Post Bathing Suit Cookies

You may have noticed that there has been a bit of a baking embargo in my kitchen. Something about me trying to squeeze my body into a swimming suit (the cyclist parades around in spandex most of the time, so he is very much at home in a Speed-o).

Well, we just returned from Paradise. No more bathing suits until summer.

Get out your mixers and preheat your ovens!

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

2 1/4 cups flour
1 t baking soda
1 t salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 c granulated sugar
3/4 c brown sugar
1 t vanilla
2 eggs
2 c white chocolate chips
2 c lightly salted, roasted macadamia nuts (coarsely chopped)

Combine flour, soda and salt in a small bowl. In bowl of electric mixer, beat butter, sugars and vanilla until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in the flour mixture. Stir in chocolate and nuts. Chill dough thoroughly (about 4 hours). Preheat oven to 375. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 9-11 minutes, or until light golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes. Remove to wire rack to cool completely.

While in Hawaii, Luke and Bunny introduced us to the "eat a large dessert every night" lifestyle. We ate all sorts of tasty treats. Chocolate lava cake, macadamia nut tarts, caramelized pineapple upside down cake, bananas foster bread pudding, mango cheesecake, shave ice with macadamia nut ice cream...

This recipe is for you, Luke, to help you use up the two suitcases worth of macadamia nuts that you brought home.