUCUS CLUSTERS
Submitted by Jennifer from Oklahoma
Fantastic taste, easy, quick to fix, a tiny bit messy and very rich…if you have these in Obama's corner I'll guarantee you'll have plenty of company!!!
THIS RECIPE CONTAINS PEANUT BUTTER. (you could try it without- I never have)
1 small pkg choc. chips
1 small pkg butterscotch chips
2 tbs. peanut butter (creamy)
4 cups rice crispies
Melt chips over low heat, add peanut butter.
Stir in rice crispies until coated.
Drop by teaspoon onto wax paper. (Walnut sized pieces).
Cool, ENJOY.
· This recipe was previously submitted to the Obama Web Site when IAforObama was collecting good things to take to caucus! She has given me permission to use them in this recipe collection as well. I was not able to locate every submitter, but I have done my best to give proper credit. I also would like to thank Maeve from Iowa for allowing me to use these recipes.
READY TO GO PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES
Submitted by PhillyLady4Obama from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The ultimate three-ingredient cookie!
1 cup of smooth peanut butter
1 cup of sugar
1 egg
Preheat oven at 350 degrees.
Combine all ingredients until mixed.
Roll mixture into 1 inch balls.
Place on ungreased cookie sheet and flatten each ball with a fork.
Bake for 8-10 minutes.
Cool for 5-7 minutes, then place on wire rack.
Enjoy with cold milk!
· This recipe was previously submitted to the Obama Web Site when IAforObama was collecting good things to take to caucus! She has given me permission to use them in this recipe collection as well. I was not able to locate every submitter, but I have done my best to give proper credit. I also would like to thank Maeve from Iowa for allowing me to use these recipes.
VICTORY SQUARES!
By Cindy W from California
Very easy, quick toffee treats for the caucus go'ers and our tireless volunteers.
One recipe makes about 75 1 1/2-inch squares
1 cup butter (2 sticks)
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg, separated
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/3 cups flour
3/4 cup walnuts, finely chopped
Melt butter; stir in sugar and mix thoroughly
Separate egg, saving white to rub over surface of dough
Stir egg yolk and vanilla into butter/sugar mix
Stir flour into butter/sugar mix
The dough is moist and buttery. Spread it evenly in a "jelly roll pan" (cookie sheet with sides) that measures approximately 10" x 15"
Spread egg white in thin layer over entire surface of dough. (May not need all of the egg white.)
Sprinkle surface with finely chopped walnuts, pressing gently into the dough.
Bake at 350° for about 20 minutes, until very light brown.
When slightly cool, cut into small squares. Don't wait until they are completely cooled or they will crumble!
Hint: I line cookie sheets with parchment paper for all baking.
· This recipe was previously submitted to the Obama Web Site when IAforObama was collecting good things to take to caucus! She has given me permission to use them in this recipe collection as well. I was not able to locate every submitter, but I have done my best to give proper credit. I also would like to thank Maeve from Iowa for allowing me to use these recipes.
EASY PUMPKIN OR ZUCCHINI CAKE MIX COOKIES
Submitted by Nonny from Wolsey, South Dakota
This is a very good recipe and I make them all the time.
2 Boxes Vegan Spice Cake Mix
1 29-oz. can pumpkin or or 29-oz. zucchini drained
2 cups chocolate chips and/or nuts
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix together all ingredients.
Drop by spoonfuls a couple of inches apart onto a lightly greased baking sheet.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until cookies are done.
You can frost if you like when cool. Makes about 3 dozen.
NO BAKE OATMEAL COOKIES
Submitted by Ms. Mary from North Carolina
Thank all of you working on this cookbook and I am excited about it and I am so happy to share these with you and I hope you get as much enjoyment from them as I have.
Ingredients:
2 Cups Sugar
3 TBS. Cocoa
1 Stick soft Margarine
1/2 Cup Milk (I use canned, evaporated milk)
1/2 Cup Peanut Butter
3 Cups Quick Cooking Oats
1 Tsp Vanilla
Melt margarine in large saucepan.
Add sugar & cocoa (which has been mixed together) and milk. Boil for 1 minute.
Remove from heat. Add all remaining ingredients. Stir well.
