Cooks Illustrated - May Favorites

May is almost over, but I still have one day to post my favorites.

These are the Cook's Illustrated recipes that I really like and make more than once.

Recipes I've reviewed: 

• Best Blueberry Muffins (2009) - a very nice version of a blueberry muffin
• Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies (2009)  - Made with browned butter so a tiny bit more effort, but the flavor of these is really "perfect"
• Oatmeal Snack Cake (2008) - really good with a coconut frosting 
• Indian-Style Curry with Potatoes, Cauliflower, Peas and Chickpeas (2007) - A bit of work, but a delicious vegetarian meal. 
• Strawberry Cream Cake (2006) - I've only made this once because it was a bit of work, the cake is huge, and strawberry season is so short, but I remember this as something I really want to make again someday. 
• Ultimate Turtle Brownies (2006) - I need to make these again now that I know how to make a proper caramel. 
• Classic Macaroni and Cheese (2004) - they have many versions, but this is the best. But I do change ratio of pasta to sauce, because I think their version is too 'saucy'.
• Curried Brown  Rice with Tomatoes and Peas (2004) - This recipe or my own variations of this recipe are a mainstay in my repertoire. 
• Quick Cheese Bread (2003)  - simple quick bread recipe. 
• Chicken Enchiladas with Red Chile Sauce (2003) - It's been a couple years since I made this and I need to change that fact soon. 
• Lemon Cheesecake (2003) - Another winner dessert recipe that I don't have a chance to make very often, but would like to make again. 
• Chocolate Cream Pie (2001) - Ditto. 
• Spicy Sichuan Noodles - Dan Dan Mian (2001)  - Fast, simple and tasty. The only reason I don't make it more is because I forgot about it. (The reason for these posts!)

Recipes I love, but haven't reviewed: 

• Chewy, Fudgy, Triple Chocolate Brownies (2000) - (much better than the newer chewy recipe) 
• Ultimate Hummus (2008)- the best  
• Sweet and Tangy Oven-Barbecued Chicken (2004) 

And once again there is a huge list of May recipes that I would love to try, but haven't found the time for yet.

Chocolate Sandwich Cookies

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Chill Time: 60 minutes  
Bake Time: 12 minutes
Cool Time: 30 minutes
Filling Time: 10 minutes

Grade: A

Make Again: Yes

Recipe Source: D.I.Y. Cookbook

This is ATK's take on Oreo cookies. Oreos are the only store bought cookies I really like, so I was excited to try this recipe. It really isn't hard, but it takes time because of the chilling of the dough, and assembling the cookies. But less than 30 minutes of work total.

The one unusual ingredient is Black cocoa (which you can get at kingarthurflour.com). You also need Dutch processed cocoa (which is not unusual.) The black cocoa is what makes them really dark. I did purchase the cocoa, but the recipe only uses 1/4 cup, so I will have to make more of these.

These really do taste like oreo's but better. The filling was a bit different, definitely in consistency, but the cookie part was right on in flavor. I really enjoyed these.

Mine are not all that pretty. Cutting them evening wasn't too easy, and I was sloppy with the filling. But they ended up fine and of course, the taste was not altered in any way.

Note: There is different chocolate sandwich cookie recipe available on http://www.americastestkitchenfeed.com/ but that is a different recipe than the one in the book. I will probably try that one sometime as well.