Cranberry-Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies are a classic and the recipe is always the same: flour, soda, salt, butter, sugar, brown sugar, egg and vanilla. And, of course, chocolate chips.





While most chocolate chip cookies include equal amounts of white and brown sugar, my Cranberry-Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies are based on a recipe in Woman’s World (10/17/11) which uses more brown than white.

Plus, I like to add ingredients to cookies, so this time I chopped up some raw cranberries (I always keep a bag or two in the freezer) to add along with chopped walnuts.




Woman’s World directions say to sift the dry ingredients. As an alternative to sifters these days, many kitchens include whisks. Go for it, whisk the dry ingredients!




CRANBERRY-WALNUT CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Ingredients...

1-1/3 all-purpose white flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon coarse or kosher salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/3 cup white, granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup (6 ounces) bittersweet chocolate chips or chunks (substitute semi-sweet, if preferred)
1/2 c. raw cranberries, chopped
1/4 cup chopped walnuts (or other nut, if preferred)


Directions...

1. Preheat oven to 350-degrees Fahrenheit. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Sift or whisk together flour, baking soda and salt.
3. In another bowl, beat (medium speed) butter and both sugars until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes)
4. Beat egg and vanilla into sugar mixture.
5. Add flour mixture to sugar mixture. Beat on low just until blended.
6. Stir in chips, cranberries and nuts.
7. Drop tablespoon-size balls of dough 2-inches apart on baking sheets.
8. Bake 5 minutes then rotate pans.
9. Bake 8-10 minutes until edges are lightly golden.
10. Cool on pans on racks for 2 minutes.
11. Transfer to racks; cool completely

I realize these photos are a little dark, but here they are, the finished product-- Cranberry-Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies. Every bite is a treat!







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Now... you remember my last post where you got a glimpse of my kitchen cupboards?

Last night, when I was finishing up washing dishes and straightening up the kitchen, I decided to take photos of my kitchen, particularly the counters so you can see how organized I am (not).

The thing is, it’s the way it works best for me in that itty-bitty kitchen.

I am the only dishwasher. The plastic bag is washed and drying, held to a cupboard door handle by clothespin. I pin up my rubber dishwashing gloves the same way to air dry them. That’s a plant-growing light on the back wall. I put it there so I can better see the dishes I am washing.




To the left of the stove is a catch-all corner. An electric kettle to heat water for my tea. A used tea tin to store homemade hot chocolate mix (with marshmallows!).




On the opposite side there is a see-through to my diningroom. A microwave with what used to be a mess on top now safely stored in a green basket. See the clothespin on the Kitchen Aid cover? That holds cooking notes or recipes when I need them. Beside it is a whiteboard with more cooking/cleaning notes. A glass of parsley from my garden. My exercise sheets and meds are on the counter as are my datebook and notes about what I’m to do the each day.








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LIKE Step by Step in the Kitchen on Facebook. I'll be posting extra notes and photos there.