Scouting for Cookies

By Rachel

"Chocolate is an antidepressant, which is especially useful as you start to gain weight."  ~Jason Love

It’s here! The time that we harass and stalk our friends, relatives, neighbors, and any stranger that crosses our path - to buy Girl Scout cookies. My daughter LOVES being a Girl Scout, but I would rather put my hand through a meat grinder than try to hawk cookies. Here’s this year’s story:

Since I am a tax widow from Feb. 1 - April 15 (hubby is a CPA), I had to take my four year old son with us when we went door-to-door peddling the damn cookies. He was great for about the first 15 minutes (well, ALMOST 15 minutes) but then he discovered the excitement of going house-to-house ringing doorbells. He decided that HE was the only one who should ring the doorbells - which did NOT set well with his sister. So, each time we approached a house, the two of them made a mad dash to the front door, knocking over pots, yard art and anything in their way. One poor woman opened her door to a fist fight when my son punched his sister because she got there first and rang the doorbell. He was sent promptly to the wagon for “time out” but proceeded to open and sample three boxes of cookies while I wasn’t looking.

Between my kids sneaking boxes to their room and my own secret addiction to Samoas and Thin Mints, I am now out $52. My clothes don’t fit any more and I have to take afternoon naps after my sugar high. Thank God the cookies are only available once a year.

For your next girlfriends’ get-together, have a cookie party. Ask everyone to bring their favorite cookie recipe and samples. It’s a great way to get your sugar fix and gather new recipes. But wear pants with elastic waists and leave the kids with their dads.

Homestyle Thin Mints

2 1/4 cups flour

1 cup white sugar


1/4 cup cornstarch


6 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder


1/2 tsp salt

1/3 cup milk


1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature


1/3 cup milk


3/4 tsp vanilla extract


1 tsp peppermint extract

10 oz. dark or semisweet chocolate


1/2 cup butter, room temperature

In a small bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, cocoa powder and salt.

In a medium bowl, cream together the sugar and butter. Mix in the milk, and the vanilla and peppermint extracts. Gradually, add in the flour mixture.

Shape dough into two logs, about 1 1/2 inches in diameter, wrap in plastic wrap and freeze for at least 1-2 hours, until dough is very firm.

Preheat oven to 375F.
Slice dough into ¼ inch thick rounds and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 13-15 minutes, until cookies are firm at the edges. Cool cookies completely on a wire rack before dipping in chocolate.

Dark Chocolate Coating: In a double broiler, combine chocolate and butter. Stir every 45 - 60 seconds, until chocolate is smooth. Dip each cookie in melted chocolate and then transfer to wax paper or parchment paper.  Wait until chocolate is set (cool and firm) before eating.

Makes 3 1/2 dozen cookies.