Look what arrived in the mail, just in time for Presidents’ Day: a batch of Mamie Eisenhower’s Marble Cookies. Baked with love and sent with care by my very own First Lady, my mom. Sweet, nutty and a little flaky (I refer to the cookies) Mamie’s marble cookies presage the wining streak of chocolate cookie victories of her successors, notably Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush, and Michelle Obama.
Interesting to note that the only time the First Lady cookie bake-off did not predict the election winner was when Ann Romney’s M&M cookie vanquished Michelle’s shortbread entry. There’s a lesson here.
Still, they’re all very good recipes. Here’s how Mamie did it.
MAMIE EISENHOWER’S CHOCOLATE MARBLE COOKIES
2 cups chopped pecans
1 lb. butter
1 1/3 cups sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
4 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup extra sugar for garnishing
whole pecans for garnish
1. Melt the chocolate chips. Stir in the cups chopped pecans. Set aside.
2. Cream 1 pound of butter. Add gradually 1 1/3 cups sugar. Add 2 teaspoons vanilla.
3. Whisk 4 cups of flour with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Add gradually to the butter mixture.
4. Add chocolate mixture using a long pronged fork. Streak through to marble. Don’t mix too much.
5. Make golf ball size balls. Dip in sugar on one side. Press one pecan half into the top of the cookie. Put on parchment lined cookie sheet.
6. Bake at 375º for 16 minutes.
Cool on a wire rack. Best enjoyed with a wholesome glass of milk.
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