to the dogs
What new views through the lens? I went leaf hunting today and found…
tall trees
leftover snow on the mountains
the big kahuna
The rest of the sampler from today’s jaunt is on the photo blog.
Right, so the title of today’s post should read “to the dogs(’ sitters)”. Miss Kaweah is going to vacay at Camp Crazy this weekend. We decided that my working road trips are much happier and more sane for all involved if Kaweah goes to camp rather than sit in the back of the Subaru whining her brains out for hours on end. Every time I take Kaweah to Camp Crazy, I pay the bill and when I sign the receipt, I notice a line for tip. Do you tip your kennel? Considering what we pay for Camp Crazy (it’s *expensive*) I have a hard time squeezing more money out of my wallet. [Edit: I found this wallet years ago in some random department store. It was exactly what I wanted. I bought it. Since then I have had a number of girlfriends inform me - between giggles and guffaws - that I have a man’s wallet. What, I asked, is a woman’s wallet supposed to look like? Apparently, not like mine. Whatevs.]
espresso to batter
mini chocolate chips
Of course, I don’t want any hard feelings to be taken out on my girl. I doubt they would anyway because they love her there and she walks into the place with a “hey yo, my peeps…” Still, I figured bribery in the form of some caffeinated cookies is a sure fire plan if her sweet disposition doesn’t win them over.
everyone likes some dough
roll it out
I have made one hundred million billion of these cookies to date. Yes, check that quantity. It is totally accurate. I browse a lot of food blogs for inspiration, for ideas, but there are very few that provide recipes I want to try outright. One of those blogs is Smitten Kitchen. Yeah, I know - Deb inspires you too, eh? Fo shiz. I used to make several batches of cookies a week when I lived at sea-level. My co-workers and colleagues loved me… or maybe they just loved my cookies?! The GDC (Gross Domestic Cookies) level plummeted when I moved to our nose-bleed elevation because I wasn’t dealing well with the high-altitude baking scene. I’ve been slowly coming back to cookies because they make the best gifts to ship or hand over to a deserving individual. More than anything, I have discovered that shortbreads are pretty stable up here. Very nice.
measure the slices
slap it on a baking sheet and go
I made a double batch of these today. I make a double batch *every* time (that is how we got to the one hundred million billion) because people LOVE this cookie. Jeremy loves it. My neighbors love it. Astronomy graduate students love it. My buds around the country love it. MIL loves it. Our local ornery postal staff - they love it. Subaru service team. Love it. Surgeon, nurses, radiation techs, dude who draws my blood, oncologist… Love it. [My oncologist asked for the recipe!] Camp Crazy: they will love it. Oh yes, they will. And so will you. Go thank Deb. Everyone in Colorado and then some will be thanking her by year’s end.
this cookie will solve our energy crisis
Espresso Chocolate Chip Shortbread
from Smitten Kitchen
*Note: I didn’t follow all of the instructions in Deb’s version because I am a lazy bum.
1 tbsp instant espresso powder (I like Medaglia D’Oro)
1 tbsp boiling water
8 oz. unsalted butter, room temperature
2/3 cup confectioners’ sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
4 oz. bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped OR 3/4 cup store-bought mini chocolate chips
confectioners’ sugar, for dusting (optional)
Dissolve espresso powder in boiling water. Set aside to cool to tepid. Beat butter and confectioners’ sugar together on medium speed for about 3 minutes, until the mixture is very smooth. Beat in vanilla and espresso, then reduce mixer speed to low and add flour, mixing only until it disappears into the dough. Don’t work the dough much once the flour is incorporated. Fold in the chopped chocolate or chips with a sturdy rubber spatula. Using the spatula, transfer dough to a gallon-size zip-loc bag. Put bag on a flat surface, leaving the top open, and roll the dough into a 9 x 10 1/2 inch rectangle that’s 1/4 inch thick. As you roll, turn the bag occasionally and lift the plastic from the dough so it doesn’t cause creases. When you get the right size and thickness, seal the bag, pressing out as much air as possible, and refrigerate the dough for at least 2 hours, or for up to 2 days. Preheat the oven to 325°F. Put the plastic bag on a cutting board and slit it open. Turn the firm dough out onto the board (discard the bag) and, using a ruler as a guide and a sharp knife, cut the dough into 1 1/2-inch squares. Transfer the squares to the baking sheets and carefully prick each one twice with a fork, gently pushing the tines through the cookies until they hit the sheet (okay, I didn’t poke the cookies and they’re fine). Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, rotating the sheets from top to bottom and front to back at the midway point (I didn’t do that either - I bake one sheet at a time). The shortbreads will be very pale–they shouldn’t take on much color. Transfer the cookies to a rack. If you’d like, dust the cookies with confectioners’ sugar while they are still hot. Cool the cookies to room temperature before serving. Makes about 3 dozen.
September 25th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
Those cookies look amazing….Sigh….I’m on a diet. I will have to make do with licking the screen.
As for the tip, I’m surprised they do that. I take my dogs to a posh doggie spa that is uber expensive in Nashville, complete with an a la carte menu where you can get nightly tuck in treats and special nature walks. They don’t have a line for that on the credit card receipt. I would find that sort of weird - I mean, what do you tip on a $100/night kennel? 20%? Eek!
September 25th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
Wow, those landscape pictues are stunning! I love the color of the trees…
Those cookies are great! Really perfect looking!
Cheers,
Rosa
September 25th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
I’m not sure I’m the best person to answer this, but a woman’s wallet doesn’t fold bills in half, and usually has a snap. And pictures of all her friends and family up to her relatives’ friends. (Er… I’m plagiarizing from Seinfeld on that last one.) A man’s wallet is more compact, and therefore folds bills in half, because it goes in the back pocket, not a purse. And is usually black or brown. :)
Okay, how can anyone not love the shortbread? It’s studded with chocolate chips all over! I’m sure they will have forgotten about the tip AND the bill after having a few of these ! ;)
September 26th, 2008 at 12:56 am
I can’t believe my eyes : rolling the dough in a plastic bag … What a fantastic idea !!!!! I used to roll it between 2 sheets of parchment paper but this is THE good way to get a square dough ! Fnatsatic ! Thank you Jen :)
September 26th, 2008 at 1:32 am
Those are just great! I think I could actually eat just the dough raw!
September 26th, 2008 at 1:49 am
Yikes, this is a sign. I have been promising (and not delivering) choc. chip cookies to my boys for about a week. Now I have to do it AND use this recipe!
September 26th, 2008 at 2:38 am
Oh man, that ruler by the dough is giving me flashbacks to when I had to score fudge in a candy store so that it could be cut into quarter-pound slices on demand. I enjoyed it.
September 26th, 2008 at 6:16 am
These do look deliciously buttery and will definitely solve our energy crise.
September 26th, 2008 at 6:30 am
These look so good! I love Deb’s recipes as well. Your cookies look just perfect!
September 26th, 2008 at 7:06 am
Your shortbread looks delicious! I really love those tree pictures too!
September 26th, 2008 at 7:55 am
I think I woman’s wallet has more space for credit cards ;)
Great idea to roll the dough inside a huge ziplock bag. The peeps in my post office are gonna luv this!
September 26th, 2008 at 8:18 am
Coffee, chocolate, is there more to Life? Oh yes! A doggie: :)
Thanks for this recipe, Jen. This comes just in time for the teenager that will walk through the door this afternoon on a short respite from college. Chippers are her favorite sort. I did notice that you have put the dough into a bag to roll it. Pray, tell, is this a special bag or just a large zip-type? I must try this trick. Generally, I chill my dough and use a large scoop to round them. (I have a thing for ‘uniformity’).
Got to go…must get to the photo blog. Oh, before I do though, I am in agreement: I DON’T appreciate folks tacking on a tip for a service that has already hijacked my wallet. I tend to do as you have done: Bake a treat and share. After all, sharing the ‘wealth’ is an existential element that obviously transcends the dated,’cash expected’, approach. Anyone can give money, but what about giving time, effort and art? And then, the satiated experience? Who is the real benefactor? Not withstanding, JUST LOOK AT THAT DOG! I rest my case. ;)
Go easy on yourself about leaving Missy K. I leave Missy H. when we travel to LV. Daughters condo is itsy-bitsy and my granddaughter, Miss ‘Fluffy-butt’, can’t be bothered with the chase. ;)
Chow down on a few of them thar cookies for me, will ya? I’m gonna have mine ready by 4:00.
