I admit it, I'm an incompetent baker. As a result, the generosity of others' baking contributions or packaged cookies is what I resorted to when I needed a cookie fix over the past two years. Although they were multiple bakeries in town, there wasn't a constant stream of cookies. And thus enter my introduction to Chokis.
Chokis are produced by Gamesa, Mexico's largest cookie manufacture which is headquartered in Monterrey, Mexico. While I'm a bigger fan of the flakier and softer choclate chip cookies, I've had to settle for the harder type that Gamesa produces in the form of Chokis. Gamesa, while headquarted in Monterrey, is actually part of the PepsiCo family, and more specifically PepsiCo Americas Food.
As I ate the Chokis recently, I noticed the list of ingredients. I think it's time to take on baking. It doesn't seem right that a cookie should have this many ingredients.
On the right, is the ingredients label from the box. Among the various ingredients, which far outnumber the ingredients in traditional recipe, is TBHQ. FDA requires that "the additive will not exceed .02 percent percent of the oil or fat content of the food." TBHQ, or tertiary butylhydroquinone, is used as a food preservative. While TBHQ is generally considered safe in low doses, it is interesting to note that the preservative is used in American McNuggets but is not found among the list of ingredients in British McNuggets. Which begs the question, why is TBHQ viewed differently across the ocean?
On the right, is the ingredients label from the box. Among the various ingredients, which far outnumber the ingredients in traditional recipe, is TBHQ. FDA requires that "the additive will not exceed .02 percent percent of the oil or fat content of the food." TBHQ, or tertiary butylhydroquinone, is used as a food preservative. While TBHQ is generally considered safe in low doses, it is interesting to note that the preservative is used in American McNuggets but is not found among the list of ingredients in British McNuggets. Which begs the question, why is TBHQ viewed differently across the ocean?
Generally, it's safe to assume that if you can easily identify all of your ingredients, you are better off eating that. Here is a chocolate chip cookie recipe from the Food Network website.
Recipe
Beat 2 sticks butter, 3/4 cup dark brown sugar and 3/4 cup granulated sugar until fluffy; beat in 1 teaspoon vanilla and 2 eggs. Whisk 2 1/2 cups flour. 3/4 teaspoon baking soda and 1 teaspoon salt, then stir into the butter mixture. Add 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips and chill 30 minutes. Roll into balls and bake 8-12 minutes at 350 degrees.
If I can just figure out how to keep my oven lit and where 350 degrees is, this seems within my limited baking, talent?
Recipe
Beat 2 sticks butter, 3/4 cup dark brown sugar and 3/4 cup granulated sugar until fluffy; beat in 1 teaspoon vanilla and 2 eggs. Whisk 2 1/2 cups flour. 3/4 teaspoon baking soda and 1 teaspoon salt, then stir into the butter mixture. Add 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips and chill 30 minutes. Roll into balls and bake 8-12 minutes at 350 degrees.
If I can just figure out how to keep my oven lit and where 350 degrees is, this seems within my limited baking, talent?
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