One Big Cookie

This is not a cookie. This is a meal. When I first walked into Tart to Tart I almost walked right back out as I didn't see a chocolate chip cookie in their baked goods section - or so I thought. Once the friendly lady approached me, I felt compelled to ask for a cookie and then leave once I got the expected "no, sorry." However, the lovely lady whipped out a monster of a cookie that may well be the size of my face.

I couldn't stop exclaiming about how big it was. I told her I wasn't sure whether I could finish it but she laughed, saying that that was what the last guy said and, well, "you never know."

The cookie was crisp and dry but kept its shape well. The dryness had a slightly chewy texture of a cooled homemade cookie rather than the crumbling mess I had at another location. The dough to chip ratio was good for me and it was less sweet and buttery than Specialty's, which is probably why the last guy managed to finish it in one sitting. It was fairly addictive but I harnessed my discipline and put some of it away in a zip-lock bag. While the cookie wasn't too rich, I would probably feel rather sick if I finished it in one sitting. Especially considering I'm generally more of a savory person.

That's "Mrs." not "Ms."

Mrs. Fields. Not Ms. Not Miss. No dilly dallying. Mrs. Fields. The warm sweet scent of my childhood and memories of pulling at my mum's sleeve for a cookie or raspberry muffin. Mmm~

I tried out a semi-sweet chocolate chip cookie at the Powell Station location in SF today. Apparently their best selling cookie is milk chocolate, then white chocolate with macadamia nuts. The girl at the counter and I both agreed that white chocolate really didn't cut it (for all I know, she was humoring me, but I appreciated it).

Sadly, it seems that the semi-sweet chocolate chip no longer cuts it for me either. The edges have a nice chewiness to them, but the middle feels loaded with sugar rather than flavor. Perhaps I would fare better with a nibble-sized cookie?

CMB Sweets

I stopped by the CMB Sweets stall while at the Ferry Terminal today. The cute little stall had an assortment of delightful jam - and chocolate chip cookies! Buttery and sweet, but a tad too soft. The cookie actually drooped a little from its own weight. Good for those who like super soft cookies, but not the cookie for me.

Fishy Fishy

No new chocolate chip cookie joint this week, but I did try my hand at making fish. Halibut fillet resting on mashed potatoes and yam, garnished with a little asparagus and orange pepper. Of course, I had some roasted asparagus and fresh peppers on the side to balance out the meal. :)

Fresh Bread at Home

While I love consuming baked goods, I tend towards cooking, not baking in the kitchen. Just a couple of days ago, my husband decided to bake some fresh bread, sans breadmaker. He made two giant tupperware containers of dough, which we finished in 3 days. What you see in the picture is the last loaf.

Cakey Crunchy Chewy

Today a friend introduced me to Specialty's semi-sweet chocolate chunk cookies. Truly delightful, it made the whole hassle with parking (yellow paint and contradictory signage) worth it.

The cookie was incredibly rich and heavy with authority, so we split one between the two of us. It was slightly warm when I got it, and I tried to preserve the gentle glow of warmth as we rushed to the car and drove to find a venue where we could enjoy the cookie without paying for a ridiculously inefficient parking arrangement ($3.50 for 1hr).

Once settled down, we found a whole mix of 'C's in this cookie. The very edges had a crunch, while the top lingered in a chewy sort of way. Meanwhile, the middle bulk of the cookie was raised and rather cake-y. Most of my half had a good cookie to chocolate distribution. One part of semi-circle tip had a chocolate cluster, but it wasn't overwhelming. It left me wanting to eat more to savor the taste, but I knew that I was probably at the point of diminishing enjoyment.

Overall, an excellent cookie with a depth of richness that makes it more of a treat than a daily indulgence.