September 26th, 2008 at 8:20 am
What is it about Deb that makes me want to make everything she blogs about? I’d forgotten about these cookies, but they look great.
September 26th, 2008 at 8:25 am
FAUX PAS!!! Mi amiga! Had I simply read further, into the instructions, I would KNOW what type of bag. DOH!!!! DUH!!!
…never mind…..
:)
September 26th, 2008 at 8:29 am
jen - these look fantastic. are you sure they’ll def. travel well. as in maybe internationally? i have a troop in Iraq i’d like to send cookies to but apparently there are quite severe weather issues (hot, cold, desert dry etc) so i want to make sure the cookies remain intact and taste fabu. thanks for sharing this, i’ve been on the hunt for the ultimate cookie recipe.
also, a few of my friends who take their dogs to the kennel leave tip. but then again, they don’t bake awesome cookies so i think it all evens out.
September 26th, 2008 at 8:53 am
love love love! And as you already know, I adore Deb too. Deb filtered through you is pretty much my nirvana in a recipe these days. :) These will be made this weekend I predict.
I do not tip our doggy daycare… I do however provide a crock pot of soup or pumpkin chocolate chip cookies from time to time. I think it’s a fair trade, and frankly, the staff seems to remember me a lot more for it! K loves going to daycare, if it’s for a day or a week. He starts to cry when we turn down the street, just in case I forgot that THIS is the street where we go and get to play with OTHER DOGS! LOTS of other dogs! PLEASE mom?!?
And I carry a “man’s wallet” too, in my designer handbag, so people can suck on that! lol
September 26th, 2008 at 9:07 am
Mmm, I want to be your neighbor Jen! And I love all the insights you’re giving about high-altitude baking.
I think baked goods are a totally acceptable as a tip- even better, really, because cookies inspire the warm fuzzies (like you’ve noticed). I do it all the time! However, have you noticed (I’m sure you have with your million billion baked) that after a while people almost begin to *expect* cookies flowing from your kitchen regularly? Maybe we can revive the cookie barter system:)
September 26th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Oh my gosh…these are the best looking cookies I’ve seen in a long time! They’re gorgeous!!!
September 26th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Wow…so I totally made a chocolate chip cookie recipe from Smitten Kitchen too and mine did NOT turn out as good. Here are mine. Nice job, those do look money!
September 26th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
If a woman’s wallet doesn’t fold bills in half I must have a man’s Hello Kitty wallet - HM.
Perhaps those cookies will be gracing my oven this evening, if I can finish my batch of pickled beets in time.
September 26th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
These are wunderfulllllllllllllllll! I have a mouth fullllllllllllllllllllllll of ‘em right now. Wunderfulllllllllllllllllllll!
I didn’t have a zipper bag, so made do with the Le C. dish. YUMMY. I tell ‘ya, these are sinful, proceed with caution. SK is on to a winner, furr shure. I had to bake mine a bit longer than the recipe said, but only cuz I was making do with the utensil at hand.
(burp…’cuse me).
;)
September 26th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Oh, hooray! I’m so flattered that you and the state of Colorado are enjoying them!
Have you tried them yet with the toffee-chocolate variation I suggested? Ungh, chocolate-espresso-toffee… It is (almost) more awesome than I can bear.
September 26th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
I love your 1st two shots–the colors are so vibrant. Amazing pictures!
September 26th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
I could look at your pics all day. If you saw my eyes while I was looking at them you would swear I was swooning. You have a great eye Jenyu! That shortbread, wow. Talk about combining the two best cookies in the world (well okay there is no molasses or ginger in there) but shortbread and chocolate chip collided to make a WOW cookie.
September 26th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Yum, yum, yum! That looks delicious!
