potato chip cookies

I went to a networking event last night with some people from my work and various other "young professionals". I hate that term but that's really neither here nor there.  

 

It so happened that I left at the same time as three of my female colleagues. We went to get our coats and without any discussion, all four of us simultaneously took out a pair of flat shoes from our handbags (mine were leopard print obviously) and switched out of our heels.

I'm sure this didn't used to happen when I started work. Even when I had a long commute involving multiple forms of public transport and plenty of working in between, I would diligently put my grown up shoes on every morning and not take them off until I got home. I used to wear heels every day with my school uniform. Now I won't even run out to grab a sandwich without switching into my flats.

 

I'm not the only one either. It's almost rare enough that I take note every time that I see a woman on the way to work wearing heels. I like to think that I'm throwing off the shackles of years of oppression through the medium of painful stilettos but really, I'm just lazy. 

 

After all that, this week I made cookies for some boys. I'm not really a big one for boy food or girl food although I never miss an opportunity to mock my boyfriend for his girly choice of pizza toppings. These cookies however, seen on smitten kitchen a few months ago and never really forgotten, were made to be drunk with beer while watching the rugby on TV. Oh and because my back up plan if I don't get in shape by the summer is to fatten my boyfriend up so that I look smaller when I'm standing next to him. 

 

The boys didn't guess that the secret ingredient in these cookies was crushed up potato chips (let's be real, I'm going to call them 'crisps' from now on because I'm English) which I was slightly surprised about given the number of dishes that my boyfriend does request I add crisps too. The crunch was very welcome though as were the little bursts of saltiness that worked so well with the dark chocolate chips that I decided to add. 

This recipe should have gone up on Wednesday but I spent most of the day in the firm belief that it was Tuesday and so never got round to it. I think these cookies are worth the wait. 

~

Potato chip cookies

Adapted from Emeril Lagasse via smitten kitchen 

Yield: Approx 30 cookies

ngredients

• 225g unsalted butter, softened
• 100g caster sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
• 100g ready salted crisps (or potato chips if you must)
• 100g dark chocolate chips
• 250g plain/all purpose flour
• Sea salt to sprinkle on top

Cooking Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F and line a couple of baking sheets with greaseproof paper/a silicone mat.
2. Cream together the butter, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add the crisps, chocolate and flour and stir until just combined.
3. Roll a teaspoon of the mixture into a ball with your hands, place on the baking tray and gently squish down. Sprinkle with sea salt.
4. Bake for 12-15 minutes until golden brown. Leave on the tray for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool.