Rx-Chocolate

"Take Chocolate, so that the most unpleasant company seems good to you"

~Marquise de Sevigne

 I didn't experience bad company this past weekend, but I did have a stressful few days; Kelly's illness and selling our home.  However, chocolate has a magical element and even in medieval times it was believed to exist a Sorcerer's Stone.  Even the Aztecs and the Mayans used the cacao pods to produce a drink that was revered for it's richness, but bitter compared to what we have today.  Cortez brought this drink to Spain, but it was the Swiss, Belgians, and French that began to produce the chocolate that we associate with decadent confections and desserts we crave.

These chocolate cookies will be the Rx for what's bothering you...or as an aphrodisiac! You choose.

Fudgy Brownie Drops

9.7 oz. Scharffen Berger Bittersweet Chocolate, finely chopped

5 T unsalted butter

1 1/4 cup granualted sugar

4 large eggs

1 tsp. espresso powder

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 1/4 cup All-Purpose Flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1 cup chocolate chips

E. Guittard Bittersweet, Semi-Sweet or White Chocolate Wafters, or Hershey Kisses, or nonpareils 

Melt together the chocolate and butter in a microwave-safe bowl. (I did 40 secs on HIGH, stirred the chocolate, then, 20 secs more.  In the KitchenAid (or use a large bowl and a hand mixer), beat the sugar and eggs on Med-High until thick and lemony-colored.  Add the melted chocolate mixture, then add the espresso powder and vanilla extract and mix to combine.  Remove the paddle attachment and stir in the dry ingredients.  Finally add the cup of chocolate chips and stir again.  

Place mixture in the refrigerator to firm up.  Meanwhile, preheat oven to 325F-degrees while dough is chilling.  In about 15 minutes, the dough should be stiff enough to scoop up.  

Allow about 2 inches between each cookie on the baking sheet.  

Bake 10-11 minutes.  The cookies should be shiny and cracked on top.

 Place a wafer, a Kiss, or a nopareil in the center of each cookie.  Let cool on the baking sheet about 5 minutes before removing to wire rack to cool completely.

Fix yourself a plate of cookies, sit down, prop your feet up, take a bite, close your eyes, and imagine all your troubles be gone.  Enjoy!