“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;” (Ecclesiastes: 3)
Looks like it’s blogging season again! Its time for me to start bombarding your inbox again, with updates from Mariasmenu :) Before that …
“I can no other answer make, but, thanks, and thanks” – William Shakespeare
I’m at loss of words to thank you, so I decided to borrow some words from wiser people. In my previous post I told you I was double minded about sharing what had happened. I’m glad that I shared it with you. Your support & prayers & blessings indeed helped & strengthened us. You were kind enough to share your experience with us too. We felt truly blessed to receive so much prayers, love & care from you. Once again thanks a billion for your support & prayers.
With new hopes and new dreams for this year, let me share the first food post of 2011 with you. I wanted to start with something sweet and this cookie recipe has been in draft for long time. Since its chocolate it can be included in the “V” day celebration also. I Know its a bit late, but never mind ;) That reminds me… I didnt ask you… what are your plans for the V day? Do you you usually celebrate or do you think its over rated?
I know what you are wondering… whether me and Jose celebrate it or not. We are neither here nor there. We don't celebrate it nor denounce it. It’s like a spur of the moment thing. Anyways this year with both of us in different places, (Jose is in Bahrain & I’m in Cochin) there's no celebration as such. That doesn’t stop me from wishing you a Very Happy Valentines Day. Have fun!
So here comes our recipe. It’s a cookie version of brownie. Though its a pretty simple & easy one, the addition of 3 different types of chocolate makes it special too :). Now you feel like having a bite into that chocolatey goodness with a glass of chilled milk, dont you ;)
Here you go:
Ingredients
- 250 gms Butter (softened)
- 1 tsp Vanilla essence
- 3/4 cup Caster sugar (165gm)
- 3/4 cup Firmly packed brown sugar (165 gm)
- 1 Egg (@ room temp)
- 2 cups Plain Flour
- 1/4 cup Cocoa powder (25gm)
- 1 tsp Bicarbonate of soda
- 1/3 cup Finely chopped roasted hazelnuts (45gm)
- 2/3 cup Coarsely chopped dark eating chocolate (120 gm)
- 2/3 cup Coarsely chopped milk eating chocolate (120 gm)
- 2/3 cup Coarsely chopped white eating chocolate (120gm)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180 C/ 160 C fan-forced. Grease oven trays & line with baking paper. Beat butter, extract, sugars & egg in a small bowl with electric mixer until light & fluffy; transfer to large bowl. Stir in sifted flour, cocoa & soda in two batches. Stir in nuts & chocolate. Roll level tablespoons of dough into balls; place about 5 cm apart on oven trays. Bake about 12 mins. Cool on trays.
- Makes about 48
Notes
Substitution for Caster sugar:
to get 1 cup caster sugar. process 1 cup granulated sugar (usual sugar) in a food processor/mixer until fine, but don’t powder it like icing sugar. (source: http://www.joyofbaking.com/IngredientSubstitution.html)
Recipe source:
Australian Women's Weekly Cookies & Biscuits
Hi Maria,
i m big fan of your recipies……now i had a question…..
what s actually brown sugar. sharkkara anno????
Hi Vidya,
Thanks dear :) brown sugar is not sharkkara,it’s available in baking stores and supermarkets. It’s kinda unrefined sugar.
Cheers
Maria
Hi Maria,
I tried these yesterday and they came out excellent. Thanks for the recipe.
You are welcome Preeti! Happy that it came out well for you :) Thanks for the comment!
Cheers
Maria
Hi Maria,
I am planning on trying this out; I had a question on this recipe; when you said that you made only half the quantity, did you reduce the quantity of every ingredient by half?
Hi Preeti,
Yep, I halved each ingredient except for egg. I used 1 egg for half the qty also.
Hope you get to try them soon & like it too.
Happy baking!
Cheers
Maria
Hello,
We bumped into your blog and we really liked it – great recipes YUM YUM.
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enjoy your recipes.
Petitchef is a french based Cooking recipes Portal. Several hundred Blogs are already members
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To add your site to the Petitchef family you can use http://en.petitchef.com/?obj=front&action=site_ajout_form or just go to Petitchef.com and click on “Add your site”
Best regards,
Vincent
petitchef.com
Hey Maria,
Just have a quick query.
To make half the batch do I have to split the egg or can I use 1 whole egg.
Hi Sarah,
You can use 1 whole egg for half the qty also. Hope you will like the cookies.
