Pandan Jasmine Cookies

Day 10. Sweet day. I was going to take the day off, as this is hard, but know I must continue in order to complete all 29 "edible items" by the end of this month! While I watch TV, I Google and surf for recipes, and then add these to a list I have so it's easy for me to select from. Well, I had seen this recipe a while ago and had ordered the Pandan extract. And some Jasmine extract while I was at it. I had not intended to use these together. But, well, this is me, and I do tend to muddle things together. As I mentioned in the "About Me" section (unless I have changed it) that "I see cooking as a science, chemistry, an experiment to arouse the senses: sight, smell, taste..." And sure enough, this recipe does this! The green. The sweetness. The nuttyness. It also arouses the mind - in that it takes you back to Thailand! Or any Thai restaurant you may have been to. It's that scent and taste which you'll find in Thai iced tea too! And, because I *think* I added a little too much Pandan, I used the Jasmine extract to mute its smell.

• 1 ½ cups all purpose flour
• ¼ baking soda
• Pinch of salt (omit if your butter is salted)
• 1 tbsp egg replacer (such as Allergycare)
• ½ cup confectioners sugar
• 1 stick butter at room temperature
• ¼ cup confectioners sugar
• 1 tsp Pandan extract
• 1-2 tbsp milk (or a little more)
• Cashews, Pistachios, Chocolate M&Ms, Hershey's Kisses :*

1. Cream together the butter and ¼ cup confectioners sugar
2. Add the Pandan extract, and egg/replacer and cream really well, so that the colored extract is well incorporated
3. Sift in the flour, baking soda, confectioners sugar and salt (if your butter was unsalted)
4. Mix well, and you may need to add in a little mill to make the dough. The dough should resemble Play-Doh :)
5. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and let it rest in the fridge for 30 minutes
6. Set the oven to 320F
7. After 30 minutes (it can be more) take the dough out, and make 1-inch balls
8. Place each ball on a baking sheet, 1-inch apart, and press a cashew, pistachio, or M&M in the center (This will also flatten the ball)
9. Bake for 20 minutes then turn the oven up to 350F and bake for 10 minutes. Keep an eye on them, after turning the oven up, you don't want them to go brown!
10. Allow to cool, and enjoy with a cup of Jasmine tea.

It was really fun making these, as the cookie dough has a Play-Doh type texture, and the color is much vibrant (think Incredible Hulk) uncooked! LOL

I feel as if I'm on the FoodNetwork Show and should describe how they taste! "Hmmm... Yumm... Hmmm... The outside is a little crunchier whilst the inside is softer and a little crumblier like a cake! Reminds me of Thai iced tea, and these are so aromatic too. You can just smell a hint of the jasmine. Makes me want to have a cup of Jasmine tea now!"