17 Chocolate Cherry Cordial Cookies + Victoria Secret Giveaway

We had met, gone to dinner, gone for ice cream, gone for coffee, gone to Barnes & Nobles (why is this a date now?),  the semester had come to an end.  It was 2005, I was heading into my last semester of college, and he into his last year.  That summer he went on his Navy Cruise for ROTC, while I found my tiny, non-air conditioned, 1 bedroom apartment above a coffee house/bar, to live in for the summer while I took extra classes.  When he got back from cruise he took summer classes as well, and it was then...ohh I will never forget this, I got the look.  We were sitting on my new couch, I had seen this look before, his big brown eyes seemed to see right to my core.  I had my hunches about what it meant, but kept my distance until that day.  Coyly, I asked him "what does that look mean", he brushed me off...so I asked again.  I'm not sure I was really ready to hear it, but he said "I love you."  Melted, done, this girl is in deep.  I think my response was, "I thought so" - way to go me.  For the record I did eventually say it back.  I knew he meant it, I knew what he felt, it amazes me everyday to have found a love like his.  He just is such a good man.

How do you say I Love You?  After reading that book 5 Love Languages, my guy and I sat down and ... okay, I made him sit down and talk to me about this (love you!)...we talked about what makes us feel loved from the other person.  It's the little things that just make you all warm inside, like hey this person thinks I'm pretty dang awesome.  Among other things, he feels loved if I vacuum up all the Watson hair off the stairs each week, or make him dinner after a long day of flying, studying, and online classes.  I feel loved by him when he laughs at my bad jokes - I've got some real humdingers, when he takes Watson out in the pouring rain or at night when there's obviously monsters lurking behind every tree,  but best of all...when I get that look.  I think these cookies just might earn me the look :)

Chocolate Cherry Cordial Cookies

Ingredients:

2 cups flour
3/4 cup baking cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 sticks of butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon instant coffee granules

1 cup cherry flavored craisins
1 11.5 oz package chocolate chips

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

2.  In a large bowl mix together the flour, baking cocoa, baking soda, and salt.  Set aside.

3.  In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar.  Add in both eggs, stirring well on a medium-high speed until mixed.  Be sure to scrape down the sides to get it all in there.  Add the vanilla and coffee granules; whip on high for a minute to make sure they are well incorporated.

4.  Slowly add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients a third at a time on a slow speed.  Scrape down the sides of the bowl before each addition.  Once it's all mixed in, either by hand or on a slow speed fold in the craisins and the chocolate chips.

5.  Spoon out a generous tablespoon of dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet.  My batch made 24 good sized cookies.  Bake for 10 minutes, or until the edges are set and centers are set but still soft.  Remove from oven, let cool 2 minutes on the baking sheet and then remove the cookies to cool on a wire rack.

Enjoy with love!

I am so excited to bring you all this giveaway today with Liz of The Pepper and Her Pups! With Valentine's Day right around the corner, I wanted to share some love and put together a spectacular group giveaway. I can not even begin to thank all of our lovely bloggers that have teamed up and helped contribute to make all of this happen.

Just for you!

And come on now, what girl wouldn't want to indulge in a gift card to Victoria's Secret?

This giveaway will be live Feb 7-14th at midnight. It's open worldwide. And one winner will be chosen at random.
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