Hannah's Cookies

I have discovered, and I am sure that you have realized by now, that I enjoy reading a silly, light murder mystery. In fact, I really can't get enough of them. One I just found is the Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke, and lucky for me, it is part of a series...can't get enough of those either! 

Well, the Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder is a story about Hannah, a cookie baker in small Town America who accidentally becomes a detective after discovering the body of her dairy delivery man in the alley behind her shop. Not only has he got her famous Chocolate Chip Crunch Cookies scattered all around him at the crime scene (maybe not the best for business), but her brother-in-law, a police man, is looking for a promotion to detective and Hannah wants to do anything to help him. So Hannah sets out to find the killer and the sleuthing begins. But as always, I am really looking for a new recipe and this book has them.

Hannah is an exceptional baker and does a number of catering jobs for people in the town and lucky for us, she gives us the recipes throughout the novel. She has a recipe for every occasion. There are recipes for Chocolate Chip Crunch Cookies (her sister's favourite), Regency Ginger Cookies (for the historical society), Black and Whites (to promote the new police cars), Chocolate-Covered Cherry Delights (that can just fix any problem), Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies (you just must have a good sugar cookie recipe) and last but certainly not least, Lovely Lemon Bar Cookies (perfect for a promotion celebration party!). 

I tried the Crunch recipe and I fell in love. Who wouldn't be intrigued by a cookie recipe with cornflakes in it! Certainly takes a classic to a new level. The recipe is below and you just must try them.

Chocolate Chip Crunch Cookies

Ingredients: 

1 cup butter (2 sticks, melted)
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt 
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 beaten eggs (fork beaten is fine)
2 1/2 cups flour (not sifted)
2 cups crushed corn flakes (just crush them up with your hands)
1-2 cups chocolate chips

Method: 

• Preheat oven to 375F, rack in the middle position. 

• Melt butter, add the sugars and stir. Add soda, salt, vanilla and beaten eggs. Then add flour and stir it in. Add crushed corn flakes and chocolate chips and mix it all thoroughly. 

• Form dough into walnut-sized balls with your fingers and place on a greased cookie sheet, 12 to a standard sheet. Press them down with a floured or greased fork in a crisscross pattern (the same method as peanut butter cookies). 

• Bake at 375F for 10 minutes. Cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes, them remove to wire rack until they're completely cool. (The rack is important - it makes them crisp.)

Happy Baking!