Tasty Tuesday

Wow, nothing posted for an entire week! Well here is my weekly recipe. This one is in honor of the 7th Annual Cookie Swap that I'll be attending on Sunday in my neighborhood. I am so excited to get a chance to meet some of the women around here...and eat lots of cookies!

Espresso Thumbprint Cookies (Cookie Exchange Quantity)

Cookies
1	cup packed brown sugar
3/4	cup shortening
3/4	cup butter or margarine, softened
1/4	cup baking cocoa
1	tablespoon instant espresso coffee (dry)
1	teaspoon vanilla
2	egg yolks
2 1/4	cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
1/2	teaspoon salt
Espresso Filling
1/2	cup whipping (heavy) cream
2	tablespoons instant espresso coffee (dry)
1	bag (11 1/2 oz) milk chocolate chips (2 cups)
1	tablespoon coffee-flavored liqueur, if desired
Decoration
	About 1/3 cup crushed peppermint candies, if desired

1.	Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, beat brown sugar, shortening, butter, cocoa, 1 tablespoon dry espresso, the vanilla and egg yolks with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon, until creamy. Stir in flour and salt.
2.	Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Press thumb into center of each cookie to make indentation, but do not press all the way to the cookie sheet.
3.	Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are firm. Quickly remake indentations with end of wooden spoon if necessary. Immediately remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
4.	Meanwwhile, in 1-quart saucepan, heat whipping cream and 2 tablespoons dry espresso over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until steaming and espresso is dissolved. Remove from heat; stir in chocolate chips until melted. Stir in liqueur. Cool until thickened, about 10 minutes.
5.	Spoon rounded 1/2 teaspoon filling into indentation in each cookie. Top each cookie with 1/4 teaspoon crushed candies.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft) No change. Enjoy this dessert recipe per request of Miss Paula Dean in last week's comments. Hope mine turn out as good as they look in this picture!