Chocolate Crinkles for the Grieving

Have you ever found yourself at a loss?  Not believing the news you have just heard or what to do next for that matter.  I received a call the other evening informing me that my Husbands' Uncle was killed in a work accident.

I guess one can never really prepare themselves for those types of phone calls.  Not only was he a valued member of the family, but he was on my Christmas Cookie distribution list.  I looked forward to bringing him those cookies every year and he looked forward to devouring them.  I've never lost anyone from the list; I kept replaying that in my head for some reason.

The unfortunate part of being in a large family is that there are as many funerals as there are weddings.  Saying good-bye though never gets easier.

I wasn't sure if there was much of anything I could do to provide a little comfort to my Mother-in-law, so I made her some of her favorite cookies Chocolate Crinkles. I hope they will help her with her grieving even if it's the tiniest bit.  

Chocolate Crinkles

1/2 cup + 4 tbsp. vegetable oil

12 tbsp. cocoa powder

2 cups granulated sugar

4 large eggs

2 cups flour

1/2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. vanilla

2 tsp. baking powder

1 cup powdered sugar

Mix the oil, cocoa and granulated sugar.  Mix in one egg at a time until well combined.  Add vanilla. Sift the flour.  Add flour, baking powder and salt into mixture, mix until well combined.  Chill the dough at least 3-4 hours.  Oil your hands and take rounded teaspoons full of dough and roll into a ball, and then roll the balls in powdered sugar.  Place balls onto a parchment lined baking sheet, 2 inches apart.

Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 10 minutes.

Makes 36 cookies.

Tip:  If you want the cookies to remain chewier, pull them out right at 10 minutes, if you would like them a little crisper, give them another 2 minutes or so.

I'm always unsure as to what would be an appropriate dish to bring in a situation such as this, what would you think is a good dish to bring?

Gina