CCC V

Amanda Hesser's Thick-and-Gooey CCC asked for three cups of chopped bittersweet chocolate and 2 cups of walnuts. With only one egg, it calls for three, and one cup of walnuts, I halved the recipe. I put a half an egg worth of strawberry jam in for the missing grocery and used a full two cups of Guittard extra dark chocolate baking chips, 63%, and, when I poured in the walnuts, saw they were moldy, a horrifying experience. I undid my last move and removed all trace of those damp nuts, then added 3/4 cup of shaved Valrhona 70% chocolate. Oh my, warm out of the oven, chips holding shape and everything else melted, those cookies were all the chocolatiness I wanted; my main taster too. I tasted a glob of jam in one; excellent. My tasters were polite and maybe wishing for added interest in the way of oatmeal or nuts. They held their shape well the day after, probably because I chilled the dough and the cookies continued to provide a great chocolate experience for two days.