cookie election...

*Michelle Obama's Shortbread*

1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

1 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons sugar

2 egg yolks

2 tablespoons Amaretto (almond liqueur); or 1 tsp almond extract

1 teaspoon each orange and lemon zest

3 cups cake flour (not self-rising)

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 beaten egg white

Chopped nuts or dried fruit (optional)

Heat oven to 325°.Line a 17 x 12 x 1-inch baking pan with nonstick foil. In large bowl, cream together butter and 11/2 cups of the sugar.Slowly add egg yolks, and beat well until smooth. Beat in Amaretto and zest.Stir in flour and salt until combined.Spread dough evenly into prepared pan, flattening as smoothly as possible.Brush top of dough with egg white; sprinkle with nuts or fruit (if using) and with remaining 2 tablespoons sugar.Bake at 325° for 25 minutes or until brown, turn off oven and allow cookies to sit in oven (with door ajar) for 15 minutes. Cut while slightly warm.
Yields: 6 dozen 2" x 3" cookies

*Cindy McCain's Butterscotch Oatmeal cookies*

3/4 cup (11/2 sticks) unsalted butter or margarine, softened

3/4 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 cups rolled oats

1 2/3 cups butterscotch chips

Heat oven to 375°.In a large bowl beat the butter or margarine, granulated sugar and brown sugar together. Add the eggs and vanilla, beating well.In a medium-size bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture; stir until blended. Stir in oats and butterscotch chips. Drop by tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart onto un-greased cookie sheets.Bake at 375° for 10 minutes, until the edges begin to brown. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Yields: 5 1/2 dozen cookies

I voted!!

We hosted a neighborhood block party this weekend, and my dessert offering was the cookie recipes of the Presidential candidates wives. I did not divulge which cookie belonged to which candidate. Everyone had one (or more!!) of each cookie and then cast their vote in the ever so chic brown lunch bags used as ballot boxes!! The neighbors really got into it! It was hilarious!!

The results...

Mc Cain took it by 6 votes.

(I behaved...there was absolutely no altering of either recipe to sway the vote!!)