Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Oatmeal Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies, and Exciting Food-Bloggery News



I owe a lot of people in this world cookies (or baked goods).  It's just sort of a fact of life that you live with when you're a baker.  It's how you say "thank you" to people for being their awesome selves, and I know a lot of awesome people, so that inevitably adds up to a lot of cookies to be baked.


This week, I lived up to my word to bring my friend Reiko cookies to thank her for (1) helping me out at my visiting institution during the times I can't be there (i.e., making sure to set up Skype logistics so that I can conference-call into meetings, or grabbing handouts for me when I can't make talks) and (2) her general awesomeness.  Not knowing what cookies exactly she likes, I opted for the trifecta of cookie-age: oatmeal walnut chocolate chip cookies--everything good and nostalgic you could ever want in a cookie, and hold the raisins, please.  This recipe comes from the Tartine bakery book, and they are wonderfully thin--almost like florentines, even--and chewy from the oatmeal, and nutty and chocolate-ty from the walnuts and chocolate chips.  I opted for bittersweet chocolate chips instead of the shaved chocolate that the original recipe calls for (because who has time to shave and freeze their chocolate when you're making cookies on the fly?!), and they still worked more than beautifully.


So on to the exciting food-bloggery news that I alluded to last week.  I'm really pleased to announce that I'll be speaking on a food photography panel at BlogHer Food '11 in Atlanta with Aran Goyoaga of Cannelle et Vanille and Tami Hardeman of Running with Tweezers!  This is a panel that Tami is putting together on "Finding Your Visual Voice" in food photography, and I'm so flattered to be a part of it, especially with these two uber-talented food photographers/stylists.  At first, I wasn't sure if I'd be able to make it, which is why I held off on sharing the news, but now that it's set, I'll hopefully be seeing and meeting many of you there in Atlanta!  Trust me-- "excited" doesn't even begin to describe my... er... excitement. :-D

Tell me, will you be at BlogHer Food '11?


Read on for recipe....


Oatmeal Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies
roughly adapted from Tartine by Prueitt and Robertson
makes four to six dozen 2" cookies

2 cups (285 gr) AP flour
1 tspn baking powder
1 tspn baking soda
1 tspn salt
2 cups (170 gr) rolled oats
1 cup (8 oz) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 3/4 cups (350 gr) sugar
1 1/2 Tbspn dark molasses
2 eggs
2 Tbspn whole milk
1 Tbspn vanilla extract
1 cup (115 gr) walnuts, coarsely chopped
2 cups bittersweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silpats and set aside.
2. In a bowl, mix to combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and rolled oats. Set aside.
3. In a mixer bowl with the paddle attachment, cream the butter on medium-high speed. Gradually add the sugar and mix until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
4. Add the molasses into the butter and beat until combined.
5. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
6. Beat in the milk and vanilla extract.
7. Finally, beat in the flour mixture on low until thoroughly combined.
8. By hand using a spatula, fold in the chopped walnuts and chocolate chips.
9. Scoop the dough in small rounds (using a teaspoon) onto the prepared cookie sheets, leaving ample room between each cookie as they will spread out. Dip your fingers in water and lightly spread out and press the dough into a circle.
10. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the edges are lightly browned. Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack.

Note: the recipe in the book claims to make twenty-four 3" cookies, but I got many, many 2" cookies.



Enjoy!

27 comments:

  1. Very exciting! And totally deserved- your photography is amazing. I wish I could go, 'finding your visual voice' sounds like such an interesting topic.

    The cookies look delicious. I love all chocolate chip cookies but I think nubbly, oaty ones might be my favourites.

    ReplyDelete
  2. First of all, congrats! That panel is going to be really something. Your photos are marvelous and I love Aran's blog too.
    And then...these cookies are wonderful. I love them crunchy and thin.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh my gosh!!! Congratulations! I'm so thrilled to see you be recognized in this way. You're so amazingly talented. I wish I could be there!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wish I can be there at BlogHer, congratulations! Glad to see you back with a bang.

    ReplyDelete
  5. So very exciting that you finally decided to be on the panel!! Congrats and best of luck. I'm sure you'll do great. Wish I could be there to see you talk about your moods! :-) Lovely cookies, too!

    ReplyDelete
  6. How exciting!! I actually AM planning to attend Blog Her Food in Atlanta.

    Congratulations on your speaking gig!! I look forward to that session very much.

    ReplyDelete
  7. These thin, florentine-type chocolate chip cookies sound wonderful! Congrats too on your photography panel appointment for Blog Her Food. I didn't even know about the conference!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Mm, I can vouch for these biscuits as well - they're utterly delicious. I bet whoever received them was very happy!

    Congrats on the panel!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I wish I was going to be there. It's easy to see why you are on the panel:)Have a great time! BTW, the cookies look fabulous!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Awesome cookies! So is your photography.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'm in love with your cookies - oats, nuts and chocolate - what can be more tasty by that!

    ReplyDelete
  12. i want that mini pedestal (and the cookies)!
    wish i could be at blog her to hear you speak about food photgraphy! love your work. (and congrats!)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Damn, I wish I was going to BHF 11 to hear you speak - this panel is going to rock, I know it. Congrats Steph, can't wait to hear all about it!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Congratulations, what an amazing opportunity! I wish I could be there to hear you speak.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wow that is an amazing opportunity! Congrats and wish I could be there, too. You already know I absolutely love that first photo. These cookies sound absolutely yummy.

    ReplyDelete
  16. congratulations! I'd so love to go to a Blog Her Event in the US and hear you and the other fabulous bloggers speak. (I too love Aran's blog)

    Of cookies and baking 'thank yous' I totally understand - I do that ALL the time. Cake, cookies, friands - they are all so lovely as a gift!

    ReplyDelete
  17. I wish I could be part of such lovely event! I am sure you are up for the challenge - your photos are beautiful!
    Love the cookies.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Wow, those look absolutely delicious! I love walnuts in chocolate chip cookies, such a fantastic combination. Your photos are great too :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. drool, now i want cookies. YUM

    ReplyDelete
  20. I won't be there in Atlanta! :) But I took your cookie recipe and will bake it! :)

    Congratulations on the speaking! Looking forward to hearing the news how it went!!!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Adorable.. I live the single cake tower (?)

    ReplyDelete
  22. This are some healthy and also very tasty cookies. They are perfect for a fast breakfast or snack. Very good recipe.

    ReplyDelete
  23. This are some healthy and also very tasty cookies. They are perfect for a fast breakfast or snack. Very good recipe.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I won't be there in Atlanta! :) But I took your cookie recipe and will bake it! :)

    Congratulations on the speaking! Looking forward to hearing the news how it went!!!

    ReplyDelete
  25. I wish I could be part of such lovely event! I am sure you are up for the challenge - your photos are beautiful!
    Love the cookies.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Congratulations, what an amazing opportunity! I wish I could be there to hear you speak.

    ReplyDelete

I love hearing from you and reading your comments! Thanks so much for stopping by the blog. Happy feasting!