Greenwich, CT is a lot like Oahu. Really.
They both had open water swims this July. Makes them almost twins, right?
Maybe not. But since I don’t think I could deal with two six-hour flights back to Oahu to swim there, I dragged Beth up to Greenwich, where we met up with Hollie and competed in the Greenwich Two-Mile Island Swim.
That’s Beth, me, and Hollie. With the medals we won for placing in the top three in our respective age groups. Beth and I were super-excited to finish in just under an hour. And to finish within 30 seconds of each other.
Then, since that was only a one-hour workout, we biked 21 miles. Duh.
Obviously, I brought chocolate alone. Since Hollie loves chocolate and orange, I knew I needed to combine these flavors into something delicious to prove my serious baking skills.
Solution: I whipped up some Orange Chocolate Thumbprint cookies.
Orange Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies (as inspired by Martha Stewart)
17 1/2 tablespoons butter, softened
½ cup sugar
2 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ cup orange juice
Zest from 2 oranges
2 ½ cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
Cream 16 tablespoons of butter and all the sugar until fluffy, then add the yolks, vanilla, salt, juice, and zest. Beat in flour and salt on low speed until combined, then chill the dough for an hour. Shape the dough into ¾” diameter balls, chill again for 5-10 minutes (until firm).
Space the balls out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, then use the end of a wooden spoon to create a cavity in each ball.
Bake at 325° F for eight minutes, then reinforce indent with the end of the spoon and bake for an additional 3-4 minutes, or until firm. Allow cookies to cool Meanwhile,melt the bittersweet chocolate with the remaining 1 ½ tablespoons of butter over low heat. Drizzle into the cavity of each cookie.
Cool cookies until solid. Then take them to a two-mile open water race to share with other swimmers. 
Final step mandatory.
What kind of cookies would you want after an open water race?
Oh my god. I am making these for every open water swim I do. Actually every race-I'll just be eating them. Possibly during the race too. We should do it again next year or obviously do another race together! ;)
ReplyDeleteGreat Job on the open water swim!!! And umm.. those cookies look really good!
ReplyDeleteYUM! these look delish! Congrats on your hardware!
ReplyDeleteYou are amazing, and these cookies look good!
ReplyDelete*covering my eyes during second half of post*
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, lady! You're pretty much Wonder Woman. Fact.
You guys are pretty incredible! Way to all place!!
ReplyDeleteAnd those cookies... holy yum.
mmm, i love baked citrus-y things.
ReplyDeleteYum! I think I'd like pretty much any kind of cookie after a race! :D
ReplyDeleteHow fun you were able to swim with those two ladies! I read Hollie's blog too and love it :) Great job on the swim, you are freakin intense for biking after :)
ReplyDeleteI would want to have molasses chew cookies with sugar after a race like that
I sometimes forget how much I love orange and chocolate together - thanks for reminding me! And congrats on placing in the top three!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you all had great races! How could you not with cookies like these to look forward to? I think that pretty much all cookies sound good after a race. :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your race! What kind of cookies are you bringing to Luray??
ReplyDeleteHa! you actually did a post that was semi/non baking related!
ReplyDeleteSince your last swimmy swim post, I still haven't learned to swim properly. Wah wah.
ReplyDeleteBut I do love thumbprint cookies! And orange! And chocolate! Ahh, nothing bad is ever inspired by Martha Stewart.
Wow I am so impressed with your swimming skills. The cookies look perfect.
ReplyDelete