Glad to know you can ommit certaint steps if you’re feeling lazy =)
And as usual, amazing pics =D
September 26th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Great recipe! At first, I thought they were cookie dough squares. Very reminiscent of my cookie dough balls :-)
September 26th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
oh man … chocolate and espresso … my husband’s gonna love me even more! i think i might even try it with the toffee. now if i can perfect this recipe by thanksgiving, i’ll be set for christmas =D
btw … i absolutely LOVE your nature photos. can they be purchased (if yes, please shoot me an email)? have a wonderful weekend
September 26th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
Amazing! Can’t wait to try them! :)
September 27th, 2008 at 8:35 am
Boy, those look good! And I’m a lazy bum, too, when it comes to following recipes! ;)
September 27th, 2008 at 10:08 am
I can goof a lot of those down! I’m drooling just by looking at those chocolate chips! Hope you’re doing fab! xxoo
September 27th, 2008 at 11:22 am
THese look amazing and perfect. I can’t wait to try them!
September 27th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Coffee Shortbread is for losers. That could imply milk and water.
Espresso Shortbread; that’s getting shit done!
I love the shape too. Squares are dynamic, and fit for purpose, right?
September 27th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
[…] Espresso Chocolate Chip Shortbread at Use Real […]
September 27th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
happy belated birthday. you live in the most beautiful place on earth! my tummy just rumbled looking at those cookies…
September 28th, 2008 at 1:18 am
Love the photos. Love Deb. Love your writing, continually.
And I totally have a man’s wallet. :P
September 29th, 2008 at 1:57 am
Wow you measured and everything. You’re so good. I just hack it off where ever I feel like it. :)
September 29th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
Btw, happy belated! My 7 yr old is a Virgo too - must be why I like you so much :) Aside from your talent, wit, artistic eye, salivating recipes…? So far, there’s no commonality, except maybe the fiestyness but I can only hope she’ll develop some of your great (Virgo-esque or not) traits.
I can’t wait to try the expresso chocolate chip recipe. I love chocolate and I love coffee so this is right up my alley.
Q for you, is this pretty sweet or just mildly sweet? Wondering if I should modify the amount of sugar to adjust the sweetness. For example, I think the Nestle Tollhouse and Mrs. Field’s are too sweet for me.
September 30th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
The cookies look delicious.
I’m curious about one thing though, I’ve recently started reading your blog and I’ve noticed you made a few references to high altitude baking. I was wondering- what is it that high altitude does to baking?
Thanks
October 1st, 2008 at 12:05 pm
GSG - I seem to encounter tip requests at just about every service these days… *sigh*
Rosa - thanks!
Mark - yeah, apparently that is the case. Mine is a man’s wallet, but I like the fact that it is compact! I think they liked the cookies… sometimes you just assume.
Marion - not my idea! It came from Deb (and I guess that idea came from Dorie!)
ClumbsyCookie - yeah, I know people who like to do that too :)
Joanne - good luck and I hope they aren’t bouncing off the walls from the espresso!
Knitopia - hee hee.
Veron - :)
Erin - thank you!
Chocolate Shavings - thanks.
Maya - ha ha, perhaps! Not my idea, but I love it too!
Margie - ooh, I don’t eat these cookies. They make me hyper and I’m not a huge fan of sweets myself (just like making them). Yes, the ziploc is a standard gallon bag. Consider the cost of leaving Kaweah at Camp Crazy, I feel as if she’s getting the royal treatment.
Bridget - they’re awesome. I think you’ll dig em.
Lan - I think they will travel well if you don’t allow for any jiggle room in the package. If they shake about they will crumble to bits (ask me how I know this - driving four wheel drive dirt roads with some cookies in the back…) Thanks for the feedback on tipping at the kennel!
Mollie - you’re a riot ;) Love K, he sounds so cute. Good thing he likes daycare. I know some pups who are frightened to death (obviously not labs…) At this point, it doesn’t matter that I carry a man’s wallet as my hair is so short I am constantly called “sir” in the fricking market.
Anita - Oh, to have you as my neighbor would be delightful. We’d just sit around talking baking all the time! And I agree, it gets to be annoying when folks expect cookies regularly. Then I just want to smack some of the ingrates in the head ;)
Amy - you’re so sweet to say!
