Chocolate of the Earth

It’s impossible for me not to be passionate, ask… well, pretty much anyone that has so much as encountered me. To tell me not be passionate is like telling me not to be diabetic, I can’t control it. I’m passionate about baking, I’m passionate about writing, I’m passionate about religion, and I’m passionate about politics.

That being said, I’m not one of those people who believe that everyone who disagrees with me is “stupid”, on a political front or otherwise. I certainly don’t understand the reasoning behind some people’s views, but still welcome discussion, controversy, even a bit of a friendly quarrel in the spirit of comprehension and perception. I understand the adage, “The more I learn, the less I know.”

When Muhammad Ali returned to America from the 1960 Rome Olympics, he was enraged and disgusted by the treatment of minorities in this country. Incensed over the discrimination towards himself, a human being, who represented and earned his country a Gold Medal, upon his return – he took the one solid token of America he had, and he threw it away into the Ohio River.

I reflect often on the heroic actions of those who came before me. Like them, am I willing to stand up for what I believe is right? What will I do when I feel misunderstood, or misrepresented? Steeped in frustration? Impregnated with anger? What do my actions indicate? Am I nothing more than an automaton, eating… sleeping… and going along with the daily trends?

I hope that I am never so complacent that I simply stand by and allow other people, who do not know me or my family, make decisions which will affect us on every basic level not only today, but for years and generations to come. So, among other things, on Tax Day I made these cookies as a salute to this promised land, and as a tribute to the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of America and the Bill of Rights contained therein.

Cookies: Chocolate Earth

These are your basic Chocolate Crinkles, but not just quite.

1/2 cup shortening
1 2/3 cup sugar
Mix until sugar is creamy and shiny

Add
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 eggs
1oz semisweet baking chocolate
Mix until smooth

Add, alternating between
1/3 cup milk
and
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
Mix until incorporated

Chill for at least 3 hours
Roll into round balls, coat in equal parts powdered sugar and cocoa and place on cookie sheet
Sift additional cocoa powder over cookie balls to coat

Bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes
Transfer to wire rack to cool

I welcome comments so long as they are respectful.