Orange, Rosemary & Chocolate Chip Cookies

Who can resist the glorious aroma of home baking as those lovely fragrances flood the house and embrace your senses. Stepping away from the conventional  now I must present to you these delectable cookies I am certain will tickle your taste buds! I know the idea of rosemary in a cookie might sound a little odd to some, which is perfectly understandable as images of a roasting lamb joint or crispy potatoes surge to mind, but it works so well with the zesty orange and creamy chocolate flavours believe me!!

Ingredients:

• 170g unsalted butter, melted
• 180g muscovado sugar (Any light brown sugar is good)
• 100g golden caster sugar
• Zest of 2 oranges, finely zested
• 3 stalks of rosemary, leaves removed and finely chopped
• 1 egg plus 1 egg yolk
• 225g plain flour
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• ½ teaspoon sea salt
• 300g good quality milk chocolate, cut into bite sized pieces (I used some Belgium chocolate)

Method:

Heat the butter in a saucepan and bring up the heat slowly, when its starts to bubble watch carefully as it starts to offer a "nutty" scent. Remove from the heat and add into a mixing bowl to rest and cool for roughly 15 minutes.
While it is doing its own thing beat together the butter, sugars, orange and rosemary for about 2-3 minutes or until it reaches a fluffy consistency. Add in the egg and beat for 7-8 minutes longer.
Now add in the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Mix just until the dough comes together, you don't want to over mix it. Add the chocolate chunks, and mix just until incorporated.
Using an ice cream scoop or large spoon to portion out the dough onto a parchment-lined sheet pan making sure there is space between the blobs of dough for it to spread out. Pat the tops of the cookie dough blobs flat. Wrap the baking sheet in cling film and refrigerate for an hour.
Bake for 10-12 minutes at 180°C. When they look faintly browned on the edges yet still bright yellow in the centre they are done. Cool the cookies completely on the sheet pan before transferring to a plate or an airtight container for storage. Enjoy!

Every body I have had the pleasure to make these for adored them completely. Its worth noting that if you use organic ingredients it does make them even yummier! But that is a personal choice I leave up to you.
I hope you try this out, both for friends and yourself!