tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11198345.post-92128950436859155652007-11-05T23:18:00.000-05:002007-11-06T08:32:40.917-05:00This past Friday night I had the awesome pleasure to attend a potluck for Philadelphia Food Bloggers. It was hosted by Marisa of Fork You! I'll get to the food in a second, but first I have to say, it was incredibly fun meeting in real life the personalities I already enjoy from behind this screen. About 20 bloggers showed their faces, drank a little wine, ate some delicious dishes, and got to know each other a little bit better. I already hear Taylor planning the next potluck at her house in January. I can't wait. <br /><br />I didn't take a single picture of any of the wonderful food or drink I enjoyed that night. I have no good excuse, but I'll blame the wine. And <a href="http://philafoodie.blogspot.com/">Philafoodie</a> for bringing all that wine. A few other bloggers did take pictures and you can check them out here:<br /><a href="http://straightfromthefarm.wordpress.com/2007/11/05/pea-shots-in-fillo/">Straight from the Farm </a><br /><a href="http://www.apartment2024.com/2007/11/02/philly-food-bloggers-are-terrific/">Apartment 2024</a><br /><a href="http://www.messyandpicky.com/">Messy & Picky</a><br /><a href="http://www.macandcheesereview.blogspot.com">Mac & Cheese</a> was also camera shy, but she wrote up a great post about the night. <br /><br />I brought one of my favorite cookies of all time. I know I had inspiration from some cookie I saw someone make on TV years ago. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/halene/1882804598/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2156/1882804598_80ad9fd73a.jpg" width="450" height="339" alt="coconut cookie crop" /></a><br />It's evolved over time into a cookie that combines chewy, crunchy, sweet, salty, and buttery. <br /><br />1 cup unsalted butter, softened <br />1 1/2 cups light brown sugar <br />1/2 cup granulated sugar <br />2 teaspoons vanilla extract <br />2 eggs <br />2 cups all-purpose flour <br />1/4 teaspoon salt <br />1/4 teaspoon baking soda <br />1 - 10oz bag toffee candy bits (see picture below)<br />1 cup oatmeal <br />1 1/2 cups sweetened flaked coconut <br />1 1/3 cups sliced almonds<br /><br />In a stand mixer, cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the vanilla extract and eggs and mix until creamy. In a separate bowl, mix flour, salt, and baking soda. Add these dry ingredients to the butter and sugar mixture. I like to mix the toffee bits, oatmeal, coconut and almonds together in a bowl before adding them to the cookie dough and if you use the bowl you just mixed the dry ingredients in, you'll save yourself washing a dish. Add the toffee, oatmeal, coconut, almond mixture to the dough and mix by hand. The dough is very stiff, but you want to mix it well so the cookies stay together. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/halene/1841076779/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2039/1841076779_2a0a6067af.jpg" width="450" height="340" alt="Food Blogger Meet Up 011" /></a><br />I like a nice big cookie, so I drop about 2 tablespoons of dough about 2 inches apart on a parchment lined cookie sheets. Because of the sticky toffee involved in this cookie, you won't want to skip lining your cookies sheets with silicon mats or parchment paper. <br /><br />Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees. Cool on wire racks and try not to eat all of them in one sitting. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/halene/1882338410/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2283/1882338410_96998b0f12.jpg" width="450" height="340" alt="toffee (4)" /></a><br />These are the kind of toffee bits you need to use for this cookie. HEATH brand makes one called "Bits o' Brickle" and looks like <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/halene/1882341640/">this</a>. And, actually, if anyone knows where in the city of Philadelphia I can find these to purchase, please let me know. Right now I'm having them sent to me and would really like to be able to get them without paying shipping and handling.<br /><br />See all of you bloggers soon, I hope. Enjoy the recipe!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11198345-9212895043685915565?l=www.foodaphilia.com'/></div>ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13074949515498662453halene@gmail.com16