The American People Have Spoken

 Or at least that is what most reporters say after an election.  Last night while I was reading (thank you, seminary course!), Hubby was watching and listening to the debates via headphones and computer monitor.  I finished chapter 1 and the debates were over.  I asked Hubby about it and got "his spin" on how it went.  I was skeptical; we are a house divided right now.  Hubby has picked his candidate and I am just spinning.  TV stations put their spin on the debate.  I knew there HAD to be a replay of the debate, so we searched the TV guide and found it.  We watched.  How about you?  Are you anxiously awaiting the Veep Debate?  Or have you made up your mind?  Or do you just not care?  LOL  Last night one commentator interviewed an "after the debate" panel.  He pridefully announced his panel always picked the winning candidate...sans one election.  Another pollster announced she always picked the winning candidate.  Then I found this jewel!

"Michelle Obama Tastes Sweet Redemption"-- actually what caught my attention was the photo of Obama eating a....cookie!!!  The article went on to boast "Family Circle's cookie poll has accurately predicted who will be the next first lady in four out of the past five elections."

 Well there you have it.  The American People have spoken.  We choose our next president by how much we love their spouses' cookie recipe. 

In one corner, weighing in at 5 dozen, we have.....

Obama's Mama Kaye's White and Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies

Yield: 5 dozen cookies

Prep:   15 mins  Bake:   12 mins  375°F 

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 stick Crisco butter-flavored solid vegetable shortening
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup each white chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips and mint chocolate chips (or Andes mint pieces)
• 2 cups chopped walnuts

Directions

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt. In a large bowl with an electric mixer, cream butter, vegetable shortening, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract.
2. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. On low speed, beat in flour mixture. By hand, stir in white and milk chocolate chips, mint chips and walnuts.
3. Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375 degrees F for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

 And in the other corner, weighing in at just 3 dozen is...

Ann Romney's M&M's cookies

Yield: 3 dozen cookies

Prep:   15 mins  Bake:   18 mins  325°F 

Ingredients

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups crunchy peanut butter
• 1 tablespoon light corn syrup (such as Karo)
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 6 ounces chocolate chips
• 2/3 cup M&M's candies

Directions

1. Heat oven to 325 degrees F. In a large bowl, cream sugars, butter, peanut butter and corn syrup on high speed until well combined. Beat in eggs 1 at a time. Beat in vanilla extract.
2. In a separate bowl, mix together oats and baking soda. Stir into peanut butter mixture until combined. Mix in chocolate chips and M&M's.
3. Using a standard-size ice cream scoop, drop dough onto baking sheets (about 9 per sheet). Bake at 325 degrees F for 18 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool 2 minutes, then transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

Ding, ding, ding!!!
 
Family Circle has announced a winner.  (This race is just as close as the actual presidential race.)  9,000 readers voted.  287 more votes went to Obama's vs. Romney's COOKIE recipe.  Let's see if Family Circle can keep picking our next president.  As for me, I'm going to go make cookies.