A Viritual Tea Date and Chocolate Toffee Cookies

These Chocolate Toffee Cookies are the perfect treat for any day, season, reason, or just because, made with Heath English Toffee Bits.

Growing up, people said I made friends easily. I had no problem complimenting others, and of course I loved to hear those compliments in return. I’d say my love language was (and is) acts of service and words of affirmation. I loved to give, and I loved to receive. Having friends was important to me, and reaching out and telling people good things about themselves seemed like an easy way to it. But that was years ago, when the word “friendship” meant feeling loved, accepted, being in the inner circle and invited over after school, sitting together at lunch. Now that I’m grown, I still like to meet people and find things that I love about them, and give compliments. I love to invite them to my home for dinner (which is almost like giving a gift), get to know them, and dig deeper, getting to know how special they are.

Too busy to connect?

I know we’re all busy people, we’ll never have time to make time for everyone, and this is a frustration for me. So when I think of those people who mean the world to me, who I truly connect with, I try to do something. Especially when it’s been a long time.

There’s always a quick text, setting up a visit, going out to lunch, sending a note in the mail, a quick email or phone call. I love the idea from Jessica Turner’s book The Fringe Hours to keep a box of cards in your bag, so when sitting around waiting (at the kids’ practice, music lesson, etc.), you can pull out a card and write a quick note to a friend.

You can even drop something by their house, or send a little gift in the mail. There are ways to love our friends virtually (some people love to keep up on Facebook), and quite honestly, there’s really no excuse for not connecting with people who are important to us.

What I love about my friend, Lisa, is that she has been in my life for 40+ years. We grew up together, we “get” each other, we can go a long time without talking, and then catch up as if it were only yesterday when we were young girls laughing, giggling, on some adventure together. Lisa’s my regular, everyday friend, someone I’d never even try to impress. I’m comfortable with her, I value her opinion, she is wise, she knows me, she loves me, we have the same mission with our families, she’s smart, she loves food and God (both very important), and most importantly, she loves life. Life is sacred to her; every moment counts. I’ve learned a lot from Lisa.

Virtual tea date.

So when she says … “Sandy, it’s time for a coffee date,” I know what this means.

We put a date on the calendar, grab our coffee or tea (if it’s later in the day, tea for me!), a muffin, or a cookie and our phones, and we have a virtual date.

Catching up on life.

Listening to one another.

A two way street.

But here’s the beauty of a solid friendship: It’s mutual.

Sometimes she initiates, sometimes I initiate.

This is where I think some people just do not get it with friendships. It’s a two-way street. You have to be a friend before you have a friend.

You reach out, set a date, invite, connect. Sometimes you may need that little push to do it, but it’s always rewarding.

Lisa and I now live 4 hours from each other, but we’ve never been closer.

You can live anywhere now and have a friend!

I want to encourage you to set up a virtual–or real!–coffee date with a friend that you have not connected with in a long time.

Can you think of a friend that you need to connect with this week? How will you reach out to them?

Chocolate Toffee Cookies.

Today I’m sharing a delicious cookie that I enjoyed during our virtual time together this week. It’s the same cookie, but I pulled it from the freezer. Here’s a little something about me: I love frozen cookies!

The Heath English Toffee Bits + chocolate chunks combined? Pure heaven.

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Chocolate Toffee Cookies

These Chocolate Toffee Cookies are the perfect treat for any day, season, reason, or just because, made with Heath English Toffee Bits.

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Total Time: 22 minutes mins

Yield: 2 dozen large cookies

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Ingredients

 

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• 2 sticks butter, 1 cup, room temp
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 3 cups flour
• 8 oz. package Heath English Toffee Bits
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or chunks

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven 350F, middle rack. In a stand mixer with paddle, put the butter, both sugars, baking soda, salt and vanilla. Beat on medium just until ingredients come together, adding the baking soda and salt.
• Add eggs, one at a time; scrape sides as needed. On low speed, add the flour and beat until incorporated. Add the toffee and chocolate chips and beat until well mixed.
• On baking sheets lined with parchment, drop batter by heaping tablespoon, 12 per sheet, max. Bake 11-13 minutes, turning midway until just golden brown on edges. Let cool on racks.

Author: Sandy / Reluctant Entertainer

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