BENNE COOKIES
Emily Meggett, who published her first cookbook, "Gullah Geechee Home Cooking: Recipes From the Matriarch of Edisto Island," at 89, learned how to make these crisp wafer cookies from her grandmother who learned from generations before. Benne seeds, sesame seeds that enslaved Africans brought with them to the southeastern shores of America, have long been a staple in Gullah Geechee cooking. They are an important component in rice dishes and savory crackers and are the stars of these buttery wafers. Regular sesame seeds will work fine, especially if you toast them in butter, but Mrs. Meggett suggests you try to buy benne seeds, an heirloom seed that is available online. They have a nutty, almost burned honey flavor and bring out the umami in the cookies.
Provided by Kim Severson
Categories snack, cookies and bars, dessert
Time 1h
Yield About 40 cookies
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease 2 large cookie sheets with butter.
- Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a cast-iron skillet over medium heat and add the benne seeds, stirring them until coated. Toast the seeds, stirring frequently, until fragrant and darkened a shade, 2 to 3 minutes. Take care not to burn the seeds and turn down the heat if needed. Scrape onto a plate and let cool completely.
- Whisk the flour, baking soda and salt together in a medium bowl.
- In a large bowl, cream together the remaining 8 tablespoons/115 grams butter and both sugars until well combined and fluffy. Add the egg and beat well. Add the cooled toasted benne seeds and the vanilla, then stir in the flour mixture.
- Drop rounded teaspoonfuls of the cookie dough at least 2 1/2 inches apart on 1 prepared cookie sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until golden brown around the edges. Remove the wafers from the cookie sheet immediately and place on waxed or parchment paper to cool. Repeat with the remaining dough on the second cookie sheet, reusing the first sheet when it's cool, if needed.
BEN'S CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
These cookies are made by the thousands and delivered to friends and family every year. The cookie master delivers dozens throughout the state and uses a commercial kitchen to produce each batch, a dozen at a time. If you live in Nevada you've probably either heard about Ben Graham's cookies or sampled one!
Provided by Michael Sommermeyer
Categories Drop Cookies
Time 20m
Yield 36 cookies
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Mix each ingredient well, then bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes.
- Use a small ice cream scoop to scoop out the dough, and only place 1 dozen to each cookie sheet spacing them about 2 inches apart.
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