The Farley household has been a busy place the last several weeks. I had facial surgery (skin cancer…they got it all) I looked like I got the worse end of a fist fight for 10 days so I stayed home and caught up on a few projects. My son and daughter in law had the most beautiful baby boy on January 30th…Dodson Dean…who weighed in at 6 lbs. 15 oz., 20″ long. He is so sweet, precious and TINY. I forgot just how small newborns are. I’ve been helping out in the usual ways, mostly preparing meals that can be heated up when mommy and daddy have time to eat them. Little do they know that hots meals can become a rare treat. When my kids were babies their favorite time to get fussy was dinner time.
I’ve taken several batches of cookies to the new parents because they are easy to snack on and they can easily be served when family and guests drop by to see little Dodson. Buttery, melt in your mouth shortbread is at the top of our favorite cookie list and I have a new cookie stamp and mold that I’ve been dying to try out. If you have visited my blog in the past you know that I love to travel and often incorporate that theme into my baking. It’s always a challenge to find good cookie recipes that have a nice texture and keep a sharp design. Thanks to my friend, Monique, I found a new recipe that will be my go-to recipe from now on. It’s delicious and very tender, made with no eggs and rice flour, and retains a nice sharp design after it’s baked.
Before Christmas I found a cookie cutter, chocolate mold stamp set in the King Arthur Flour holiday catalog. The chocolate molds are designs of eight different popular travel destinations…just my thing…so I bought them for $24.95 (Ouch!) If you are sensing a little attitude here, you are right! I have always loved everything I have purchased from KAF, but this set was a giant pain in the you know what. If you have all day to produce two dozen cookies that leave more than a little something to be desired, then this may be for you. I’m not sharing the recipe that came with the set because it was awful…one I won’t ever use again. If you have a favorite shortbread cookie recipe, use that or the one in the link in the above paragraph. It’s a good one. To start off this whole procedure the chocolate must be tempered. Not difficult but time consuming and sometimes it doesn’t work well. Tempered chocolate should end up nice and shiny and have a snap to it when broken. For some reason this didn’t happen. I fussed and FUSSED with the dough until I got enough cookies for the molded chocolate rectangles I made. I ended up with twenty-four, many of which I had to redo because I didn’t like the way they turned out. The border of the mold is very narrow and much of it either broke off or didn’t come out of the mold well. They are shallow molds and the designs on some of them didn’t stand out well. At any rate, it took me several hours to get this far in the recipe. I was getting pretty exasperated with the whole process and decided to go back and read the reviews on the KAF site. I’m so used to their products being first rate that I just didn’t think to do it before I bought the set…which, by the way, had been marked down to $14.99 from $24.95 right after I bought it. The reviews were strange, many praised the set to high heaven and some of the reviews gave it a one star because of the same problems I was having. Hmmmm… kind of made me wonder.
So I finally got to the end of this whole thing and assembled my cookies using a dab of melted chocolate as glue to fasten the chocolate to the sugar cookie base. I like the cookies and think they are fun to serve, and definitely worth a blog post, but if I’m completely honest I have to say that I probably won’t make them again. The set just isn’t designed well, is finicky as all get out (even KAF acknowledged this in their replies to negative reviews of the set). So I’m still looking for good cutters and stamps with a travel theme to add to my collection.
Having the right tools is essential to making recipes that involve a dough that has to be rolled out. One of the best additions I’ve made to my kitchen supplies is a long (18 inch) rolling pin with no handles and no tapered ends. Little rubber rings of various thicknesses slide onto each end so it’s easy to roll dough that is an even thickness. This is great for pie crusts too. It’s a good investment if you like to bake.
These are so fabulous! They are like Les Petit Ecolier cookies from LU we have in France! Wow I want to try these! So perfect! I think there is no snack better than chocolate and butter cookies!
