COOKING WITH THE STARS (Chapter 1)
Aries

Double Chocolate Cocoa Nib Cookies

What better way to get a double dose of chocolate? You can pop a couple into a baggie on your way out the door for that afternoon brain boost.

Makes 6 Dozen Cookies

(2 sticks) butter, at room temperature

3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 teaspoon almond extract

21/4 cups all-purpose f our

3/4 cup cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup Dagoba organic cocoa nibs

1/2 cup almonds, finely chopped

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment on medium-high speed until light and fluffy mix the butter, sugars, eggs, vanilla, and almond extracts.

2. In a separate bowl, blend sifted together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Add the dry mix to the butter mixture and stir to combine thoroughly. Add the chocolate chips, cocoa nibs, and almonds.

3. Using a 1-ounce ice cream scoop, drop dough balls on greased cookie sheets. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Cool for 2 minutes on the cookie sheets before transferring to wire racks to finish cooling.

COOKING WITH THE STARS Copyright 2011 by Sabra Ricci.