I love a good cookie...How 'bout you?

Just tried a new recipe; its marriage of dark chocolate and orange was something I could not resist. The flavors meld together so perfectly it makes your tastebuds giddy. I could not help but think of that great song, "I Love A Gershwin Tune". I do - and these cookies as well.

Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

2/3 cup brown sugar

2 t. vanilla

1 t. orange extract

3 T. grated orange zest

1 3/4 cup flour

1/4 t. salt

1/2 t. baking soda

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

1 cup walnuts, finely chopped, optional

Preheat oven to 350F. In bowl of mixer, cream butter and sugar at high speed for about 2 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, blending well after each addition. Beat in extract and orange zest. In small bowl, sift together flour, salt and soda. Add flour mixture to the butter mixture, blending well. Mix in chocolate chips and optional walnuts. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto lightly greased or parchment covered cookie sheets. Bake til lightly browned, about 12 minutes. Makes 40 cookies.

I did not like the idea of semi sweet chocolate; I find dark chocolate a better match so I used dark chocolate chunks. You'll want to use a cacao ratio of 60% or higher. Semi sweet is usually around 50-52%. Also, I recommend using parchment paper on your baking sheets. Bake the cookies ONLY for 12 minutes and then let them cool, on the sheets, for a few minutes before removing them to a cooling rack.