I agree with you, Jamie. These cookies are a pain to make but lots of fun to serve. I may tinker around with the recipe and experiment with different chocolates to see if one works better than another. Thanks so much for your comment. Can’t tell you how much I enjoy reading about your life as a hotelier. Hope to visit someday.
Cathy Farley recently posted..Molded Chocolate Shortbread Cookies
Congratulations on a new grand baby Cathy. It’s hard to believe how tiny they are. Your cookies are beautiful. I remember them from Monique’s blog. She has a real flair with cookies and the stamps. How can you go wrong with chocolate and shortbread. Know it’s frustrating when things like the press don’t work, but how would you know until you tried it. Sorry to hear about your surgery, but you’ll be better before you know it. I fell flat on my face the week before we left for France. MAC makes a make-up that was made to cover tattoos that worked great for me on my black and blue areas. That and sunglasses were a lifesaver for me the first couple of weeks.
Happy Valentine’s Day.
Sam
Sam@mycarolinakitchen recently posted..Vanilla Semifreddo with Raspberry Sauce, plus other favorite desserts
Thanks, Sam. Sometime it takes a try or two (or three) to figure out the little techniques that make a recipe work. We are thrilled with our new baby, my sixth grandchild. Life just gets better and better. Sorry to read that you took a tumble before a trip. Thank heavens for a good make up when we need it.
Cathy Farley recently posted..Molded Chocolate Shortbread Cookies
Cathy, I love your truthfulness. Your cookies look wonderful, but I like you do not want to dedicate my time to something so precious. I really want to put my time toward flavor. I have a rolling pin like yours and love it. It is good to have proper tools.
Now, to go check out a good recipe. Thanks.
Thanks for your comment, Madonna. I really do like the cookies. Maybe I’ll forget how long they took to make and will try them again. Everybody seems to like them.
Cathy Farley recently posted..Molded Chocolate Shortbread Cookies
Poor you Cathy..I mean poor you with the medical attention you needed and thank GOD they got it all..and poor you re the cookies..more on that later..CONGRATULATIONS on the baby:)That is a gift ..a gift of life!♥
I must look at my set that is so similar to yours..but all France..
I had no problems..but listen..LOL I did not temper my chocolate..I will make them again soon.I think I am a cookie cutter/stamp maniac.
I have a set of Ricardo’s and now he has a new set..like this w/ chocolate..and I am Pining for the set..like I need a new set?
If it isn’t art supplies and baking stuff in winter..it’s garden stuff in Spring and summer~
That shortbread recipe is WINNER/KEEPER..so glad you like it too..!!Easy n’est-ce-pas?
Take care..
Thanks, Monique. I had excellent medical attention and in a few months the scar on my face will be hard to see. The doctors are so skilled. A new baby is such a joy. I could sit and hold him all day and be happy as a lark. I looked back to you blog post and I bet our cutters are made by the same company. I know the cookies will turn out much better when I use my new cookie recipe. Thanks for sharing it.
Cathy Farley recently posted..Molded Chocolate Shortbread Cookies
I’m glad you are well after that procedure. Your cookies look perfect – just like the ones in the store, but after reading about the difficulties you had making them, I think I’ll pass on those cookie stamps and just enjoy the ones that are imported
They are time consuming and picky to be sure. I may give them one more shot to see if I can speed up the process. I made a few of the molds in white chocolate and the designs are much easier to see. thanks for your comment, Linda.
Cathy Farley recently posted..Molded Chocolate Shortbread Cookies
Hi Cathy….Happy to hear your fine after your skin cancer surgery….The Boss had skin cancer 2 years ago on his face as well…I love these doctors…Our doctor retired so this year he went in to see his new young replacement. He has to go every year for his face and he gets the full body check…and with the size of the Boss’ body we need to make two appointments….just kidding. Anyhoo….I hate when doctors don’t glance at records before coming in to the room…He says to John…(after looking at his face where you can clearly see where the scar is) “So have you ever had skin cancer before”….
