Every year about this time the geese seem to become placated with their surroundings. I never considered my area south enough for a bird to be comfortable through the winter, but our ponds are filled with hundreds of geese, the fields lined with them and causal strolls through the park become dangerous missions filled with little land minds. Some people mind the geese, some people enjoy them. I don’t mind them have an opinion either way about their mass numbers and odd choice in the sunny tropical south. (Though, this winter they may be on to something).
Every year though, there are a few scattered pairs that pull on my heart strings. They can always be seen close together near a drainage ditch and a busy intersection. There will be a small flock of goslings later in the spring and the birds will stand close guard until eventually they vanish.
Are they rebellious loners who broke away from the pack or have they lost their way and are waiting for the call from above to join up with another flock. Are they safe in their tiny drainage ditch or are they in constant peril with the rushing drivers not more than 6 feet away.
These are the things I think about when I driving. I try to slow at the spots where I know the geese and their future family will be. Please tell me I’m not alone in these thoughts.
Sea Salt and Thyme Chocolate Chunk Cookies
from Desserts for Breakfast and the back of a Nestles Chocolate Chunk bag
Ingredients:
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teas baking soda
- 1 teas kosher salt
- 2 tbs fresh thyme leaves
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 teas vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cup dark chocolate chunks, or chips
- 1/2 teas sea salt, coarsely ground
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheets with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, kosher salt, and thyme leaves. Set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream butter and sugars together. Add vanilla. Add eggs, one at a time, scraping down sides as needed. In three batches, combine the flour mixture until combined.
Remove bowl from mixer and fold in the chocolate chunks.
Using a small ice cream scoop or two spoons, scoop out tablespoon size portions of cookie dough onto sheets. Sprinkle with sea salt. Bake 9-11 minutes until golden brown.
Cool on for 5 minutes on sheet before transferring and cooling completely on a wire rack.
The thyme flavor is mild right out of the oven, but who can resist a warm chocolate chip cookie? Give it a day or so and the thyme really starts to pop in these.
My name is Kita. I am a 20 something girl geek and website/graphic designer who can rock an apron like there is no tomorrow.
Aw, kinda neat to see that no matter what happens, the geese know what to do. Hmm – so do you with these cookies!
Thyme and chocolate …. that sounds really nice! Thyme’s one of my favorite all round herb. I would never have thought of using them in a choc chip cookie. I’ve used rosemary in some cookies but dunno why I’ve never thought of thyme … duh me. I so need to make these!
Our geese stick here year-round so we get to know them pretty well, remembering the couples or those that have lost a partner. I enjoy them (even with the land mines), but every once in a while their 3am squabbling gets a little loud for me.
I’ve not thought to put thyme in cookies before, but I like the sound of it. I bet they tasted as delicious as they look.
Loving this unique combo!
What an exciting combination! The pictures are so stunning, too
Kita, these sound scrumptious. I love the savory/salt combination. Definitely trying these!
This is such a neat idea!
This is so creative! I am so curious as to what these taste like, I love trying new things that are adventurous. Especially when it is a cookie, hehe
Delicious! What a creative idea.
I would love to taste these cookies! The flavors pairing sounds very intriguing. Thank you for sharing! Your pics are stunning, btw!
How intriguing! These sound really delightful, I am trying to envision the flavor combination
I am so intrigued and want to try this flavor combination now! Also, your cookies look like cookie perfection!
I am definitely south enough to have winter bird guests. The geese fly through, honking, looking mighty strange with palm trees behind them. It’s the same with the cardinals. All they need are sunglasses and Bermuda shorts to finish the ludicrous picture.
Just came from KimBee’s site…you did a fabulous job.
I love salty sweet combos. I bet the thyme brings this to a whole new level of deliciousness. Great post!
Ooh, thyme in cookies. I’ve never thought to put it into a dessert. Great idea!
I think I read somewhere that geese will only fly as far south as they need to to find open water. So if your ponds and lakes aren’t frozen, the geese are staying! Anyways…. these cookies sound good
You are not alone in those type of thoughts! I would have never thought to put thyme in chocolate chip cookies…I bet it gives it a terrific, peppery bite!
Such a unique cookie! I’m going to have to make these because I’m so curious about how they taste! I love this idea!
I wish I saw geese ever. And never had tried thyme in a cookie but imagining it in my head seems quite intriguing.
OMG KITA. You are blowing my mind. I need to make these!!
I saw your photo for these cookies on Tasteologie and they jumped off the page… positively beautiful! Not a combo I would have thought of, but one that really makes me want to try.
I hope your little goose friends are OK, we have some ducks like that around here and I always worry about them too!
These look so unique! I love herbed cookies!
this sounds so interesting! definitely want to try this sometime!
I love incorporating herbs and spices into baked goods, it adds so much depth! I’ll have to try this combo soon, it must be amazing.
Love this recipe – looks really delicious! Gorgeous photos too!
Now you can get your veggies (or herbs) in while eating chocolate. I love this idea
What an awesome flavor combo! I’ve never thought to put thyme in cookies. And I make about 6 dozen cookies a week.
You’re definitely not alone. I just about rolled my truck this morning swerving to avoid a squirrel who decided to play chicken with me.
Made these tonight and they were extremely delicious. The sweet / savory / subtle saltiness combo is fantastic. The thyme adds a very unique and distinct flavor, but not overwhelming or unfortunate; just right.Thanks so much for this recipe!
Nothing is more awesome to a food blogger then when people actually try their recipes. I’m glad you enjoyed these. I found that I enjoyed the flavors more on day two when everyone had a chance to mingle.
I love the way these taste. The thyme is a little bit spicy, but it combines really well with the taste of the chocolate and salt.