Mama Kaye's White Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies

Adapted from Family Circle Magazine. I found the recipe on their website in June, but now you need to register to see it, so here's another link to the recipe.

For those who don't know, every presidential election since 1992 Family Circle Magazine has hosted a cookie contest between the candidate's wives. I love the idea that Michelle Obama got this recipe from Sasha and Malia's godmother, but honestly? Cool, let's reinforce the stereotype of women's role as domestic housewives more. Would men ever be asked to participate in a cookie-baking contest? (In all fairness it should be noted that President Bill Clinton participated in 2008, along with Michelle Obama and Cindy McCain). But when there are two female presidential candidates will their spouses participate in a cookie-baking contest? If the spouses are men, based on this example I bet they'll be roped into a BBQ competition. 'murica.

Mama Kaye's White and Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

2¼	cups all-purpose flour
1	teaspoon baking soda
1	teaspoon salt
1	cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1	stick Crisco butter-flavored solid vegetable shortening
¾	cup granulated sugar
¾	cup packed brown sugar
1	teaspoon vanilla extract
2	eggs
1	cup each white chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips and mint chocolate chips (or Andes mint pieces)
2	cups chopped walnuts

Directions

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt. In a large bowl with an electric mixer, cream butter, vegetable shortening, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract.
2. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. On low speed, beat in flour mixture. By hand, stir in white and milk chocolate chips, mint chips and walnuts.
3. Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375 degrees F for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Zoe: I used the general idea with some major modifications - I didn't include nuts, Andes mints, or shortening. Instead, I increased the amount of chocolate and white chocolate chips, and used butter for the shortening.

I would have liked to use Andes mints, but alas, they are not among my stock of baking supplies at college. And I used butter rather than shortening to be healthier. They spread a bit thin and ended up more crispy than I would have liked. The shortening would have helped with that, so maybe next time I will use some shortening. Or, you could probably try not softening the butter as much as normal and seeing where that gets you.