12 December

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December 4, 2025

Neiman Marcus Cookies

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Neiman Marcus Cookies

December 4: National Cookie Day

It is very rare that we eat at fancy-shmancy places like Mariposa, an upscale café in Neiman Marcus department stores for the rich to rest after a shopping spree. Islander earned a gift card for a freelance project she did with a well-off generous friend, so we spent it at Mariposa in the Galleria mall in Houston, Texas. The other time was when Islander’s former boss treated her to an appreciation lunch at Mariposa in Ala Moana Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. 

We have heard of the urban legend associated with the cookies (debunked on Snopes.com). Yet she was excited when her boss ordered them for dessert after such a luxurious lunch. We were too full to eat all the cookies in the presentation box but her boss let her take home the rest so Highlander could taste them, too. 

The cookies are just another delicious chocolate chip version—made exotic with the story behind them and a marketing strategy genius. We made and shared them with family and friends who enjoyed the cookies as well as the legend. Box them up really pretty and give them away on National Cookie Day or as holiday treats with a tale!

Recipe
(Adapted from Neiman Marcus)

Ingredients

  • ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons granulated white sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla 
  • 1 3/4 cups flour, all purpose
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ teaspoons instant espresso coffee powder
  • 1 ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions

In a mixing bowl, beat together the butter, brown and white sugars, egg and vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. 

Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet mixture and beat until well blended. Sprinkle the espresso powder and continue to mix well. Fold in the chocolate chips. Scoop around 2 tablespoons of dough onto a parchment paper- or greased foil-lined baking sheet at least 2 inches apart. 

Press down to flatten slightly with the base of the hand. Bake in a preheated oven at 300 degrees F for 20-25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let sit on the baking sheet for 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Stack between small cut squares of wax or parchment paper to prevent the chocolate chips from sticking to the other cookie. Store in airtight containers. 

Notes

  • Islander kept the black box embossed with the Neiman Marcus logo for the final food photo above. It held four cookies from the Mariposa restaurant—and the price was still probably more than enough to cover the entire ingredient list to make these cookies at home. Her other baking friend calls these Neiman MarkUP cookies! 
  • For another rich cookie inspired by a luxury brand, try our Tiffany blue macarons.

 

December 4, 2024

Coconut Macadamia Nut Cookies

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Coconut Macadamia Nut Cookies

December 4: National Cookie Day

Before our sudden move back to Hawaii, we had to get rid of a lot of ingredients in our pantry (we donated them all to Islander’s culinary club friends). Like a good island girl, she already had the tropical staples she needed to bake her last cookie in our mainland kitchen. She packaged the chewy coconut macadamia nut cookies and gave the treats away and said a sad aloha to her friends. These cookies are chewy and sweet; her farewells were bittersweet. But like the lyrics in the song “Aloha ‘Oe’,” composed by the deposed Queen Lili’uokalani in 1878, they end on a positive note:

Aloha ‘oe, aloha ‘oe…
One fond embrace…
Until we meet again.

We have slowly settled down in our new and much smaller kitchen in Hawaii. But mainland and international friends already want to meet again and visit, reunite and cook together like we used to do in each other’s kitchens. Perhaps they can bake this recipe and take some as snacks on the long flight back to the mainland or home countries. Make memories with alohaand lovingly bake up some coconut macadamia nut cookies together, especially on National Cookie Day.

Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 cup shredded sweetened coconut flakes, toasted
  • ½ cup butter, unsalted and softened
  • ¾ cup brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon coconut extract
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 egg
  • 1 ¼ cup flour, all purpose
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt]
  • 1 cup macadamia nuts, roasted and chopped

Directions

In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter with brown sugar. Beat in the egg. Add the coconut and vanilla extracts. 

In a small pan, toast the coconut flakes over medium low heat until slightly brown. Remove from heat and cool. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt. Gradually add to wet ingredients. Stir in the coconut and macadamia nuts (by hand). Mix well until a dough comes together. 

Scoop 1-inch balls and roll into rounds. Place onto a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F for 10-15 minutes or until the edges are browned. Remove from the oven and let set for 5-10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

  • Mahalo (thank you) to the B. ‘Ohana in Hawaii for sharing a version of this cookie recipe which we tweaked to make use of the last pantry items in our mainland home.
  • We moved back to Oahu to be closer to Islander’s elderly parents. It is important to take care of kūpuna.
  • Search our blog for other cookie recipes.
 

December 25, 2023

It’s a Wonderful Life Cocktail

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It’s a Wonderful Life Cocktail

December 25: Christmas

All throughout the month, Christmas movies have been playing on TV. One classic that we watch is “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1947). Read the synopsis from the Turner Classic Movie channel. 

Instead of the usual hot cocoa or spiked eggnog, we tried a drink named like the movie since we already had the ingredients on hand in our little pantry. Now whenever the movie comes on and we can finally sit and relax after the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, we can sip on a new classic cocktail. Merry Christmas and cheers to a wonderful life for all!

Recipe

(Adapted from Parade.com)

Ingredients

  • Ice cubes
  • 1 ½ ounces (3 tablespoons) Irish crème liqueur 
  • 3 ounces (6 tablespoons) crème de menthe (see Notes)
  • Ground cinnamon
  • Cinnamon stick or fresh mint leaves (optional garnishes)

Directions

In an old-fashioned glass, fill halfway with ice. Set aside. In a shaker, add a couple of ice cubes. Pour in the Irish crème liqueur and crème de menthe.

Shake vigorously then pour into the glass. Sprinkle some cinnamon on top. Garnish with a cinnamon stick or fresh mint leaves (optional). Serve immediately.

Notes

  • The original recipe used green crème de menthe, which is a festive color for the season. However, we just had clear crème de menthe. When mixed with the Irish crème liqueur, it looked like a sweet, snowy slushy—also appropriate for the winter season.
  • Search our blog for more Christmas recipes.
 

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