cooookies!

a bit more of a conventional recipe today!

we've somehow managed to chomp our way through all of the biccies m bought in his moment of madness before christmas so i got to do some baking today :)

a work-friend gave me this recipe, i think it appeared in a magazine a few years ago to give folk easy baking ideas for charity bake-sales.

i love this recipe because you can add anything you like to it and the cookies (pretty much) always turn out delish. i usually make two different types at once so the pic shows chocolate chip for m and sultana and hazelnut for me :)

> basic ingredients
250g softened butter (i use the microwave for this!)
140g caster sugar (i prefer brown sugar for the taste and texture)
1 egg yolk (sometimes i add two, makes for a softer cookie)
2tsp vanilla extract
300g plain flour

> method
heat the oven to 180 oC/fan 160 oC/gas mark 4.
mix the butter and sugar together in a large bowl.
add the egg yolk and vanilla and briefly beat to combine.
sift in the flour and stir until the mixture is well combined, use your hands to bring the dough together if needed.
now add your extras! i'm a bit easy-oasy when it comes to measuring - just keep adding until it looks right :)
mix well, and if the mixture looks a little dry, add the second egg yolk or a tiny splash of milk.
lightly grease a baking tray.
depending on the consistency of your final mix, you can either roll the dough out and use a biscuit cutter to cut your shapes or, if your mix is a little softer, just scoop out a ball of the dough and pop onto the baking sheet, making sure to flatten it slightly.
pop them into the oven for between 10 to 15/20 mins, again this will depend on the consistency of your cookie dough. probably best to check after 10 mins and if a knife comes out clean, you're good to go.

these are heavenly when eaten still warm!