Your cookies are fabulous no matter how long they took to make…I make chocolates and working with intricate molds can be frustrating….I very rarely buy from KA….I find their prices and crazy shipping to be a bit much…I do have an ornate shortbread mold from them in ceramic and that works well but I can’t imagine doing what you did with chocolate…..and Congrats on the new baby!
Wow, what a newsy blog post. First, I’m glad that you are on the mend, and congrats on your newest family member.
As for the cookies– they are a stunner, for sure. I love KAF as well, so it’s a shame this product didn’t work out for you. By the way, call KAF and I’m willing to bet you’ll get a refund for the sale price difference. Their customer service is that good.
Good for you for your perseverance. I’m sorry it was such a pain, but I’ll bet if felt good to see that your hard work paid off. Tempering chocolate is something I need to improve on myself. I thought about buying something for tempering chocolate…until I saw the price. Yikes! I’ll just keep trying. Happy Valentine’s Day.
It was a pain Debby, but I did enjoy the results. These may become special occasion cookies or something I make when I don’t have anything else to do. Thanks for the suggestion to call KAF. Their customer service is excellent and I would love a credit. I’ll just use it to buy something else. I’m hooked on their products.
Cathy Farley recently posted..Molded Chocolate Shortbread Cookies
aimeeblessingI am so happy to hear your skin cancer surgery was a success Cathy. Both my Dad and his.grandpa had skin cancer and I really should be checked. Congrats on your new little grandblessing~enjoy him 🙂 Yummers on the shortbread. I don’t have cookie molds but do have a large decorated shortbread mold I should try using this year.
Blessings,
Aimee
Hi Aimee – It’s so nice to hear from you. You should definitely be checked. Like many things, it usually is curable if its caught early. I’ve always wanted one of those fancy shortbread molds. I always admire them when I see them in a catalog. Happy Valentine’s Day.
Cathy Farley recently posted..Molded Chocolate Shortbread Cookies
Glad they got all the cancer Cathy. That’s no fun in any way.
Congrats to your whole family on the new addition.
You are a sweet grandmother. I know they are appreciating all the help from you. Meals are definitely a big help.
Well I hate hearing about the cancer, but I am glad they got it all. These things frighten me, and as we age, there are just more and more of these stories.
That is wonderful news about the grandchild. You must all be on cloud nine.
Hey, what’s with KAF! They usually have such stellar products, but I guess not every one can be a winner. I just love the look of your cookies. If I come across a good kit, I will let you know. I bet there is a good kit out there somewhere. We just need to do a little sleuthing.
I’m sure there are better kits out there, Adri. I’m going to do a little research. I know what you mean about getting older. It’s seems to be one thing after another that needs attention. Oh well, I’m grateful to be as healthy as I am. A new grandchild is the happiest thing for a grandmother. I can just sit and look at him for hours. I want to enjoy every minute. Thanks for your nice comment.
Cathy Farley recently posted..Molded Chocolate Shortbread Cookies
OMGosh! I want to eat one of these right now! They look fabulous. Do you have some in the freezer? ;o)
These are perfect. I love all the gadgetry you have, too!
Debra Eliotseats recently posted..Rustic Tortellini Soup for a Late #Blogger C.L.U.E.
I’m a bit of a cookie nut. My issue is I can’t stop at one and gobble down the plate.
What a shame about the cookies ending up to be such a hassle as they are very pretty. It sounds like life has been busy but good. Take care my friend.
Karen (Back Road Journal) recently posted..Spaghetti Carbonara
Oh my Cathy, these shortbread looks marvelous.How I wish I can have some too.
Happy weekend. Enjoy & have a lovely day.
Blessings, Kristy
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these cookies look amazing, pleased all is well after your surgery and congrats on the new grand baby
I specially enjoy chocolate. However, i cook very bad. But, before i read this article. Now, i want to try doing this chocolate to invite your friends on the next birthday. Thanks the author!