First Lady bake-off

For years, I've been making Hillary Clinton's chocolate chip cookies. Since 1996, when I've attended a political gathering where a culinary contribution was required, they've been my go-to food. Everyone loves Hillary's cookies, and during the 1998 campaign season people actually requested them when I made the rounds at the county potlucks and cook-outs on behalf of former Ohio Governor and Congressman Ted Strickland.

So, when the Obama campaign asked me to host a Convention Party this week, I didn't think twice about stepping up to the plate. And I knew at least one of the foods that would be on the buffet table last night. However, I took it a step further and decided to have a First Lady Bake-off, pitting Hillary's cookies against Michelle Obama's most recent contribution to Family Circle's Presidential Cookie Bake-off.

Michelle's cookies have been dogged on the Internet because they don't contain oats, and apparently every winning cookie since 1992 has contained oats. These cookies don't need oats, friends. In fact, I'm not even sure where you'd put oats because they DO contain: white chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips, pieces of Andes mints and nuts.

And, they are, quite possibly, one of the most delicious things I've ever put in my mouth. I wish I had smell-o-vision so you could all smell what my kitchen smelled like baking them.

Needless to say, they won the bake-off. In fact, they were obliterated to crumbs. Hillary's cookies were abandoned in a pile, which I've never seen happen in almost 20 years.

Containing a cup of both butter and crisco plus all that chocolate, Mrs. Obama does caution us that they are a very special treat that should not be eaten with any frequency. Either that, or you will need to crank up your contributions to her "Let's Move" campaign...A LOT.

The recipe is below, or you can find it on Family Circle's website.

Mama Kaye's White and Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies*


Yield: 5 dozen cookies Prep: 15 mins

Bake: 12 mins 375°F

Ingredients

2 1/4 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

3/4 cup granulated sugar

3/4 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.
*I think in the article Michelle O explains that "Mama Kaye" is Malia and Sasha's godmother. Whoever she is, God bless her for these delicious cookies.