He Runs, I Cook

No, they’re not characters from a children’s story– although I am Slightly obsessed with Punch the Monkey this week.  There’s something about him that is both sweet and sad, vulnerable and hopeful, banal and inspiring.  He’s uniquely human, but also a monkey. It’s all very cute and very 2020s internet meme.

Anyway, Panela and Ube are this week’s cookie flavours- sort of!  I finally made the Piloncillo Chocolate Chip Cookies that I’ve been curious about for ages. But I couldn’t find piloncillo on Amazon in Australia, so I made them with Panela instead.  According to Google, Panela and Piloncillo are very similar.  THey’re both unrefined, solid cane sugar that is meant to have a rich, caramel-like flavour.  Piloncillo is the Mexican word for it, and panela is more broadly used in South/Central America.  The cookies were ok.  Nothing special and not worth the special Amazon order.  A bit disappointing.  4/10.

The Ube cookies, requested by my friend Stella, were AMAZING!  Ube, is Filipino purple yam, like a sweet potato only purple and from the Philippines.  I had bought Ube extract ages ago for another recipe, and last week, Stella asked if I took requests, and she asked if I would make Ube cookies.  Always up for a challenge, I happily (and warily) agreed.  I found a recipe for Marbled Ube Cookies online and ordered Ube powder (thanks Amazon). Wow.  These were fantastic!  The Ube is really nice balanced with the sugar cookie flavour.  They’re well balanced and a great cookie in terms of texture too.  I will definitely make these again and even maybe branch out into more Ube in the future.

Now that I take requests, someone else has requested a Matcha and white chocolate combo which sounds doable (although I hate Matcha), and someone else has suggested a combination of white chocolate, peanut butter, and salted caramel- also three of my least favourite flavours!  I’ll see what I can do to make it work though and report back next week!