A Sweet (and Salty) New Year
I say salty because that’s what catapults these rich cookie bars into another stratosphere. Without the salt these sweet rectangles would be cloying. With that lick of savoriness, a layer of butter cookie topped with a salted chocolate caramel and sprinkled with sea salt becomes otherworldly. One guest proclaimed that these knocked chocolate chip cookies out of her favorite cookie spot.
I say salty also because as filled with as I am with hope, goals, dreams, and expectations for the new year, I’m sure those dark days will come: we’ll get caught in the rain (but not in a romantic way), stay home sick (but not in that mental health day kind of way), and fine ourselves beset by the blues (and not necessarily in a creatively rich Dorothy Parker kind of way).
Just today I woke up with the world unexpectedly softened by snow. At first, it seemed magical in that Christmas morning kind of way. And then I thought of the treacherous streets, worried about someone I love moving from one office to another, just today turning the page on one life chapter. Perhaps the best we can do is notice the flip side of life, and then turn that coin right back to the bright side. That is the art and challenge of living well, no matter how fat your bank account.
Whenever I talk of moving to some fair city and starting anew, a friend reminds me, “Wherever you go, there you are.” The same certainly can be said for money. Sure, some of life’s problems can be banished by waving a wad of cash at them. But the heart of what it means to live fully, ecstatically, confronts rich and poor alike everyday: What is truly meaningful to me? How can I create a daily life that contains my deepest values? What (gulp) is the meaning of my life? And what’s for dinner?
As we approach a new year and the fourth (!!!) anniversary of Pink of Perfection, I want to thank all of you for coming to this site, reading, hanging out in the forum, and most of all, leaving your insightful, funny comments. I have always loved this blog as my creative place; the unexpected joy has been watching it become a gathering spot to the wisest, loveliest blog readers out there. I take great comfort in this community, and I hope you do, too. Here’s to another year of asking the big questions and savoring the smallest pleasures. Happy New Year!
Don’t forget:
Sebastian’s New Year’s Day Lemon Bars
New Year’s Day Black-Eyed Peas
Salted Chocolate Caramel Cookie Bars
adapted from Martha Stewart
makes 16
for the crust
4 1/2 ounces (9 tablespoons) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for parchment
1/4 cup packed light-brown sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon table salt
for the chocolate caramel
10 1/2 ounces semisweet or dark chocolate, chopped (2 cups)
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/4 cup water
3 ounces (6 tablespoons) unsalted butter
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1 tablespoon sea salt, preferably fleur de sel
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Make the crust: Line a 9-inch square baking pan with parchment, leaving an overhang on all sides; butter parchment, excluding overhang. Beat butter and brown sugar on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add flour and table salt, and beat until just combined.
Press dough evenly into pan, and bake until lightly browned, about 30 minutes.
Make the chocolate caramel: Place chocolate in a medium bowl. Heat granulated sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, washing sides of pan with a wet pastry brush to prevent sugar crystals from forming, until amber, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from heat. Add butter, cream, and table salt. Bring to a boil, stirring until smooth. Pour over chocolate. Let stand for 2 minutes. Stir to combine, and let stand until cool, about 10 minutes.
Pour mixture over crust. Refrigerate at least 4 hours, or overnight. Run a knife around edges; lift parchment to remove whole bar from pan. Sprinkle with sea salt. Trim edges, and cut into 16 bars. Bars can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.
Une Femme Curieuse: Happy New Year, Ms. PoP!
Thank you for a year of fun and lovely posts! All my best wishes for a wonderful 2010!35 weeks ago
anonymous fan: i love this post!35 weeks ago
Bethany: Happy New Year, Sarah! The cookies look delicious.35 weeks ago
Adrienne: Happy New Year to you, Sarah! I am so happy to have discovered PoP in 2009 and I look forward to reading more in 2010
35 weeks ago
Sophie: Happy New Years, Sarah. I’ve been reading and commenting on your blog for a couple years now. This post is so inspiring, much like everything you post. Thank you!35 weeks ago
Une Femme Curieuse, Thanks so much, and best wishes to you!
Bethany, They are a-MAY-zing. I promise. Even if mine don’t look as pretty as Martha’s.
Adrienne, I’m so glad we found each other, too! Here’s to happy blogging in 2010!
Sophie, Thanks so much for being a longtime reader. I’m so happy you liked this post. Honestly, the community here really inspires me, so thank you for contributing to it.35 weeks ago
Emily B.: Happy Anniversary! I too am celebrating: 5 years as a Chicagoan! You do such a lovely job with this blog and I just adore it. Keep it up! Happy New Year!35 weeks ago
Jen: Ah…thanks so much. This post struck just the right chord for me today. Thank you for this blog - it is one of those places I turn to on salty days for a lift and flip of the coin back to the sweet side. I am rarely so salty when I leave.
Funniest thing: I was listening to Whatever w/Alexis & Jennifer on Sirius radio last night and Alexis (that would be Alexis Stewart, daughter of Martha) described the treats she had just made. Shortbread cookies smeared with homemade caramel, topped with a homemade marshmallow and dipped in chocolate. All kinds of minds were aligned on this idea I guess!
Happy New Year and many happy returns!
Jen35 weeks ago
Emily B, Happy anniversary to you, too, my dear! So many of my favorite people call Chicago home.
Jen, I really want to see that show! I keep hearing it’s so weird/hilarious, and homemade marshmallows…you just can’t beat that. Come to think of it, that’s something to try in the new year!35 weeks ago
Suzy: Wonderfully said. The happiest of new years to you and yours! I’ve been reading since I saw you in Jane, so it’s been a while. Congratulations on building such a lovely community (I like to think assholes would take no interest in PoP). Reading your blog always gives me a lift and some days I need all the propulsion I can get. Thank you for that.35 weeks ago
Karen: Happy New Year, Sarah! Thank you for this lovely blog. It makes me happy to visit this site! All the best for 2010!35 weeks ago
MrsB: happy happy new year lovely lovely Pinky!! You have done battle with 2009 and slayed many-a dragon! 2010….Bring It On!!! xxxx35 weeks ago
Jora: Happy New Year! I truly enjoy stopping by this place and seeing what you are up to…..thank you so much!!34 weeks ago
Ashley: Thank you for all your insightful and inspiring posts this year! A frequent lurker, I wanted to tell you how much your posts are appreciated! Your recipes, book recommendations and words of wisdom have really touched me, especially on those inevitable
All the best for 2010!34 weeks ago
darker days
fefe: happy new years! i am glad in 2009 that i was lucky enough to stumble upon your blog
thanks for the great recipes. i love the overnight cinnamon rolls!!!34 weeks ago
Nathalie: I have just read this great post and it is such a perfect reminder of why I like reading you so much. So thank you and I wish you and yours a nicely balanced, with plenty of this and a lot of that, 2010. Looking forward to reading you this year.34 weeks ago
Ellen: I love your blog-it is a high point in my day when I can get on the computer and check to see what is new. Thank you for all the recipes, ideas, talk and the great pictures!34 weeks ago
Alicia Kachmar: I just made these Martha goodies!!! YUM.33 weeks ago