Drop them on waxed paper to cool. I drop different sizes down on the wax paper as I find that children love different sizes and shapes.
MOLASSES COOKIES
Submitted by Liz H from Nashville, Tennessee
I usually double the recipe - since you are doing all that chilling and rolling, you may has well! My Grandma made these every Christmas (when we lived in Minnesota), then my Mom did (when we moved to Phoenix). Now, every Christmas, I make them (we live in Nashville) – my husband and 3 boys LOVE them!
Enjoy!
3/4 cup butter/Crisco - melt and cool
Mix together:
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup molasses or sorghum
1 egg
Mix and add to melted butter.
Sift and mix:
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
Mix with molasses mixture - CHILL - several hours or overnight. Form 1 inch balls and roll in sugar.
Place on greased cookie sheet 2 inches apart
Bake at 350 degrees for 8 - 10 minutes. Makes 3-4 dozen.
OBAMA OATMEAL SUGAR COOKIES
Submitted by Jean B from Hays, Kansas
These are OBAMA cookies, because they’re almost perfect and rarely fail.
Preheat: 350 degrees
1/2 C. butter ½ t. salt
1/2 C. Crisco ½ t. baking powder
1 C. sugar 1 t. baking soda
1C. brown sugar 1 ½ C. flour
2 eggs 3 C. rolled oats
1 t. vanilla
Cream shortenings and sugars with eggs and vanilla.
Sift dry Ingredients and beat in with the rolled oats. Form into balls about the size of a walnut and place 4” apart on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake 9-10 min.
LEMON COOKIES
Submitted by Michele B from Huntington Beach, California
1 box lemon cake mix
2 c. Cool Whip
1 egg
Powdered sugar
Blend first three ingredients together. Drop teaspoonfuls of dough into sifted powdered sugar. Place on lightly greased cookie sheet about two inches apart and bake 15 min. at 350 degrees F. Makes 2-3 dozen.
MOLASSES APPLESAUCE COOKIES
Submitted by Victoria F from Virginia
This recipe is one of my great aunt Rena's. She was born in 1907, the eldest of seven children. She never married, her true love was lost at sea, but she "adopted" my dad as her own.
Once my siblings and I were born, she "adopted" us, and we took turns spending the night with her. She always cooked a special dinner and then we would sit in the living room watching tv and eating one of her homemade desserts. Her cookies were exquisite, as yummy as any you could buy at a bakery. Her "Molasses Applesauce Cookies" were my favorite, and was the favorite of my children when they were little also.
2 Cups Flour
1/2 Cup Sugar
1 Tsp. Soda
1/2 Cup Molasses
1/2 Tsp. Salt
1 Egg
2 Tsp. Cinnamon
1 Cup applesauce
1/2 Tsp. Ground Cloves
1/2 Cup shortening (I use butter)
Sift dry ingredients.
Cream sugar and shortening, add molasses and egg.
Blend dry ingredients alternately with applesauce into creamed mixture.
Drop by tablespoon onto greased pan.
Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes. Makes 3-4 dozen.
CHERRY OATMEAL COOKIES
Submitted by Jessica M and family from Massachusetts
My family loves these cookies. The kids, Avery and Eleanore, enjoy making them with me, and my husband and friends enjoy eating them up. They are comfort food and “feel good” food for us. Many good memories have become entwined with the smell of cinnamon or the tart taste of cherry.
Ingredients:
1/2 pound unsalted butter, softened (two sticks)
1 cup loosely packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cup wheat flour (or all purpose)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon+ (depending on taste, we add more) ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
3 cups oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
1 cup of dark chocolate chips (we use a 60% cocoa chip)
1 cup of dried fruit (blueberries or cherries are our favorites)
Directions:
Heat oven to 350 F.
In large bowl, beat margarine and sugars until creamy.
Add eggs and vanilla; beat well.
Add combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon,and salt; mix well.
Add oats and raisins; mix well.
