Mini Chocolate Chip Turtle Cookies

The picture at the very top of my blog is of Lennox Head, Australia, which is where I studied abroad a few years ago. I put it there because it's probably one of the most beautiful places I've ever been! So today I get on facebook and see that a tornado ripped through the little town yesterday and damaged many homes, camper homes, and hurt a few people! How awful! It is such a cute and bright little town, with pretty homes and lots of friendly locals. I can't imagine the repair it's going to take for it to be back to normal.

This is one of the many houses that sit along the beach. The houses such bright colors, not boring brick and greystone like here in the US.
Okay so anyway, on with my food talk. I made these Mini Chocolate Chip Turtle Cookies the other day, and they were pretty, pretty good. I got the recipe from SugarPlum's blog. She creates most of her own recipes, which is pretty neat. I wish I could just put random ingredients together and make something that actually tastes yummy.

By the way, the move 27 Dresses has been on TV for like 5 days in a row. Why do they always do that with movies and play them back to back? I don't understand. And it's never a really good movie. Ohh the wonders of life.

Mini Chocolate Chip Turtle Cookies

1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup lightly packed brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans, toasted
Melted caramel, for drizzling

Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat; cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently, until butter browns and starts to foam. Remove from heat to cool.

In a medium mixing bowl, sift together flour, baking soda and salt. In a large mixing bowl, using a mixer on medium speed, beat together melted browned butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar until creamy - about 1-2 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla until combined. Reduce mixer speed to low and gradually beat in flour until just combined; stir in chocolate chips and pecans until combined. Chill dough in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat cookie sheets with cooking spray.

Roll dough into balls (about 2 teaspoons per ball), place on cookie sheets, and flatten using the palms of your hands. Bake 8 minutes or until set and light golden. Cool on wire racks. Drizzle with melted caramel.