White Chocolate, Cranberry, and Macadamia Nut Oatmeal Cookies

I spent most of last week stuck inside.  Temperatures were in the single digits (with windchills below zero) and a snowstorm struck us on Thursday, which meant my time outside was limited to short walks around the block with Maki. I used the opportunity to get lots of cooking done, and I did something I do maybe a couple of times a year: I baked cookies. I've meant to share a recipe for oatmeal cookies for a while now, but I kept putting it aside. These are perfectly crisp on the outside, with nice chew on the inside (the key is not over-baking them). Of course, once you bake cookies, you have to find something to do with them. They couldn't all stay in the house. The great thing about living in the 'burbs is having neighbors to distribute treats to. So, that's where the majority of them went, and Eric and I enjoyed the rest with our nightly carafe of tea. 

White Chocolate, Cranberry and Macadamia Nut Oatmeal Cookies

Yield: Approx. 24 cookies
Special Tools:  Stand mixer (or hand mixer), cookie sheet

Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 heaping cups rolled oats
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 sticks butter (room temperature)
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries
1/4 cup chopped macadamia nuts

Directions:
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, oats, sugar, brown sugar, salt, baking soda, and baking powder in a bowl. In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the butter and beat until smooth. With the mixer on its lowest setting, slowly add dry ingredients to the bowl. Mixture should be crumbly but start to come together. Beat in eggs and vanilla and mix until fully incorporated. Stir in white chocolate chips, dried cranberries, and macadamia nuts. 

Transfer the dough to the fridge and chill for 30 minutes. 

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350°F. Drop the dough onto baking sheets in 1.5 to 2 tablespoon scoops, leaving 2 inches of room between them.   Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the edges are golden and the cookies have set. Remove from oven and let cookies cool on the sheets for another 5 minutes. Transfer cookies to wire racks to finish cooling.  

Cabbage and Kohlrabi Slaw

I plan on sharing a few dishes inspired by my recent trip to Spain, but vegetables were what I craved when I got home. I ate more meat while I was away than I had planned (I have no regrets... it was all really good and totally worth it) and when I returned I just wanted salad. We had a few heads of cabbage and kohlrabi tucked in our vegetable drawer and then I came across a recipe in Ottolenghi's Plenty that called to me. His version has dried sour cherries, but I thought some fresh cranberries would be a great substitution. I didn't quite expect this slaw to be as addictive as it is. I think it's that combination of garlic and lemon, along with the tart cranberries and the beautiful crunch of the kohlrabi that keeps you wanting to go back for another forkful. 

Cabbage and Kohlrabi Slaw

Source
Slightly adapted from Ottolenghi's Plenty

Yield
Serves 4

Ingredients
1 medium or 1/2 large kohlrabi
1/2 white cabbage (8 to 9 oz)
Large bunch of dill, roughly chopped
1 cup fresh cranberries, sliced in half
Grated zest of 1 lemon
Juice of 1 lemon
1/4 cup olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 tsp sugar
Salt
Black pepper

Directions
1. Peel the kohlrabi and cut into thick matchsticks that are about 1/4 inch wide and 2 inches long. Slice the cabbage into 1/4-inch thick strips.

2. Put all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Use your hands to massage everything together for about a minute so the flavors mix and the lemon can soften the cabbage and cranberries. Let the slaw sit for about 10 minutes.

3. Check for seasoning and, if necessary, add more salt. Transfer to a serving bowl.