*alternate post title: Why I've gained 10 pounds in two weeks.*
This is a long "picture-heavy" post, but bear with me...I think you're gonna like it.
Along with several other bloggers, I was invited to visit the Harry & David headquarters in Medford, Oregon.
A. After seeing their catalogs for years, I've always secretly hoped that someone would send me a Harry & David gift basket (it never happened), so I was curious and knew this was a place I needed to visit.
B. Take a look at these other bloggers in attendance: hello, bloggy rock stars!!! (I'm not sure how I got thrown in with this bunch...they are the coolest.) I couldn't pass up seeing some familiar faces again AND meeting some bloggers I've been jonesing to meet for years now.
Here's my big takeaway from the trip...
...the people at Harry & David LOVE food. Love. I had no idea that in the Rogue Valley of Oregon, Harry & David has over 700,000 pear trees.
They are famous for their Royal Riviera Pear; it's a Comice. They don't grow it because it's the easiest to grow (it's not); they grow it because they feel they are the best.
I was so very impressed with their approach to growing, innovative pest management, and how they treat their harvesters by providing daily meals, medical care, and housing.
...the people at Harry & David LOVE food. Love. I had no idea that in the Rogue Valley of Oregon, Harry & David has over 700,000 pear trees.
I was so very impressed with their approach to growing, innovative pest management, and how they treat their harvesters by providing daily meals, medical care, and housing.
Harry & David has a 3rd generation chocolatier who has been with the company for over 30 years...yes, as a matter of fact, his name IS Charlie. The recipes are developed and made right there on site. May I recommend the coffee truffles?
This is a good place to talk about these Moose Munch Cookies. They consist of a buttery, thick shortbread cookie, spread with a luscious, bittersweet chocolate glaze, and topped with a generous sprinkle of Harry & David's Moose Munch.
{Moose Munch is a delectable caramel popcorn (made with slabs of butter...I saw it), mixed with cashews and almonds and enrobed in chocolate. Yep. I used the Dark Chocolate variety here.}
{makes 15-18}
for the cookies:
3 & 1/2 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
3/4 pound (3 sticks) salted butter, cut into chunks
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
2 tsp. vanilla bean paste (or extract)
for the topping:
1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips, such as Ghiradelli
2 TBSP unsalted butter
Moose Munch
Whisk together the flour and salt. Set aside.
Beat together the butter and sugars using an electric mixer until creamy. Mix in the vanilla bean paste. Add the the flour mixture in 3 additions, beating on low, just until combined.
Wrap the dough in plastic wrap, pressing the dough together and refrigerate 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.
Roll the chilled dough on a floured surface to 1/2" thick. Cut with a 2 & 1/2" cutter and place the cut-outs on a cookie sheet. Freeze for 10-15 minutes to prevent spreading.
Bake for 18-20 minutes until golden on the edges. Remove immediately to a wire cooling rack and cool completely.
To make the glaze, place the chocolate chips and butter in a glass bowl over a pan of simmering water. Stir until melted.
Dollop the melted chocolate onto the cooled cookies and spread with an offset spatula. Sprinkle on the Moose Munch.
The chocolate will set after several minutes, but will not harden completely.
Optional: if you're feeling festive, break out your gold disco dust (you have gold disco dust, right?) and add just a touch to the completed cookies.
Can I show you just a few more peeks from the trip?
{Travel day: sparkly shoes, big airplane and tiny airplane rides with Rachel proved to be very memorable, Ashland Springs Hotel...gorgeous.}
{from top: Jenna, Maria, Jessica...Jessica (me) and bottom: Jenna, (me), Rebecca, Lori, Rachel, Maria, Rachel, Heidi}
(photo credit, bottom 3:, Jenna, Lori & Kristen)
{Amy, Kristen, Lori, (me)}
Let's look at those gorgeous pears one more time.
Thank you, Harry & David. You have a customer for life.
Looks like you had a really fun trip, Bridget. I love Moose Munch (and pretty much all things Harry & David)! These are such a creative idea and with that layer of chocolate they look delicious!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun trip! And the cookies look amazing....yum!!
ReplyDeleteLook at you adorable ladies! One of the coolest gift baskets I ever received was from Harry and David.
ReplyDeleteIve been watching the H & D trip posts come up in my Reader from everyone and I'll say it again, it looks like a first class experience from start to finish and just totally amazing and fabulous! Happy for you that you could go on the trip (ten lbs and all-- LOL_ :)
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like such an amazing trip and these cookies look so delicious!
