Bush, Kerry wives bribe voters with favorite cookie recipes
Published 9:00 pm Tuesday, June 29, 2004
NEW YORK – The presidential race’s influence is reflected even in the specialized sphere of cookie baking.
For its 2004 Election Cookie Cook-Off, Family Circle magazine is publishing two recipes from candidates’ wives in its July 13 issue.
Home bakers are invited to put them to the taste test and vote for their favorite on a postcard postmarked by Aug. 1 and addressed to Family Circle Cookie Cook-Off, Dept. MJ, 375 Lexington Ave., New York, NY 10017, or online at www.familycircle.com.
Results will be announced in the Nov. 9 issue.
Laura Bush’s oatmeal-chocolate chunk cookies
11/2cups (3 sticks) butter, at room temperature
1cup sugar
11/2cups light-brown sugar
3eggs
1tablespoon vanilla
3cups flour
1tablespoon baking powder
1teaspoon salt
2teaspoons cinnamon
3cups quick oats (not old-fashioned)
2cups chopped walnuts
11/2packages (8 ounces each) chocolate chunks (3 cups)
2cups coarsely chopped dried sour cherries
Heat oven to 350 degrees.
With electric mixer, cream butter and both sugars. Beat in eggs one at a time, then beat in vanilla. Add flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and oats; slowly beat until blended. Stir in walnuts, chocolate and cherries. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto cookie sheet covered with parchment paper. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes, until golden brown.
Makes about 8 dozen cookies.
Teresa Heinz Kerry’s pumpkin spice cookies
1cup (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature
1cup sugar
1egg
1cup canned pumpkin puree (from 15-ounce can; do not use pumpkin pie filling)
1teaspoon vanilla
2cups all-purpose flour
1teaspoon baking powder
1/2teaspoon salt
1teaspoon cinnamon
1/2teaspoon allspice
1cup chopped walnuts
1cup raisins
Heat oven to 375 degrees.
With electric mixer, cream butter and sugar. Beat in egg, pumpkin and vanilla. Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and allspice. Stir into pumpkin mixture. Stir in chopped walnuts and raisins. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto a well-greased cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes, until golden on edges.
Makes about 5 dozen cookies.
