cook while you sleep

For years, Mama has made these wonderful sweets called "Forgotten Cookies." I made some last night, and when I mentioned them to SmallBean, she asked that I email her the recipe. In the process of typing it up, I realized that the recipe originated with my Aunt Margaret. Well thank you, Auntie M, for the delicious treats!

I should say before we get into the nitty gritty that this is a recipe requiring tools. Well, one tool, really: a mixer. SmallBean said she tried to make them once without a mixer and gave up. (SmallBean is not a giver-upper, so I suggest you note her experience.)

The real beauty of these lil puppies is that you turn on the oven, make the cookies, pop 'em in, and then TURN THE OVEN OFF and go to bed.
1. way less work than checking every 30 seconds to see if they're perfectly done
2. you get to go to bed a lot sooner than with any other cookie made late at night
3. when you step into the kitchen in the morning and see the mixer bowl soaking in the sink, you are practically guaranteed to think, "What is that from? Oh! The cookies! I forgot!" Seeeeee?

Aunt Margaret's Forgotten Cookies

2 egg whites
2/3 cup sugar
pinch of salt
1 cup chopped nuts
1 cup chocolate chips (regular or mint*)

Pre-heat oven to 350degrees. Line cookie sheet with foil. Beat egg whites until foamy, but not stiff. Add sugar and beat until stiff. [This took about ten minutes with my mixer.] Fold in salt, nuts, and chips. (Do NOT use electric mixer to fold.) Drop by teaspoon onto foil-lined cookie sheet. Put cookies in oven and TURN OFF OVEN. Do not open oven door until morning, or at least ten hours. Makes about 18 cookies.

* Mint chocolate chips used to be readily available around the holidays. Alas, they disappeared. Aaah, well, here is how to make them yourself:
Put one 12 oz package of regular chocolate chips in a Ziploc bag. Add 1/2 tsp peppermint extract. Seal bag and shake. Let sit overnight.

This recipe doubles very well. Just use two foil-lined baking sheets.

Oh, and we sometimes make these two (or three...) nights in a row. Save and re-use your foil, for heaven's sake.

These are really pretty and oh-so-tasty. :) Enjoy!