>Meet Cedric

>

I was awoken this morning by the sound of a running shower, and was very confused; either I had slept in late or Thom was up very early.  Turns out it was both – I’m usually up around 7 and he sleeps well past 10.  It’s summer, so I can’t really blame him.

As a consolation for beating me out of bed, I decided to let Thom choose which type of cookies I would bake today.  Not to mention, it’s not fair for the person who never eats them to always decide, you know?  I told him any cookie on the planet, and to my surprise he chose ‘Pecan Sandies’.  I’ve never made aforementioned cookie, but have always been interested because of the use of confectioners sugar in the actual batter.  Making this cookie opened my eyes to a plethora of things I can now do with my baking.  SO.MANY.THINGS.

Pecan shortbread

1/2 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. oil
1/4 c. sugar
1/4 c. light brown sugar
1/2 c. sifted confectioners sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cream of tarter
2 c. + 2 TBS unbleached flour
1 c. chopped pecans
2 TBS sugar for coating (optional)

Mixing bowl:
– Beat butter and oil until creamy with whisk or electric mixer
– Add sugars, whisk
– Add egg and vanilla, whisk
– Add salt, baking soda and cream of tarter, mix with spatula
– Add the flour, mix with bamboo spatula
– Add pecans
– Roll dough into small balls, sprinkle sugar over top and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper (I’m not a fan of rolling cookies in sugar; I prefer to control the amount of sugar through ‘sprinkling’)

Bake at 375 for 10-11 minutes, recipe yields 2 dozen

Prior to having a KitchenAid stand mixer, I mixed everything by hand with a rubber spatula, and as a result, wound up breaking many of them due to the fact that they are not tough enough to withstand the thickness of the dough.  That’s why I advised you to work with a bamboo spatula (or wooden spoon).  Invest in one of the two and you’ll be golden.

Thom has been gone since late-morning and has no idea there is an entire jar of cookies awaiting his arrival.  By the way, this is Cedric (pronounced ‘said-rick’), our little gnome friend. Cedric has been guarding the cookies with his life since they came out of the oven.  Don’t worry, pal, I’m not going to eat one.