Hillary - oh, these aren’t chocolate chip cookies, they’re espresso chocolate chip shortbread. Very different. The shaping is everything in a shortbread. Not so for a drop cookie like choc. chip. Give these a try - they will turn out lovely, I promise!
Susy - woohoo! Let’s start a man’s wallet club! mmm, pickled beets!
Margie - glad you like em!
Deb - I and the state of Colorado (whether they know it or not) LOVE YOU :) I will be trying the toffee variation once I am done shooting fall colors, traveling around the west to visit people, and get my skis tuned! xxoo
Asianmommy - thanks!
Lori - you’re very kind to say. This cookie rocks. I hope you give them a try!
Isa - actually, I omitted those steps because I don’t read recipes thoroughly and still I managed not to screw these up :) good recipe!
Susieshomemade - oooh!!!
Mikah - you’ll get it down the first time, I swear! Yes, I’ll send you an email.
Ginny - yay!
Madam Chow - my kinda gal…
Mrs. E - thanks hon!!
Cate - they are really nice :)
Graeme - you are so ridiculous! Imagine how much you’d get done if you ate a handful of these?
Steph - you’re so sweet, thank you!
Melissa - That makes FOUR of us babes who carry man wallets. We’re on to something! :) thanks!
Peabody - with a hockey stick too, I bet!
Susan - ah ha ha, I’m a Libra, hon :) But Jeremy is a Virgo and he’s GREAT! I am all for little girls who are fiesty and grab life by the hojos! This cookie is not terribly sweet, which might be why I like it more than most cookies. You will probably like it if the others are too sweet for you. Give it a try :)
October 1st, 2008 at 9:09 pm
I made these today to bribe my Relay for Life subcommittee chairs so that they’ll be good and dedicated and responsible this year. I think it worked. :D
October 1st, 2008 at 9:54 pm
Hi Jen: I’ve been reading your blogs, baking the expresso choc. chip shortbreads (as well as sharing them w/neighbors and friends). I absolutely love how you capture nature through the lens. It’s beautiful!! When I’m feeling down, I log onto your site and stare at your photos. It makes me smile inside.
Thank you.
October 2nd, 2008 at 6:13 am
You are not a lazy bum - you measure the bars with a ruler, for crying out loud. ;)
These are amazing. And I don’t even like coffee. ;)
October 2nd, 2008 at 3:06 pm
[…] later. The reason I don’t feel like I had any right to mess with it is that I got it from Use Real Butter, who, in turn, got it from Smitten Kitchen, who got it from Dorie Greenspan. Is a nobody allowed to […]
October 2nd, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Ruthie - w00t!
Kathy - you’re so sweet. Thanks a lot and I’m really glad you enjoy the photos.
Patricia - *blush* I am a lazy bum, but the OCD in me wins most of the time ;)
October 6th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
I just tried these cookies today and they are amazing! I went on a hunch and made a double batch like you did and I don’t regret it! Except I didn’t measure mine properly so they ended up being not so square, but it didn’t matter it tasted amazing! Thanks!
October 8th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Debbe - terrific. These are a winner for sure. I love Deb for posting the recipe!
October 15th, 2008 at 9:36 am
Hi
Am a new fan of your blog, you’ve got great photography skills and even better when taking photos of food! Just wanted to know in reading some of your older posts I came across this recipe you put up and decided to try them (since they’re going to solve the energy crisis!) It’s a pity I can’t count or measure properly. If you feel like a little chuckle, pls have a look at my latest post about your shortbread recipe. Damn these metric conversions!
God bless and wish you a full recovery!
Christine (Perth, western australia)
October 16th, 2008 at 11:51 am
Christine - thanks and welcome to URB. Glad you enjoy it here and hopefully you’ll find some of the info useful!
November 9th, 2008 at 11:34 am
[…] YUM (again!) I have no photos to show you… so you’ll just take my word for it or come here for the recipe! *deep breath… inhale hair* Posted in Food Related RSS 2.0 | Trackback | […]