Choc-bit cookies are one of those for me. To start with they aren't cookies, they are little cupcakes, but that is what they have always, and will always be called in my family. The recipe comes from my Dad's family but it was what Mum did with them that locks them in my memory. Mum used to make massive batches of them and would freeze them, three to a freezer bag. Then they would go in our lunch boxes. By morning tea they were defrosted and I had them pretty much every morning tea for most of my high school years and a good proportion of primary school too.
You might think after so many years of having them every day we would get bored of them, but I don't remember that ever happening. I even developed a little ritual about how to eat them, where I would nibble them away, counting each choc-bit I found. It was such a standard part of each morning tea that I would have to report to my friends on how many there were.
Today I made a batch. While S liked them, without all that history, they are just a nice cupcake to him. I however was savouring a memory, and yes, I had to nibble away and count the choc-bits!
In case I've inspired you to try them, here is the recipe:
8oz (250g) butter
8oz (250g) sugar
6 eggs (or 4 yolks 3 eggs)
6oz plain flour
6oz SR flour
6 tbls milk
grated lemon rind
1 pkt dark choc bits
Cream together the butter and sugar. Add the eggs one at a time (I like to add a slurp of vanilla extract at this point too). Beat in the flour, milk and lemon rind until well combined, then fold in the choc bits.
Spoon mixture into small cupcake cases until 2/3rds full and bake at 180 degrees for about 20 minutes or until golden on top. This makes a massive batch, I made a half batch yesterday and that was about 20 cupcakes.
They are delicious eaten warm from the oven and also freeze very well.
I do find it quite amazing that food-related memories are so powerful, and often so clear. There are certain foods that will always conjure up certain things for me, and it's rather nice to take advantage of that at times - as with childhood foods, like you do here. These certainly look worthy of the place in your memory!
ReplyDeleteKari, I've just had some for morning tea with a cup of tea - bliss! I reckon I've eaten literally thousands of these in my life, isn't it funny how some things are good no matter how many times you have had them. (and yes, I did count the choc bits, one had 9, that is high).
ReplyDeleteTeehee, for me the memory isn't choc bit cookies, just choc bits - I used to sneak a handful for afternoon tea and eat them one by one while reading :)
ReplyDeleteHmm, I may have done that too Hannah! They are also my chocolate of choice to melt in the microwave and eat with a spoon. ;)
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