Cookies!

I tried this recipe a couple of weeks ago and now made them again this week.  They are a bit "rough looking", but that's exactly how they are in the recipe book too and the nature of them.

I was skeptical of the ingredients, but they are called Everything-in-the-Pantry Cookies and that intrigued me because I like to "eat down" our pantry regularly.  The recipe calls for sweetened condensed milk and I had two cans left from Christmas recipes that didn't get made, so I thought I'd give these a go.  My first couple bites, I thought, "meh", but by the end of the cookie, I'd changed my mind. I went back for another.

And, another.

The recipe came from the cookbook Mexican Today by Pati Jinich.  What's strange is that I cannot remember where I got this cookbook.  I haven't had it more than a year and I don't just go out and buy cookbooks.  Maybe clearance somewhere?  Garage sale?  I'm just glad I have it as I'm beginning to try the recipes and they are good. I hadn't even heard of the author, but someone via Instagram said she has a cooking show so I hope to check that out soon.  Our town has multiple authentic Mexican restaurants and food trucks which are all so good, but it's kind of nice to make it at home too.

The recipe:

2 3/4 C all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

3 1/2 sticks of  unsalted butter, room temperature

1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

1 C dark chocolate Chips

1/2 C peanut butter chips

1 C broken pretzels (1/2 inch pieces)

Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

In another bowl, beat the butter until fluffy.  Add the sweetened condensed milk, and beat until fluffy.

On a low speed, add the flour mixture.  By hand stir in the chips and pretzels.

Bake 10-12 min at 350 degrees.

I did not use any chips, but did use broken pretzels.  Instead of chips, I roughly chopped up white almond bark that I had left from Christmas baking.  I used about half of one package of it.  That seemed to be about the right amount.  I can see where any combination will work in the cookies which is what the author states.  Use what you have!!

I was surprised at how much I liked broken pretzels in a cookie!  I wouldn't have tried that on my own without it being in a recipe.

I hope this nudges you to modify your own recipes as you need or want.

Ironically, that used to drive me crazy about my own Mom.  She would tell me she made a new recipe, but changed this or that because she didn't like a certain ingredient or didn't have it on hand. I would think, "Well that's not really new then...."  Now, that's often exactly what I do!  Ouch.