Chocolate Chunk Cookies
3/4 cup unsalted butter - room temperature
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup white sugar
1 large egg
1 teas. vanilla
1 2/3 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 teas. baking soda
14 ozs. semisweet chocolate,
coarsely chopped
1 cup chopped walnuts
Powdered sugar
METHOD
1. Line 2 heavy large baking sheets with parchment paper. Beat first three ingredients in large bowl until light and fluffy.
2. Add egg and vanilla and beat until blended.
3. Sift flour, salt, ginger, cinnamon and
baking soda into butter mixture. Beat until blended.
4. Stir in chocolate and walnuts.
Refrigerate dough for one hour.
5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
6. Remove a tablespoon of dough at a time and roll into balls. Roll into powdered sugar. Place on sheets 2" apart. Bake cookies until golden for about 18 minutes. Transfer to rack and cool for five minutes before serving.
Mocha Muffins
1/4 cup hot water
1 tablespoon espresso or coffee powder
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
3 tsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
1 cup ground walnuts, pecans or peanuts
METHOD
1. Preheat oven to 375 F.
2. Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners. Stir the hot water and espresso until dissolved. Add buttermilk, oil, eggs and vanilla. Whisk well until blended.
3. Mix flour, sugar, brown sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in large bowl. Add buttermilk mixture. Mix in chocolate chips and nuts.
4. Divide batter equally among muffin cups. Bake for about 25 minutes or until tester comes out clean. Transfer to rack and cool.
Some restaurant suggestions for tea -- Norma's On The Terrace, Kingston, Country Country, Negril, Norma's at SeaSplash or LTU in Negril. Sunset Beach Resort and Half Moon in Montego Bay. Grand Lido Sans Souci Ocho Rios. Mocking Bird Hill in Port Antonio.
For Chinese Tea -- Most Chinese restaurants are opened all day -- try Bamboo Village in Mandeville.
