The Last February Giveaway - Cookie Mania

Growing up, desserts were my mom's domain.  There's a family rumor (started by my dad) that Thatmom called dibs on dessert making, since my dad did the rest of the cooking and she wanted an area that was just for her to shine.

And for my mom, the go-to person for desserts was Maida Heatter.  She had all the books and even exchanged correspondence with Ms. Heatter.  (The fact that Maida wrote back is one of the reasons she remains a favorite of mine to this date.)

Thatmom had the original Maida Heatter book of cookies.  For Christmas a couple years ago Thatmom got me the new improved version (along with her cake book).

It's been a while since I've cracked it, so it was about time for me to bring ole Maida back into my kitchen.  I thought I'd start with a nice easy bar recipe.  One with dates since I had some left over from the lebkuchen.

Confession time: These are cookies...that I enjoy for breakfast.  They have dates and nuts, so they seem kind of breakfasty.  And the bar shape makes me feel like I'm eating a cereal bar. Which is totally a breakfast food.  And because they're made with honey instead of flour, I don't even feel to guilty about it.  Well, a little guilty, because - cookies for breakfast.  But not guilty enough to stop eating them.

Honey Date Nut Bars (From Maida Heatter's Cookies)

1 1/3 cup flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

3 eggs

1 cup honey

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 lb pitted dates, coarsely chopped

8 oz walnuts, chopped

confectioners' sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350. In an electric mixer, beat the eggs until they are foamy.
2. Add the honey and vanilla.
3. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt.  Add this mixture to the wet ingredients and beat well.
4. Stir in the dates and nuts.  Pour the batter into a greased baking pan.  Bake for 35 minutes, turning halfway through. 
5. Cool the cake for 5 minutes in pan, then invert onto a baking rack and cool completely.
6. Cut the cake into bars and sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.

And now my final February gift to you.  A copy of the Maida Heatter cookie book!  Now you can make these, or hundreds of other cookies in your very own home!  And while most of the recipes are cookies (makes sense given the title) it also includes recipes for crackers, marshmallows, ice cream and sauces.  Sound good?

Starts today and ends Monday March 3 at midnight (PST). Winner will be chosen at random through random.org

To enter into the giveaway:
Leave a comment letting me know what your favorite cookie is.