I guess most of you know what housewife points are but does anyone know what the equivalent is for men? I really need to know because I just did something I generally leave to my fiancé and I really want some man-points(?) for it. Yeah, I shoveled snow for the first time… like ever. I honestly cannot remember ever doing it. I guess I should be grateful that until now it has just magically disappeared before it gets in my way.

I managed to get some housewife points recently as well. I made cookies! Every year I have big plans of making at least a couple of cookie types before Christmas and every year I fail. I never make it past the mandatory gingerbread cookies. I am not really sure why I even bother thinking about it. I don’t really eat them if I have them simply because there are too many other unhealthy things around that time of the year and there simply isn’t enough stomach space for them.

I blame this need to make Christmas cookies on the old tradition in both Norway and Iceland that a housewife should make 7 kinds of cookies (Syv sorter/Sjö sortir). I am starting early this year and at the same time I am hoping I will ruin some New Year’s Resolutions! I am thinking about rejoining the gym and I really don’t want too many people there!

I first tried this particular type of cookies from one from the biggest baking wizard I have ever known, a former colleague of mine. She used to bring truckloads of cookies to the office quite often. When I say truckloads I really mean it. I still can’t grasp how it is possible to make this varied quantity of baked goods in a normal kitchen and by just one person. I am pretty sure all of us that worked there during this time secretly dream of a reunion where she is responsible for the refreshments!

These cookies have the nicest name ever White chocolate macadamia cookies. It almost sounds healthy! If you haven’t tried macadamia nuts before you are really missing out. Those are the best nuts out there (and of course one of the fattier type, go figure).

Cookies

White Chocolate Macadamia Cookies

Adapted from EriKa’s old blog

300 g flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
170 g butter, melted
170 g brown sugar
80 g white sugar
1 egg
1 egg yolk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Approx 100-130 grams coarsely chopped macadamia nuts
200 grams coarsely chooped white chocolate

Preheat the oven to 160°C.

Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a bowl.

Melt the butter on low heat until it is soft enough to beat. Beat it together with the white and brown sugar. Then beat in the egg and the egg yolk. Add the vanilla and beat the mixture until it is a bit frothy. Now add the dry ingredients into the mixture slowly. Do not stir too much. Add in the chopped nuts and white chocolate by hand.

Use a tablespoon to measure out each cookie. This batch will make approx. 20-24 cookies. Make them into a round ball and the press them down lightly on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Make sure there is enough space between them as they will spread a bit in the oven.

Bake for 15 minutes or until the edges look slightly golden brown. Remove from oven and let them cool for a little while before removing them for further cooling.

Help yourself