Harry's Fresh Produce

I've lamented recently on my inability to get to the farmer's market, since they are typically only open on the weekends (or they're further from my home than I'm willing to travel for a tomato). So imagine my delight when I realized that an apparent farmer's market vendor opened up a small store in a new strip mall virtually across the street from the aforementioned flea market selling cheap, fresh, and sometimes unusual produce. Harry's Fresh Produce is located on the south side of Beach Boulevard, just west of Peach Drive, and a little less than a mile east of Southside Boulevard (in the T-Rex strip mall with that horrible dinosaur with the scary eyes). The prices are reminiscent of the farmer's market (think $0.79/lb. for all varieties of tomatoes, $3.00 for 30 eggs, $1.00 for a block of tofu, and $0.99/lb. for those really cute miniature "apple bananas"), I'm guessing I could probably find those obscure ingredients for the Asian recipes I've been dying to try, and the sales clerks (whom I'm guessing may double as the owners) were very helpful in identifying the produce varieties with which I was currently unfamiliar. I'm always one to support small, local businesses, especially when they can offer me fresher products at a lower price! In any case, give them a try if you're looking for produce in the Southside area. You'll be glad that you did.

Snickerdoodle Chip Cookies

This is a traditional snickerdoodle recipe modified from Betty Crocker to include some yummy cinnamon chips (snickerdoodle chip cookies are on the left - I've gotten great mileage from this one photo! It also features brownies and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies). I think the chips definitely add something to the cookie. Although the recipe originally said to bake at 400 degrees, I baked them at 375 degrees and they turned out perfectly.

Ingredients
1 1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. butter or margarine, at room temperature
1/2 c. shortening
2 large eggs
2 3/4 c. flour
2 t. cream of tartar
1 t. baking soda
1/4 t. salt
1/2 c. cinnamon chips

Topping
1/4 c. sugar

2 t. ground cinnamon

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Beat together the sugar, butter and shortening until blended, about 30 seconds. Add the eggs and blend until combined. Stir in the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon chips.

2. Stir the topping ingredients together in a shallow bowl. Taking a teaspoon of dough at a time, roll the dough into a ball between your hands. Roll the dough balls in the topping and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.

3. Bake 8 minutes or until slightly brown around the edges. Immediately remove the cookies from the cookie sheet to cool.