Drop by rounded tablespoonful about two inches apart on a parchment-or Silpat-lined cookie sheet. Bake for 11-13 minutes
Yield: about four dozen cookies
BOW TIES (ITALIAN COOKIE)
Submitted by Maria M from Oneonta, New York
(We are a small upstate city - home of the Soccer Hall of Fame and down the road is Cooperstown - home of the Baseball Hall of Fame)
This recipe has been passed down the generations from my immigrant Italian grandmother (Marianna G) and my father (Lorenzo G) to me. My grandmother always made this cookie for special occasions such as Easter, wedding showers, or weddings. As a small child, my father watched my grandmother mix the dough on her cooking board. Every Italian woman had a cooking board - this was a huge board laid on the kitchen table for making macaroni, bread, or baked goods. Ingredients were added to the board, and mixed in a pile on the board - always by hand (no spoons) - and then rolled out using the handle of a broomstick. " We didn't have a rolling pin back then," my father stated, "But we didn't need one. Once the dough was cut and tied, mama would fry it in a cast iron pan and then sugar it. We knew it was a special day when the Bow Ties were being made."
Below is the recipe my grandmother had memorized for those special occasions...that I use today (with a rolling pin) for the Christmas holidays.
Ingredients:
6 eggs
4 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup oil
1/2 Tbs. baking powder
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
3 tsp. lemon extract
Combine eggs, oil, sugar, salt, extract and mix.
Add baking powder to flour.
Add flour a little bit at a time. (Sometimes flour needs to be added.) The dough should feel firm.
Roll out real thin, cut into 1 inch wide and 5-6 inch long strips, tie into a loose knot.
Deep fry in hot oil (I use vegetable oil - light).
Drain on paper towel and sprinkle with confectionary sugar. Makes 4-5 dozen.
OATMEAL CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
Submitted by Sara G from Lake Lillian, Minnesota
This cookie recipe has been passed down through a few generations now. My mom used to make these a lot when I was little. Since she has passed away, it brings back so many good memories when I make them. There is nothing better than these cookies nice and warm on a cold winter day.
Ingredients:
1 Cup Shortening
2 Eggs
2 Cups Oatmeal
2 Cups Flour
3/4 Cup Brown Sugar
3/4 Cup White Sugar
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Vanilla
1 tsp Baking Soda plus 1 Tbs. HOT water
1 small bag of Chocolate Chips
Mix shortening, eggs, brown sugar, white sugar, salt, vanilla and soda with water together.
Add flour, then oatmeal. When mixed completely, add chocolate chips.
Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes on a prepared cookie sheet. Makes 3-4 dozen.
CRANBERRY WHITE CHOCOLATE COOKIES
Submitted by Laura H from Riceville, Iowa
The story behind it is that I lived in a very broken family and moved a lot. I have been married more than once and have 3 children. I spent a lot of my life feeling alone. I had decided that I hated life and did not want anything to do with family. But the story did not end. I since then have realized that life is worth living, this mostly through my children and the loving and accepting man I married and his family. They took all of us in and have made their family mine. One Christmas a few years back I decided to really open my heart and let in the goodness these people were offering. My life has never been the same. It makes me cry thinking about it. I wanted to find a recipe that would fit in with my past and present. The dough of this cookie is not really all that sweet and the cranberries are very sour; this represents everything in my life that was bad and hard to take, the white chocolate is a sweet and delicate reminder that my life is full of wonderful sweet things which, when added to the mix, take away almost all the sour things that have happened. This recipe (although the back story was never shared with my new family) became a huge hit at Christmas and anytime I can get my hands on fresh cranberries. When I make these cookies with my children's help, it is a reminder of just how far my life has come. My support of Barack Obama is part of my healing. The hope I see and feel when I hear him speak is just another reminder that all hope is not lost. He lived a jumbled up life too, finding himself in the end. Sen. Obama has moved on and made a place for all of us at the table of life. Take the sour and sweet put them together and you have a wonderful treat.
2 cups (4 sticks) butter, softened
1 cup sugar
4 cups flour
1 pkg. (6 squares) BAKER'S Premium White Baking Chocolate, chopped
1-1/2 cups fresh cranberries chopped
PREHEAT oven to 350°F.
Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer until light and fluffy.
Add flour; mix well.
Stir in chocolate and cranberries.
Drop rounded tablespoons of dough, 2 inches apart, onto baking sheets.
