My husband always tells me that he has no family (except his kids and us). I’ve written about this before. I can’t figure out if he really believes it or if he’s looking for sympathy or what the deal is but the truth is he’s got a lot of family. And more family pops up all the time. This time it was a sister. Granted it was a step-sister but a sister nonetheless. And the sister came with her cousin (on her mother’s side so not a relative of my husband’s but a relative of his relative). Alan’s step-sister is Ronni and her cousin is Gay. They are delightful and funny and energetic, and we had a totally fun evening. So, Ronnie’s mom Ellie was married to Alan’s Dad Bernie. Since Bernie and Ellie got married when their kids were adults the kids didn’t develop a real sibling relationship – but they have a friendship and a commonality of people in their lives. Also, what I found interesting is that they have a natural closeness as a result of a commonality of their childhood experience since they grew up in the same environment in New Jersey – Teaneck. They know the same places, the same people, schools, concerts, experienced the same events. Ronnie’s cousin Gay also has a sort of vicarious commonality of experience by virtue of the fact of her cousin-ness. All said, the shared experience made for a totally enjoyable and talk-filled evening. One more thing, both women are artists. I have not see Gay’s work except for the lovely jewelry she was wearing. I have seen Ronnie’s work and confirm her talent – beautiful clothing and accessories (knit and crochet), and jewelry. What she brought with her was crochet/beaded anklets and bracelets. I purchased a few anklets for my nieces.
So that said, sister and sister’s cousin were coming for dinner and I was cooking which is my favorite thing to do. However, the day before ‘the dinner’ was moving day (moved my mom into a ‘retirement home’ and all that comes with that). So I was spending the day helping my mom adjust and fetching things from the old digs and taking them to the new digs. I needed an easy but not cheesy meal. So…. I made Tia’s roast chicken (salted inside and out with a couple of stabbed lemons stuck into the cavity and cooked on high heat); Kale and shredded brussel sprouts salad – which would have been a hassle except that Alexandra helped a ton, roast potatoes, a sourdough baguette that we just pulled apart with our hands (washed) and butter. Easy as pie. And then…. I made Chocolate shortbread with cocao nibs and sea salt. And that is the recipe you get here.
Chocolate Shortbread with Cacao nibs and sea salt (Cookstr.com)
Ingredients:
1 cup flour
¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
¼ cup plus 2 Tbsp cacao nibs crushed with a rolling pin (we used a combination of bitter and sweet) and the bitter were practically uncrushable.
1 tsp sea salt
12 Tbsp (8 ounces) unsalted butter at room temperature
½ cup granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
Directions: Preheat oven to 325° Racks should be on the lower third and upper third of the oven. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper
Combine flour and cocoa powder in a small bowl. Combine the nibs and sea salt in another small bowl.
Nibs
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on medium speed for about 5 minutes or until light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides and the blade a couple of times. Mix in the vanilla.
Add in half of the flour mixture and mix at low speed. Add the remaining half of the flour mixture. Scrape the bowl a couple times. Once incorporated, mix on medium speed for 1 to 2 minutes. Mix in the nibs and salt. (ok to refrigerate well wrapped for up to a week or frozen for a couple months)
On a lightly floured board or between parchment or wax paper, roll the dough into a square ¼ inch thick. Cut into 1 x 2 1/2 inch rectangles or other desired shape by hand or with a cookie cutter and place on the pans, about 1 inch aapart.
Bake for 15 minutes, rotating the pans once halfway through baking. Cool the cookies on a rack and store in an airtight container.
They’re pretty great. Not sweet.
