Dark Chocolate Chip Chocolate Cookies with Almonds

Most of us have been there.

And most of us look back and laugh a those who have been there, too.

You know, that moment when the doctor at Insta Care gives you the look of "so... um...you really brought your son in for this? Ever heard of a band-aid?"

To make a long story short, my son dove off our couch into the corner of our coffee table, and there was quite a bit of blood. For a toddler who only knows how to communicate on a very basic level, the writhing around in pain coupled with the crying and screaming only spread the gore around even more. (I'm not too keen on blood all over the place, you see.) And his favorite blanket happens to be white. Awesome. Wiping off his face with a ice-cold hand towel revealed a cut - not your usual cut... and it scared me.

I called Ryan in panic, and didn't even tell him what was wrong. I remember saying: Ryan? Ryan! You need to come home! Come home right now!

He was parked in front of our house within 10 minutes.

We drove to the Insta Care section of the health center at the university about 15 minutes before it was supposed to close for the night. The manchild screamed so hard while they were cleaning the wound, then the doctor left the room.

He smiled as he came back in asking, with almost a laugh, "you guys have any band-aids?"

We felt like those parents who bring their kid to the doctor in panic because of a runny nose.

Needless to say, that was the most expensive band-aid we've ever paid for....and the Manchild ripped it off his face in the parking lot.

Anyone ever had this type of experience? Did you feel kid of... embarrassed? I know head wounds are supposed to produce much more blood, but how can you decide whether or not to take your kid in?

Either way, the kid has a shiner, and one pretty gnarly scar on his face now. The chick's dig it, right?

- - -

These cookies were a craving-induced-throw-together. I love making sweets on Sunday nights, and this past Sunday was no exception! We needed cookies, pronto. Unfortunately, my husband had eaten nearly all our chocolate chips. We had about a cup of dark chocolate chips in the back of the cabinet, and a ton of sliced almonds leftover from a cake I made (to come next week :). I found this recipe, made some adjustments using dark chocolate cocoa powder (more chocolate flavor to help the dark chocolate chips along), and fell in love with the results! I doubled the recipe, making about a couple dozen cookies.

What I loved most about these cookies was the crunch from the sliced almonds paired with the soft chewy texture of the cookie. It was unique, and I can't wait to try using almonds more often in my baking.

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Dark Chocolate Chip Chocolate Cookies with Almonds

Ingredients:
1/2 C butter, softened
1/2 C packed dark brown sugar
1/3 C sugar 
1 egg
1 t vanilla extract
1 C all-purpose flour
2 T dark chocolate cocoa powder
1/2 t salt
1/4 t baking soda
1/2 C dark chocolate chips
1 C sliced almonds

Method:
1.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars together until light and fluffy - about 3 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla.
2. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking soda, and cocoa powder.
3. Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet and stir well. Throw in chocolate chips and almonds.
4. Roll dough into 1 inch balls. Place about 2 inches apart, they will spread out. Bake for about 9 minutes or until edges are firm. Take out of oven before they look like they're done - then let them cool and harden for 2 minutes. Remove and continue cooling on a wire rack.

*store in an airtight container with a slice of bread to keep soft. 

Recipe adapted from: Taste of Home