Thursday, April 10, 2008

Fair Trade Double-Chocolate Chews

Recipe from The Complete Cooking Light Cookbook & Tested in Debbie’s Kitchen

Last weekend, my hubby and I helped out (along with lots of other volunteers) at Lost River Market & Deli doint inventory. Our friend, Debbie, brought these fabulous cookies to help us keep our energy up:-) She used fair trade chocolate and local eggs that are available at the store. These cookies have a wonderful chewy, brownie-like texture and a deep chocolate flavor. If you'd like to know more about fair trade, read the info at the bottom of this recipe.

1 ¾ cups all purpose flour
2/3 cup sifted powdered sugar
1/3 cup Equal Exchange Fair Trade unsweetened cocoa
2 ¼ teaspoons baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup Sunspire Organic Fair Trade Semisweet Chocolate Morsels, divided
3 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 ½ Tablespoons light corn syrup
1 Tablespoon water
2 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
3 large free range egg whites locally produced by Brambleberry Farms, Tater Road Farms or Zehnder Farm, lightly beaten
Cooking spray

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, powdered sugar, cocoa, baking powder and salt in a bowl.
3. Combine ¾ cup chocolate morsels and oil in a small saucepan, and cook over low heat until chocolate melts, stirring constantly. Pour melted chocolate mixture into a large bowl, and cool 5 minutes. Add brown sugar, corn syrup, water, vanilla, and egg whites to chocolate mixture; stir well. Stir in flour mixture and ¼ cup chocolate morsels.
4. Drop dough by level tablespoons 2 inches apart onto baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes or until almost set. Cool in pans 2 minutes or until firm. Remove cookies from pans; cool on wire racks.
Yield: 4 dozen (serving size: 1 cookie)

What is fair trade? Fair trade is an alternative way to doing business that promotes equal, sustainable relationships between consumers and producers. This includes paying fair wages in local communities, engaging in environmentally sustainable practices, and promoting health working conditions. These trading partnerships are based on relationships of mutual respect. In North America, there are many fair trade products we can buy, including crafts, clothing, jewelry, coffee, bananas and chocolate.
How can buying fair trade help? Buying fair trade can actually change the lives of some of the world's poorest people. Workers earn greater incomes for their labor and the returns are often invested in community projects, such as health clinics, education and child care.

4 comments:

Rodney North said...

Thanks for including us, Equal Exchange , in your recipe.

You might like to also consider Fair Trade sugar as there are all kinds available in most co-ops, Whole Foods, etc.

Right now there's an effort to raise awareness about the need for reform the sugar industry. For example, we're helping to promote a powerful documentary, "The Price of Sugar", about labor abuses on plantations in the Dominican Republic.

Semi-Disgruntled Bride said...

I think it's so cool that you volunteer at your local farmer's market. It's also really great that you use Fair Trade cocoa!!

I, too am a food enthusiast and intern at a place called The Eat Well Guide (www.eatwellguide.org), an online directory of small-scale, sustainable farms, markets, restaurants and other distributors of good, clean food throughout the US and Canada. The Eat Well Guide makes it easy to find high quality, good food in your area.

Supporting local farmers helps to sustain local economies, is better for the environment, and is a natural alternative to an increasingly problematic industrial system of agriculture. Using fair trade product helps with these issues, as well.
And fresh, wholesome food tastes good, too!

Awesome blog!! Thanks!

Alice said...

I failed to mention in the recipe that Lost River Market & Deli offers Fair Trade sugar too!

Alice said...

Thank you, Health Junkie! I've included a link to your website on my blog! If you're ever in the neighborhood, be sure to stop by Lost River Market & Deli and also the Orange County HomeGrown Farmers Market!
Alice