Mint Brownie Cookies to Calm a Crazy Dodger’s Fan

I know it sounds counter-intuitive, calming someone down with chocolate, but let me tell you… it worked! How in the world did I end up with an obsessed baseball fan for a son? I didn’t think it was genetically possible, considering my lack of athletic ability and interest in professional sports. I guess it’s just more evidence that God has a sense of humor. Looking back on the last nine years, I ignored the signs. The boy, unlike me, has always been able to remember people’s names and recognize people he’s met in totally different contexts. You know that awkward moment when you run into someone you vaguely remember, and that person calls you by your name. You then kind of stumble saying, “Hi”, only making it completely obvious that you have either, one, forgotten entirely who he or she is, or two, couldn’t think of his or her name to save your life. This is when my boy comes in handy. He remembers everyone’s name, including Frank who runs the pharmacy, and Joshua, who owns Toy Town.

So I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that he knows the first and last name of every professional ball player, plus all of their statistics, including batting averages, RBI’s, and stolen base percentages. I would rather retake the Euro AP exam, almost twenty years later, than be quizzed during a baseball game. This week I used my own skills to outsmart the crazy Dodger fan. If you’re mouth is stuffed with cookies, it’s almost impossible to talk baseball.

I saw these new York mint pieces at the store and was intruiged. If you don’t love mint, this isn’t go to be your thing, but see below for other variations. I decided these little mints needed a brownie textured cookie. Straight out of the oven, these weren’t a grand slam. After they had cooled, they were better, and by the next day, at their best. These are worth a repeat, but next time, I’ll probably try a different mix-in. The boy loved the cookie, but preferred it filled with M&M’s (I made a few with those too).

The recipe I planned on using was the giant chocolate toffee cookies from Bon Appetit (love these!), until I realized I only had unsweetened chocolate on hand. Instead, I took a shortcut that started with a boxed brownie mix. This is a good option when you’re in a hurry and don’t want a ton of dishes.

The Dodger’s play the St. Louis Cardinals all weekend (where I was born). The boy asked who I was cheering for, and simply to add a little rivalry, I told him the Cardinals. If you get cornered into watching baseball this weekend (or soccer!), sneak into the kitchen and make these. I’m sure you have something on hand to mix in. These will make for a much more entertaining game. Go Cardinals!