Flatten balls slightly.
BAKE 10 to 14 min. or until lightly browned. Cool 5 min. on baking sheets.
Remove to wire racks; cool completely. Store in airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week.
WORLDS BEST OATMEAL COOKIES
Submitted by Amity H from Bethesda, Maryland
This is the most popular cookie I have ever made. There is something about a cookie. My husband just melts when he sees I have made these.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
2 1/2 sticks (1 1/4 cups) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 cup broken walnuts
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 3/4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1 1/4 cups sweetened flaked coconut
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 375°F.
In a small bowl sift together flour, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg.
In a large bowl with an electric mixer beat together butter and sugars until light and fluffy.
Beat in egg and vanilla and stir in flour mixture, oats, nuts, and coconut until combined well.
Arrange rounded tablespoons of dough about 3 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets and with moistened fingers flatten mounds into 3-inch rounds.
Bake cookies in batches in middle of oven until golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Cool cookies on sheets 1 minute and transfer with a metal spatula to racks to cool completely. Cookies keep in an airtight container at room temperature 5 days.
DEMOCRATIC DEBATE CHOCOLATE & PEANUT BUTTER CHIP COOKIES
Submitted by Annie W from Connecticut
"This is a race about issues NOT an issue about race"
This is a recipe that I make every time there is a debate, which has been quite often as of late!!! They are so good and my daughter loves them and it seems easier to say "oh, there's a debate on tonight", nonchalantly, especially when lately, I have been accused of being obsessed with Obama.
Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
2 cups Reese's Peanut Butter chips
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375° F.
Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in small bowl.
eat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy.
Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Gradually beat in flour mixture.
Stir in morsels and peanut butter chips.
Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.
Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown.
Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.
We like to slightly under cook them so they are really moist and chewy.
Yields -60 (I suggest doubling the recipe, because everyone will be grateful and give you a break for being slightly distracted with Obama, the polls, the blog, the postcards, the phone banking, the speeches, the rallies, the news, etc...)
FOR HIGH ALTITUDE BAKING (>5,200 feet): Increase flour to 2 1/2 cups. Add 2 teaspoons water with flour and reduce both granulated sugar and brown sugar to 2/3 cup each. Bake drop cookies for 8 to 10 minutes and pan cookie for 17 to 19 minutes. Bake for 9-11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking racks.
MACADAMIA BUTTER COOKIES
Submitted by Mary L from Sequim, Washington
Although our family is from Washington State we have vacationed in Hawai'i each year since 1978. These sweet, tender cookies always remind us fondly of the joyful aloha spirit that we love about the islands. Since we started supporting Barack Obama in his campaign for the presidency, these cookies make us think of him and his connection to our favorite state of Hawai'i.
1 1/3 cup salted macadamia nuts
1 cup butter
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
Chop one cup of nuts; set aside.
With an electric mixer, beat the butter and one cup of sugar until fluffy.
Add egg and vanilla; beat until well combined.
In another bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and chopped nuts.
Add to the butter mixture, stir together, then beat to blend thoroughly.
Shape dough into two tsp-sized balls.
Place balls one inch apart on an ungreased 12x15 baking sheet.
With a flat bottomed glass greased and dipped in the remaining sugar, press balls
1/4 inch thick.
Press a whole macadamia nut into the center of each cookie.
Bake in a 350 degree oven until cookies are golden brown, about 12 minutes.
Transfer to racks to cool. Serve or store in an airtight container up to four days. Makes four dozen.
THE NEW MEXICO STATE COOKIE -- BIZCOCHITO
Submitted by Carolee F from Santa Fe, New Mexico
The Bizcochito is so special to New Mexicans that in 1989 the New Mexico State Legislature declared it the state cookie. We were the first state to adopt a state cookie!
Anyone who has visited New Mexico during the winter holidays has surely had the opportunity to taste the Bizcochito. It is a delicate shortbread like cookie that is served in households around the holiday season.
Ingredients:
3 cups sifted flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup lard (1/2 pound) *See note below.
¾ cup sugar
3 teaspoons anise seed
1 egg
¼ cup brandy or white wine or sherry
¼ cup sugar
Cinnamon and sugar mix to your taste, measuring about ¼ cup total.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 C).