Happy baking :)
Cheers
Maria
Maria..this looks super crunchy.. pic adipoli aayittundu :)
Thanks Lena dear :)
Hi Maria, although I bumped across your site just today, I feel like I know you and Jose already :) I wonder how come I missed your site all this while! Your photographs all look straight out of a cookbook-maybe you could start a section on your photography tips and tricks for us new bloggers! I also like the way you share a lil bit of your life too with each recipe-and congrats on your new cookbook, your interview in the paper… Really amazed at all the buzz you’ve got, and reading the comments made me want to try out all the recipes! I love baking but havent been doing much lately, so was thrilled to see so many baking recipes. I will be subscribing to your blog for sure! All the best! Also, I read your previous post and was really sad. I hope you are feeling better now, and Jose too. This is something I too had undergone, but trust in God, and it’ll be alright! Take care and keep blogging :)
Hi Maria, although I bumped across your site just today, I feel like I know you and Jose alreay :) I wonder how come I missed your site all this while! Your photographs all look straight out of a cookbook-maybe you could start a section on your photography tips and tricks for us new bloggers! I also like the way you share a lil bit of your life too with each recipe-and congrats on your new cookbook, your interview in the paper… Really amazed at all the buzz you’ve got, and reading the comments made me want to try out all the recipes! I love baking but havent been doing much lately, so was thrilled to see so many baking recipes. I will be subscribing to your blog for sure! All the best! Also, I read your previous post and was really sad. I hope you are feeling better now, and Jose too. This is something I too had undergone, but trust in God, and it’ll be alright! Take care and keep blogging :)
Hi Karishma,
Thanks for bumping into this space & for the encouraging words dear :)
About the photography part, I guess all the credit goes to my camera, because I just use it as such. I’m very weak in handling gadgets & so I’m not familiar about all its technical aspects ;) I take photos in direct sunlight, I guess that helps.
I’m sorry to hear that you also had a similar experience, hope you recovered well.
Btw, I’m so sorry for the delayed reply :(
All the best for your blog!
Cheers
Maria
First time here very nice blog. Loved u r recipes u r really talented. And by seeing u r clicks i simple want to grab them and have them now. Hats off.
Hi Harika,
Thank you so much for your kind words :)
Cheers
Maria
delicious looking cookies lovely chocolate in it
Thanks Torview :)
lovely yummilicious nice clicks maria.
ebven am also from Kochi .
had i been in kochi now would ve definitely come your home and grabbed it. am so so fond of these cookies. loved and used to eat these when i was studying in Chennai. I used to buy it from cookie man shop at spencer plaza.
oh u reminded me of those lovely days.
But I dont have an oven neither have I baked anything. Please suggest me a good Indian made Oven with specifications .many thanks
Hi Sumsur,
Thanks a lot :)
Its nice to know that this cookie post brought you good old memories :)
About the oven brands in India, I’m sorry dear. I’m not familiar with the brands. However one of my aunties use IFB microwave oven with convection mode & she is happy with its baking results.
I’ve posted a steamed honey sponge cake recipe, may be you can try that.
Btw, I’m so sorry for the delayed reply.
Cheers
Maria
Hi Maria,
Thank you so much for sending me the new receipe.
This is the first time I am writing a comment. I started cooking with your receipe for the past 4 to 5 months. It is really tasty. My husband loved all the dishes i made according to your receipe. You are such a wonderful person.
After reading your mail, you believe it or not everyday you are there in my prayers.
Keep up the good work., Looking for tasty pork receipes.
God Bless you and Jose
Shaila
Hi Shaila,
Thanks a ton for your lovely comment. First of all, I’m really sorry for replying late to you. I was under the impression that I’ve replied to comments on this post & today only I realised it wasnt the case :(
Its really great to know that the recipes you tried from here worked well for you & thanks again for letting us know about it. Also a big THANK YOU for your prayers.
I havent tried cooking pork yet, because I dont eat it.
Hope to see you here often.
Best wishes!
Cheers
Maria
Good to see you back Maria :)…Nice recipe and lovely clicks too :)
Wow..You are back…YAY!!! Hope your health is fine…
As usual nice recipe and great clicks…
Take care dear,
Kavita
Hi Kavita,
Yep, I’m back & I’m doing good dear. How are you? Hope things are great at your end.
Sorry for the delayed reply dear, I missed out comments on this post :(
Cheers
Maria
Hi Maria,
Good to see you back in full form. Will try this recipe definitely and let u know.
Hi Sara,
Thank you :)
Did you get a chance to try this recipe? hope it came out well for you.
Cheers
Maria
Great to see you back, Maria :) These cookies look absolutely yummy..Lovely clicks!
Hey maria… So nice to have you back with your recipes…………..just happy to see you back your normal self :-)
Happy to see the new recipe….i was lurking around waiting and hoping to see you back in full form…thanks for all the work that you put in.
Hi Deepa,
Thank you so much for your support :) Hope you’ll try this recipe & like it too.
Sorry for the delayed reply :(
Cheers
Maria
Hi Maria,
I have been following your blog since last 4 months…
wish you and jose a very happy valentines day and a wonderful year ahead.
This recipe looks good and simple too. I haven’t tried baking till now..so a lil hesitation..
Regards,
Gayathri
Hi Gayathri,
Thanks a ton for visiting us & for your wishes :)
Hope you’ll start baking soon. I’m sure you’ll like it.
All the best & happy baking :)
Btw, sorry for the delayed reply. I missed out on comments for this post somehow :(
Cheers
Maria
So Good to see you back in action … Hope you are doing great health-wise.
Thanks Marischa, I’m doing good :)
Cheers
Maria
Maria,
A very Happy Valentine’s Day to you too!!! I haven’t tried out your recipe as yet, but will do so shortly and post the feedback here. But this is just to say that I’m so very glad that you’re bouncing back into the groove of life and living each moment to the fullest.
Keep smiling, dearie and all will be well. God’s in control and He shall bless you and Jose. Will keep coming back to post feedback on your recipes and to keep cheering for you on the way!!
God bless,
Suni
HI Maria…
Choco fudge brownies looks adipoli, tto, i really reaaly loved its texture, generally am not a big cookie fan, but this looks great as great..