Topic: "Cookies" instead of "biscuits"

[GrannieAnnie]

The gals on our street have a monthly book group meeting which has met
for seven years.
Next we're discussing Island at the Center of the World: the History of
Manhatten by Shorto in which it states Americans call "biscuits" "cookies"
because of the Dutch settlement in New York. The later arrival of the Brits
(Wall Street was built to keep you out! ;D but didn't work!)  erased much
of the Dutch imprint but the term "cookie" stuck in our usage.

So for the meeting I've baked Boterkoek which are VERY buttery but tasty:

BOTERKOEK- Dutch Almond Cookie- 12 servings

    * 1 cup butter
    * 1 1/4 cups packed brown sugar
    * 2 cups all-purpose flour
    * 1 teaspoon almond extract (I'd add more extract next time)
    * 1 egg separated- only the yolk goes into the dough
    * 1/2 cup blanched slivered almonds to put on top of the dough

   1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Grease a 9 x 12 inch jelly roll pan . You can also use a 9 x13 inch rectangular baking/glass pan.
   2. Cream together the brown sugar and the butter or margarine. Add the almond extract.
   3. Sift and add flour to the creamed sugar mixture. Mix well.
   4. Separate the egg, and add the egg yolk to the dough. Mix again.
   5. Press into the greased sponge roll tin, and glaze with the lightly-beaten egg white. Sprinkle with flaked or slivered almonds.
   6. Bake approx 30 minutes. When cool, cut into bars.

[Hyacinth]

Nice history, nice recipe! 8)

And then I realized that American 'biscuits' are similar to our plain scones?....curiouser and curiouser ;D

[GrannieAnnie]

Nice history, nice recipe! 8)

And then I realized that American 'biscuits' are similar to our plain scones?....curiouser and curiouser ;D

Your scones are far nicer than our biscuits to my way of thinking.
If anyone says "biscuits for dinner" it is no big deal. But "Scones" gets ooohs and ahhhs.

[Jeannine]

Do you have Christmas cookie swaps too Grannieannie.. I would love to do one here.

XX Jeannine

[littlebabybird]

Do you have Christmas cookie swaps too Grannieannie.. I would love to do one here.

XX Jeannine

Jeannine, cookies in the post, or people near you?
if you think in the post then i would love to play this one
lbb

[GrannieAnnie]

No cookie swapping but a friend always comes for a big afternoon of baking- she does a couple kinds of cookies and I do a couple- with wine and Christmas music. Then we divide it all. A fun time.

[Jeannine]

Cookies in the post LBB XX Jeannine

[Lindsay]

Now that sounds deeeelish - I'd love to join in!

[Doris_Pinks]

We bake cookies every year, part of our tradition having lived in Foriegn parts! ;D
Saturday I baked Snickerdoodles and White chocolate, Cranberry and Macadamia nut cookies for a job I have to do......they are now in the freezer ready to add to!
Used to love icing sugar cookies with the girls, they used to eat most of the icing and the cookies looked fab! ;D (good old Martha Stewart recipe!)
So would love to join in as I usually have loads of cookies on the go in December!
If looking for recipes, this is a great site.

http://www.christmas-cookies.com/index.php

The biggest problem is deciding which ones to choose!
And would love to try the fantasy fudge, but haven't come across Kraft Marshmallow Creme over here yet!

[Hyacinth]

Why not suggest a cookie-swap in The Shed - praps more peeps would see it there?

Me, I don't bake, but just this once would offer myself as Supreme Arbiter on the Superiority of All Cookies baked 8) - well, someone's gotta do it ;D

btw GlobalGrannie.....why 'jelly' not 'jam'?

[Jeannine]

Lish, I will pop a thread in swap about cookie swaps I have done in thre past and see if there is any interest. XX Jeannine

[GrannieAnnie]

btw GlobalGrannie.....why 'jelly' not 'jam'?

  We think "jelly' is a clear "jam" with no visible fruit.
Of course if you're jammin to music that's a whole other thing!