Sift flour, baking powder and salt together; set aside.
Cream lard, sugar and anise seeds in a large bowl.
Beat egg until fluffy; add to creamed mixture.
Add flour mixture and brandy alternatively to creamed mixture.
Mix/knead together until well blended and stiff dough is formed.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough with rolling pin ¼ to 1/2 inch thick and cut with cookie cutter. New Mexicans traditionally use a fleur-de-lis shape. Once cookies are cut, sprinkle them with the cinnamon and sugar mixture. Place cookies on baking sheets and bake in preheated oven for about 10 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned. This recipe makes about 3 to 4 dozen. The cookies freeze well after baking.
* The lard can be substituted with butter, oil or shortening but most New Mexicans prefer to use lard as it gives the cookies a flakiness and flavor that the substitutes cannot.
LOW FAT OATMEAL COOKIES
Submitted by Lavinia B from Newark, New Jersey
I am a 44 year old single parent of a college student. My daughter and I are Obama supporters because he is the candidate that we believe is best to get our country back on track to being a positive force in the world. He is the candidate that is striving most to change politics in America.
Dry Ingredients:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
3 cups uncooked oatmeal
Other Ingredients:
1 stick of butter or margarine (1/2 cup)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 baked sweet potato (peeled)
1/2 cup apple sauce
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
Combine dry ingredients then set aside.
Beat together all other ingredients in a separate bowl until creamy.
Mix in dry ingredients. Add nuts and/or raisins if desired.
Shape into cookie sized discs and place on nonstick cookie sheet.
Bake in 375 degree preheated oven for 8-10 minutes until slightly brown.
Makes 2-3 dozen. Enjoy!
RHODE ISLAND SUGAR COOKIES
Submitted by Helen D from Rhode Island
This recipe is in memory of Stephanie...
I made these cookies for Valentines day and I have received many compliments and asked when was the next time I was making them:-)
INGREDIENTS
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 cup butter, softened
1 large egg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F or 190 degrees C
Mix together in a small bowl:
Flour
Baking soda
Baking powder
Cream together in a large bowl until smooth:
Butter
Sugar
Once the sugar and butter are creamed; beat in egg and vanilla into creamed ingredients. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients.
Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls or use cookie cutters of your choice, and place onto un-greased cookie sheets.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden.
Before placing cookies on the cookie rack, sprinkle sugar on top of cookies and then let stand on cookie sheet two minutes before removing to cool on wire racks.
Yield depends on whether you use cookie cutters or roll them into balls.
THE BEST PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES ON THE PLANET
Submitted by Michele L from Rockford, Michigan
My mother, Merrie D, of Grand Rapids, Michigan is a wonderful baker and cook. She raised me to be an engaged citizen and have a passion for politics! She has worked diligently for social justice and as a genealogist has a respect for our country's history, so of course, she supports Obama! Here is her original recipe for the best peanut butter cookies on the planet!:
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup white sugar
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup brown sugar (firmly packed)
2/3 cup shortening
2 large eggs
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Cream together sugars and butter in large bowl. Add shortening. Mix well, then add eggs. Mix well, then add flour mixture. Plop on ungreased cookie sheet by the tablespoon. Mash down slightly in a crisscross fashion with the back of a dinner fork (dip in flour so it doesn't stick). Bake 12-15 minutes. Makes about 2 1/2 dozen.
NANA'S PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES
Submitted by Kim L from the kitchen of her grandmother, Hazel Ruth G. Kim is writing from Pasadena, California but the recipes originate from a little tiny town on the plains called Oketo, Kansas.
This is my nana's recipe for Peanut butter cookies. These are great. We used to leave them for Santa (with milk of course) on Christman eve.
2 cups raw sugar
1 cup shortening (I know! Not very healthy anymore!)
1 cup peanut butter (try to get as close the real thing-- like Laura Scudder's my nana made her own)
2 well beaten eggs
2 teaspons baking soda dissolved in warm water
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon of vanilla
touch of cinammon
(Mix together)
Cook for 10 minutes at 375 degrees.