Cranberry White Chocolate Cookies with Pistachios

When I wrote the following pages, or rather the bulk of them, I lived alone, in the woods, a mile from any neighbor, in a house which I had built myself, on the shore of Walden Pond, in Concord, Massachusetts, and earned my living by the labor of my hands only. I lived there two years and two months. (Walden, 3)

by Henry D, Thoreau

With these words, Henry David Thoreau began the tale of his experiment of simple living at Walden Pond. Over the course of the next three hundred-odd pages, Thoreau outlined his philosophy of life, politics, and nature, laying the foundation for a secure place in the canon of great American writers. 

I did not actually see Walden Pond on my recent trip but I imagine it would look like this 

Today was our last hurrah taking a quick trip around the lake even though we had to wear winter attire for the ride.  Bella was on high alert as she searched the waters for wildlife. 

We spotted four loons who seemed lonely and lost (all the rest have left) swimming by a line of golden Tamaracks dotting the shores. 

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after baking a fall treat.

Cranberry White Chocolate Cookies with Pistachios

Ingredients:

• 1 stick of butter and 1 stick of margarine
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 2-1/4 cups flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 cups white chocolate chips
• 3/4 cup dried cranberries or cherries
• 3/4 cup chopped pistachios or walnuts

Directions:

• Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. 
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Beat butter and sugar until creamy and fluffy.
• Add in eggs and vanilla beat until smooth.
• In a separate bowl sift flour, salt and baking soda.
• Beat flour mixture into egg mixture, stir in chips, cranberries/cherries and nuts.
• Chill dough in refrigerator or freezer for one hour. 
• Drop dough by rounded teaspoons on cookie sheet and bake 11-12 minutes.
• Cool cookies on wire rack.