Cookie conundrum, part 1: Amaretti

I almost didn't make these. I thought they were going to be ridiculously, ridonkulously difficult--I mean, they sell tins of these things at Balducci's for, like, $10 a pop! That must mean they're ridiculously scary and difficult! Despite my reservations, however, I was determined to avoid making a plain sugar cookie to represent half of the black and white ball; I was going to tackle these crazy confections if it killed me!

It, um, didn't. Clearly. In reality, I'm not sure these could actually have been easier.

Three ingredients. These things have only three ingredients. They also require only one bowl--the one on your food processor. The most complicated thing about them is the fact that you have to pipe them on to the baking sheet, and that's not so much complicated as just requiring a certain amount of precision (these cookies puff up exponentially in the oven, so you really want to make sure your batter drops are no more than 3/4 of an inch, or else you will find yourself with an amaretti sheet cake).



As an aside, these are the only cookies I've ever made that turned out to look exactly the way I'd anticipated (i.e., exactly like any store-bought variety, except better because it's homemade), if that gives you any sense of how easy this recipe is, and how formidable an achievement it will seem to your audience.

And thus, I declaim these cookies an excellent party food--they're elegant, delicious, store for days in an airtight container, and won't drive you crazy. You don't need to admit anything to your partygoers; let them think you slaved.

Chewy amaretti cookies
Adapted from Gourmet magazine, January 2009

1 (7oz) tube pure almond paste (not marzipan!)--roughly 3/4 c
1 cup sugar
2 large egg whites, at room temperature for 30 minutes

1. Preheat your oven to 300 degrees F. Line rimmed cookie sheets with parchment
2. Pulse the almond paste and sugar in a food processor until about the consistency of sand.
3. Add the egg whites and pulse again until smooth.
4. Transfer to a pastry bag and pipe on to prepared sheets in 3/4" rounds (1/3" high)
5. Bake until golden and puffed, about 15-18 minutes, rotating the pan about halfway through.
6. Cool cookies in pans on racks until COMPLETELY cool.
   

everyone else is doing it...

I am not very good at throwing parties. And what I mean by that is, I am not very good to myself when I throw parties. Early in the week, it seems brilliant to me to plan an assortment of five or ten different dips, from handmade anchoide to wasabi-lime-pea, assortments of farmer's market vegetables chopped in perfect bite sizes by hand, warm olives marinated with a mix of herbs and citrus, etc etc, leaving me dreading the event by Friday. As time goes by, though, I'm getting a little, tiny bit better at taking it easy. Cooking for groups (especially on weeknights) now needs to involve foods that multiply well and can be prepared in advance—chili! braised lamb shoulder! giant peach cobbler! The days of individual pizzas may be over.

At least I'm trying. We're having a party this weekend, and I'm keeping it simple. There will be plenty of beer. And there will be cookies.

But not just any cookies. Those cookies. I'm totally late on this one, I know, everyone's over it already. I just couldn't get them out of my mind after seeing them here, and here...

So I bought the féves (and some other very nice chocolate, Callebaut Bittersweet 70%) and some Muscovado sugar, which was recommended on egullet, and I'm raring to go. I'll keep you posted.