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Decadent Double Chocolate Cookies

Some days, you just need a rich, chocolately, crisp, yet chewy, gooey cookie.  Today is one of those days.  

 

A few days ago, our beloved dog, Boomer passed away.  He was a beautiful Golden Retriever/ Akita cross.  He was a giant, not only in stature, but in personality.  Everyone who met him, loved him.  He was a gentle giant.  He taught us to love unconditionally.  He loved us that way.  No matter what we did, he was quick to forgive, wanting everything to be perfect between us.  

 

When I was first diagnosed with Celiac Disease, my husband was deployed to Africa for 6 months on a UN tour.  I was feeling somewhat better than the 7 previous months where I had been terribly ill with what seemed like a mystery illness.  The gluten free diet was the miracle cure I had been looking for.  I never knew how much food could heal.  So, feeling somewhat better, I was given the task of taking Boomer for a walk every morning.  My husband had done this for the previous 7 years.  Every day of Boomer's life, he would wake up and go for a walk.   Now, that task was left up to me.  With love in my heart for this amazing animal, I woke up before sunrise and drove to the trails by the salt marsh in Cole Harbour.  At first, we walked only 2 to 3 km.  I was so tired, worn out, winded.  I could hardly keep up with Boomer.  I let him off his leash so that he could run ahead, and then run back to get me.  He was so patient with me.  I was a sweaty mess everytime we got home.  I was so terribly out of shape.  

As time went by, the snow started to fall, and walking became even more difficult!  But still, Little Dog (as we affectionately called him) would run ahead, and then come back to get me.  And we walked further and further each day.  During one storm, the snow was so deep we couldn't walk through the drifts.  We had to crawl, because the snow was so deep we couldn't walk through it, and so soft, we couldn't walk on it.  Boomer frequently got "beached" on the drifts, as his belly would be on top of the snow, but his legs couldn't reach a hard surface to move ahead.  I would crawl up behind him and place my hands under his back legs so that he could leap to the next spot where we did it again.  That was the longest 3 km walk EVER.  Despite the terrible cold and wind, by the end, I was wearing a t-shirt and my bib snow pants.  We were so hot!  By the time spring came, and the snow melted making walking easy again, we were walking 10 km every morning.  Then, for fun, we would race to the car.  At first it was about 100 m, and gradually, we started running earlier, and laughing at the car when we got there.  Because of this, I started running!  I'm a runner now, and I owe it to my sweet little dog, Boomer.  We walked 500 km in those 6 months.  I fell in love with walking and running, but truly, I fell in love with this amazing dog.  I had loved him since he was a puppy, but this was a deeper bond between us.  He slept curled up on my feet every night, because I was his safety.  He loved me back.  

 

Now that he's gone, I'm left with this emptiness in my heart and in my home.  How can I fill it?  I don't know yet.  But for now, I'm going to keep running.  And I'm going to make cookies.  They might not fill the void in my heart, but the cookies are delicious.  I know the rest of my family will enjoy them too.

 

The picture below is the last one of me and Boomer together.  I've changed my hair a lot!  I might need to update the picture on the blog!  

 

For more adventures with Boomer, you can find him on instagram using the hashtag #LittleDogIsntLittle.  

 

 

Decadent Double Chocolate Cookies

 

3/4 cup butter (for dairy free, use Earth Balance Buttery Sticks)

1 1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup dutch process cocoa powder (Rodelle, available at Costco, is gluten free)

1 large egg

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup white rice flour

1/4 cup tapioca starch

1/4 cup potato starch

1 TBSP corn starch

1 tsp xanthan gum

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 bag Enjoy Life Chocolate Chunks.  (or 1 1/2 cups gluten free chocolate chips- Chipits are gluten free.  These are delicious with a combination of dark, milk and white chocolate chips, but they contain dairy, so avoid if necessary)

 

 

In stand mixer.  Cream sugar and butter together until uniform in texture.  Add cocoa powder and blend well.  Beat in egg until mixture becomes lighter in texture.  Add in vanilla.

 

In a small bowl, mix together dry ingredients (not including chocolate chips).  Add to mixer in one addition, with mixer on low, gradually increasing speed by one notch or two until well blended.  Add in chocolate chunks or chips.

 

Using a 2 TBSP scoop (or a couple tablespoons), scoop dough balls onto parchment paper lined cookie sheets.  Leave room between them for spread. I only place 6 cookies on each cookie sheet.  

Bake in 375F oven (350F convection) for 11 minutes.  Cool on pan for 5 minutes before moving to a cooling rack.

 

Enjoy!

 

Therese K

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