Dear Girl (that sat next to me on the plane last night),
Hi. How are you? This is just a quick note to let you know that you sat on my glasses. I know that you know that you sat on my glasses. You did, after all, hand them back to me crazy mangled. I trust that you know what shape glasses generally assume.
I understand that there are two active parties in this tragedy. There’s the person that accidentally left her glasses in the middle seat next to her while she properly stowed her purse under the seat in from of her…. that’s me. There’s also the person that was in such a hurry to get into that second row middle seat, that didn’t let the girl with the glasses on the aisle properly acclimate before barging in… that’s you. So, you sat on my glasses.
My favorite part about you sitting on my glasses, was how you showed exactly zero remorse for the damage you caused. That was awesome. Hey… remember that part when I was very obviously trying to bend them back in shape in front of you? Yea… that was pretty fun too. That was me being passive aggressive. I bet that was your favorite part.
Oh well, they’re just glasses, right? Next time, I’ll watch where I put my glasses if you watch where you put your body. Deal?
Sincerely,
Joy
And now… dark chocolate cookies. Let’s do this.
I love big, soft, brownie-like cookies. These are them. Hot dang they’re satisfying. Get your hands on some good chocolate for these beauties. I used a Valrhona 70% chocolate. When it comes to mix-ins, I went for walnuts and golden raisins. Maybe you want to try dried cherries and white chocolate, or pecans and walnuts, or chocolate chunks and dried apricot. Dream it up and go nuts. Thanks for the Twitter inspiration on these Roberta!
Dark Chocolate, Walnut and Golden Raisin Cookies
adapted from King Arthur somewhere
8 ounces good quality bittersweet chocolate , 60%-72%(chopped or in chips)
3 Tablespoons (1 1/2 ounces) butter
1 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon espresso powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoons salt
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts
3/4 cup golden raisins
In a double boiler, or in the microwave, gently melt together the chocolate and butter. To avoid heating the chocolate too much and possibly burning it, the best method is to heat till the butter is melted and the chocolate has partially melted, then remove from the heat. Stir until all the chocolate melts.
In a separate bowl, beat together the sugar and eggs till they’re thoroughly combined. You don’t need a mixer, just do it in a medium sized bowl with a wooden spoon. Add the melted chocolate mixture, then stir in the remaining ingredients, including the chocolate chips, walnuts and raisins, if you’
re using them.
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly grease (or line with parchment) two baking sheets, three if you have them.
Drop the cookie dough by the tablespoonful (about the size of a small ping pong ball) onto the prepared baking sheets. A tablespoon cookie scoop makes this task extremely simple. Leave about 2? between the dough balls, as they’
ll spread as they bake.
Bake the cookies for 11 to 12 minutes, until their tops are shiny and cracked. They won’t crack until the very end, so keep a close eye on them; when they’re cracked all the way across the top surface, they’
re done. The point is, you want these baked all the way through, but just barely; additional baking makes them more crisp rather than chewy. Remove the cookies from the oven. Wait 5 minutes then transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool.
Bethany
What inconsideration (is that a word?). I had a roommate once who sat on my glasses and broke them. While I was living in Ecuador……. far, far away from an eye doctor. No Lens Crafters in Quito, I was pretty SOL.
Lovely, lovely cookies. I am into everything dark and chocolately, but am slightly raisin-adverse. Loved the idea of white chocolate and dried cherries, though!! I just might have to go that route.
Sharon
You approached the situation very well, some people are just rude.
-__-
the projectivist
basic politeness is dying out –
i work in retail and see it every day.
i am learning the art of ‘holding my tongue’.
it’s a seriously challenging, PAINFUL, art – let me tell you!
i love the way you write, Joy.
just saying.
the cookies look absolutely decadent, i was searching for something to bake for school lunches tomorrow, and i’ve just found it!
Sarah
Awww, I’m so sorry to hear about your glasses :( She should have at least apologized profusely, even if maybe she couldn’t afford to offer to pay for them. The cookies look amazing, though!
cc
Hi Joy! I just had to say I found your site from the Times, and had to see! You’re fantastic and I can’t wait to try out these cookies :)
With a huge hug all the way from New Zealand,
cc
Maggy
I was on a flight a couple weeks ago and was stowing my bag in the overhead compartment. Of course I needed to rearrange some of the bags already there to fit mine in. The woman I was going to be sitting next to actually said “Please don’t touch my bag”…….? Really? What really bugged me was her tone of voice which truly suggested I was doing something I shouldn’t be. I said to her, “You must be joking” and carried on shuffling bags. Anyway, just another tale of airplane rudeness.
P.S. the cookies look amazing! I’m on vacation right now in a house with only the essentials, will cook on return home :)
Elyse
I’m afraid the passive aggresisive glasses bending probably went right over this person’s head. I have no doubt she felt entitled to sit on your glasses and not apologize because they were on HER seat. You obviously don’t understand that SHE is the only one who matters in this situation. Heck, she probably thoght you should be apologizing to her…
These cookies look positively amazing.
Jayme
Joy, I love you. Seriously awesome post.
love the passive-aggressive bending back into shape of the glasses. I totally would’ve done that too lol.
Julianne
Why, oh why did I have to start reading your blog and nearly simultaneously make a pact with my husband that we won’t eat sugar? These look irresistible. But I will. Resist. For a week or so. Maybe.
Yolanda
Did I tell you about that time I went on a class whale watching trip in 6th grade and ten minutes into the trip that one girl, we’ll call her Kim, thought it was funny to say, “Look! A whale!” (even though she didn’t see one), and as I spun around to look, her wildly gesturing hand knocked my brand new (two days old) glasses off my face and into the ocean? Did I mention that I spent the entire day down in the galley sobbing because I was certain my lost glasses meant certain death when my mom found out? Oh wait, you don’t know me. I’ve already said too much.
The fudgy, brownie-like cookie looks divine.
Glory Promo
Yummy..found you looking for coco recipes …Wow…cute site too.
LucyLang
Beautiful cookies! It is definitely sucky that the girl on the plane broke your glasses.
Katrina
Sorry about your glasses. Great letter though!
And the cookies, whoa–just printed recipe. Must make soon!
Glenda
Man, don’t you hate when people are like that. Sometimes I get tired of being the nice person that lets it all go, sometimes I want to shake and scream at the person in the grocery store, that parks the buggy, then stands beside it, blocking the entire aisle. So you stand there patiently tapping your foot while they pretend not to see you. Sorry about your glasses.
I hope she reads this and burns her cookies.
Frieda
Very well written…and very well baked! You’ve got me craving chocolate brownie cookies….thanks for sharing!