Forgotten Cookies 2-The Sequel

I admit I am somewhat competitive. But, I knew that Jim’s mom was always in my corner. So I played around with her Forgotten Cookies. I did it mostly because those little meringues are deceptively inexpensive to make but also because I was lazy the following year.

Around about the first of December, I finally got around to cleaning out the freezer from last Christmas! I threw out bags of ice crystals that had once been green beans and several UFOs (unidentified frozen objects). Then I found two hundred mini candy canes, left over from the church party! Nothing wrong with them but what was I going to do with them?

I sat there, talking to a friend on the phone, while I unwrapped every individually wrapped cane. Then I put them in a zippy type bag and attacked them with my rolling pin. When they didn’t crush by rolling, they gave way when I "Emerilized" them - BAM! Then I substituted them for the chocolate chips in those Forgotten Cookies. First batch looked anemic so I added the food coloring. Voila! I had a brand new confection with a double entendre name!

Forgotten Candy Cane Cookies

2 egg whites
Pinch of salt
2/3 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
2-3 drops red food color
1 c. crushed candy canes

Beat egg whites, to which salt has been added, until stiff. Fold in sugar and vanilla. Add food color until nice bright pink. Then crushed candy canes. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto aluminum foil covered cookie sheets. Or pipe from a plastic bag with one slit corner. Place in 350 degree preheated oven. Turn off heat at once and leave for 2 hours or even overnight.




Then I got an unexpected invitation. One of the sophisticated, somewhat Yuppie, and decidedly feminist, talk show hosts at the radio station, where Jim was the Associate News Director and I was a part time producer/receptionist, invited me to a Cookie and Wine swap! All I had to do was bring 12 dozen of my “most decadent cookies” and a bottle of wine to a “Girls Night Out”.

Hmmm… I didn’t know, at that time, which was better, jug wine or Mogan David.

Hmmm…Most decadent cookie sounds expensive.

Hmmm…Girl’s Night Out… I lived with one husband and 4 sons… I’m Coming!!!!

I dug into the cupboard and found some goodies I’d hidden from the boys.


(Upscale) Andes Mint Dreams (Forgotten Cookies)

2 egg whites
Pinch of salt
2/3 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
2-3 drops green food color
1 c. chopped Andes Mints

Beat egg whites, to which salt has been added, until stiff. Fold in sugar and vanilla. Add food color until nice light green. Then chopped Andes Mints. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto aluminum foil covered cookie sheets. Or pipe from a plastic bag with one slit corner. Place in 350 degree preheated oven. Turn off heat at once and leave for 2 hours or even overnight.

Okay, so I had the original cookies, the candy cane pinks, and the mint green ones, one more brilliant idea would fill out my square Christmas paper plates perfectly. What do sophisticated, up and coming, career women like? (I, of course, was mostly a stay at home Mom/ manuscript reader) What was trendy? Well, we did live just North of Seattle, home of Starbucks' and right there in the Fairhaven section of Bellingham was the original Tony's Coffees.

Trendy Espresso Meringues (Forgotten Buzz Cookies)

2 egg whites
Pinch of salt
2/3 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
½ teaspoon instant coffee powder (not crystals)
1 c. crushed chocolate covered espresso beans

Beat egg whites, to which salt has been added, until stiff. Fold in sugar and vanilla. Add coffee powder. Then crushed espresso beans. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto aluminum foil covered cookie sheets. Or pipe from a plastic bag with one slit corner. Place in 350 degree preheated oven. Turn off heat at once and leave for 2 hours or even overnight.

When I got to the party everyone asked for my recipes!

The Wine ? No problem, I brought the bottle the hostess gave us for Christmas the year before!

See ya down the road,
Yarntangler