Tuesday, July 29, 2008

my kingdom for a cookie.....










ahhhhh..... love...... or is it? ... methinks she is dreaming of cookies... not just any cookie ... one of her special Empire Cookies......of the realm I suppose....

Delicate, soft, sweet ... with lovely berry jam sandwiched in every bite...... ohhhhhh how I wish I had one myself right now! Along with a cup of Earl Grey from this lovely teapot ...













Sadly...they disappeared very quickly .... pronounced every bit as good as the ones we used to get at a fav little bakery that no longer exists.

I tried to find out why they are called Empire but didn't see much except the vague suggestion that perhaps, since they seem to be very British, ... they being an Empire and all... so, if anyone has seen any info on this... please point me in that direction.













This particular recipe appears to have been clipped from a booklet of recipes using brand names.. Robin Hood flour... Crisco etc.. I have it in my Christmas Recipe Album that I've made up using my personal favs along with family recipes and pictures...a 3 ring binder type of thing. At the top of the recipe.. the great suggestion.... "this is a favourite at Christmas, but don't limit it to the holiday season"... somebody knew me well.










I only put little glistening cherries on a few for a photo... somebody was standing there grinning...waiting for the taste testing.....













At first I rolled them the suggested 1/8" thickness ... hahahahha...yeh ...right ... almost "see through" thin it was... and just try to get them off the counter! Next chunk..I rolled closer to 1/4"..but not quite. I had much better luck...but I also discovered a new trick at this late stage in life. Instead of just pressing down, turning a bit and lifting off with my flour dusted cutter... I turned it back and forth a few times and almost tried to lift it off at a bit of an angle.... .. so that it actually lifted a corner of the dough with it as I did the lift out of the dough. Hah! that really loosened things and I could then easily slide my floured spatula under each and transfer it the cookie sheet. Sigh... sometimes!........











Empire Cookies

3/4 cup golden Crisco shortening ( I used butter)
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt ( I always omit because I use salted butter)

Filling and frosting

1/2 cup raspberry jam
1 1/2 cups icing sugar, sifted
1/4 tsp. almond extract
1 1/ to 2 TBSP hot water

Cream shortening, sugar, eggs and vanilla in large bowl on med. speed of electric mixer until light and creamy. Combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add to creamed mixture, beating at low speed until well blended. If desired, chill 1 hour for easy rolling. (I found this a must..it is pretty sticky) Roll out dough, a portion at a time, on lightly floured surface to 1/8" thickness. ( I went slightly thicker for ease of handling) Cut into 2" rounds..re-roll all leftover pieces at once to avoid over handling. Place on ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 350 F (180 C) for 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned around edges..(watch them like a hawk) .. Cool completely before handling.

Filling and frosting ::: spread half of cookies on the underside with jam. Top with the remaining cookies. Combine icing sugar, extract and enough hot water to make a thin icing. Frost tops of cookies. Decorate with small piece of cherry. Store in airtight container overnight. (At this point they were still sort of crispy and hard..not at all how I remember them being when I used to buy Empire cookies... but... left overnight... magically they became soft, delicate to bite into.... yes... finally almost the exact thing!)

8 comments:

Susan said...

Oh my goodness Vee ! Yum ! Now these are the kind of cookies that I could not make because I would eat stacks of them at one sitting. The recipe sounds perfect - a great cookie to put in Christmas tins.

Vee, Please you leave as many comments on any one post that you're little heart desires - you most definitely have VIP commenter status over here at 29 Black Street. Wink.

Have you ever stopped by willowmanor.blogspot.com - today she has posted a yummy ham, olive and swiss cheese bread that I bet you and Mr. Bumblebeary would enjoy.

Thunder and heavy rain just clearing up here on the East coast. xo, S, Winn & those cats

Creations by Marie Antoinette and Edie Marie said...

Yummy ! Cookies! Vee,do you sell anything you bake? LOL.I love this place.Thanks for coming by.I have seen her pretty doll lamp.I even made a comment on it,but I did not see it.She has left me a very sweet comment on my new piano doll. Did you see the beautiful bags she made? Gorgeous. Hugs Marie Antionette

Betsy Brock said...

Oh my! Everything looks so scrumptious over here! :) Thanks for stopping by my blog and saying hello! I'll be back to browse some of these recipes!

BumbleVee said...

Susan... hahah.... yes... me too on the eating stacks of 'em if I didn't give them away or hide them in the freezer on the same day I make them!

hiya Marie... I didn't notice the bags...must go back... now..how to find here again...oh, I guess I coud start at your house.

Hi Betsy...feel free to stop by anytime to check out what is in the oven over here...wish I could offer samples... that could be fun... everybody is soooooo far away....

Louise said...

Traditionally Scottish apparently? I first thought you were watching the grinning man like a hawk, not the biscuits, great line! I am glad some biscuits made it to the softening stage. They look amazing, and very much doubt it they lasted very long, once iced? x

Naturegirl said...

I'm not one who bakes but it is always a delicious post where the wee bears gather! :)NG

B.T.Bear (esq.) said...

YUMYUMYUMYUMYUMYUM!!!

Have you checkt owt this website-

www.nicecupofteaandasitdown.com

It's all abowt biccies.

I hav the book!

Niesz Vintage Home said...

Hi,
Thanks so much for visiting my blog!
I know all too well about long-term renovation projects. LOL
I hope all goes well with your laundry room!

Those cookies look wonderful! Of course, with raspberry jam and icing, how can you go wrong. :)
YUM!

Kimberly