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.
Gina