ReplyDeleteOy vey (in a good way). My sister lives in Medford & every fall she brags about the bounty of pears they always bring in. H & D's looks as amazing as I imagined. As always, Bridget, you are so lovely. Thank you for sharing your trip.
ReplyDeleteMoose Munch is SO good! I get it for my husband at Christmastime. These cookies are spectacular. And only 10 lbs? I would have done that per DAY with all that amazing yumminess. ;)
ReplyDeleteYour trip sounds like so much fun! and the cookies divine!
ReplyDeleteI want a play by play of what Bridget wore everyday! your dress looks so cute! :)
This looks like seriously an AMAZING trip. I am so jealous of you laides! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat an exciting trip! I'm drooling at these cookies this morning...they look amazing!
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome trip!! So jealous!! And these cookie look unreal too :)
ReplyDeleteLooove the chocolate tour. Such fun pictures! Looks like you had a fantastic time.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great trip. Glad I am not near any moose munch!
ReplyDeleteI love that you created a cookie with moose munch! All of my moose munch should be coming today... and I am scared. Scared that I will eat it all!
ReplyDeleteI'll say it again: meeting you was a highlight of my life. You.are.incredible.
I am totally jealous of this trip!! SO glad you had a great time, and good lord, I need those Mondo Maltballs in my face.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun event!! Jealous!
ReplyDeleteNow that is a great way to use moose munch!
ReplyDeleteLooks like such a fun trip! I've been loving everyone's pictures.
ReplyDeleteI love Moose Munch and H&D - thanks for the insight on their company - I especially liked the comments about meals, housing and health care. It makes me respect them even more. I will continue to support them. I love shopping at their outlet stores and the one at the mall. On a side note - are all bloggers as cute as you all??? Great photos!!
ReplyDeleteoh I dream about that store, we don't have on anywhere near us at all, but I think about it all the time.
ReplyDeleteWow! That is so cool!
ReplyDeleteDid I see gold sparkly shoes?!? I think I have them in silver :)
ReplyDeleteLOVED meeting you in person-finally! You are beautiful inside and out! And I am dying over these cookies! I need one-NOW! Miss you! xo
ReplyDeleteLooks like such a wonderful time with such lovely ladies!! You're cookies are fabulous as usual! Miss you sweet friend!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed wandering back through our trip through your photos. What fun it was! Miss you bunches!
ReplyDeleteBridget you pictures are stunning and I feel like I was right there with you!!
ReplyDeleteI loved following along with you all via Instagram!! What a beautiful trip!
I received H&D fruit of the month for 6 months a year or so ago and LOVED it! you can get very spoiled eating their fruit!
LOVE your moose munch shortbread cookies too!!
What a beautiful post, my friend! You did great things with that Moose Munch!!! Love the disco dust!
ReplyDeleteEmployees like Charlie working at Harry and David for over 30 years speaks can only mean that this is a wonderful place to work and from the photos in this post, a fabulous place to visit. What a lovely time you were all treated to and what a fun treat you made for all of us!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that you got a chance to check out Ashland, OR! I live up in Portland, but man, I loooove Ashland so much. You should come back and check out Agave (for the most amazing tacos of your life), and hit up the Shakespeare festival. It's amazing. You could probably even sneak in some Moose Munch to one of the plays. Nothing like a little bit of crunching in the middle of a Hamlet soliloquy! ;o)
ReplyDeleteI was living vicariously through all you and the girls' IG photos that weekend - looked like a hoot!! So much fun! Thanks for sharing the trip with us Bridget!
ReplyDeleteYou are amazing, girl. Love the post, the recipe, the friends, the pears, H&D ... love it all.
ReplyDeleteAnd love YOU!
I can't believe I got to see you twice in a month. IRL is the best! xoxox
You are amazing, girl. Love the post, the recipe, the friends, the pears, H&D ... love it all.
ReplyDeleteAnd love YOU!
I can't believe I got to see you twice in a month. IRL is the best! xoxox
These look so great!! Love all the pictures
ReplyDeleteAhhh! Love Moose Munch. And your red with white polka dot dress is darling - where did you find it?
ReplyDeleteIt's from Old Navy. :)
DeleteThanks :) Love it!
Deletethese cookies are seriously insane...i'm a little scared to make them because i KNOW for sure i'd gain 10 lbs in 1 week with them!
ReplyDeleteI had such a fun time with you B... it's such a wonderful group of ladies. Great recap :)
ReplyDeleteTheir pears are phenomenal!! I never knew fruit could taste so much like candy :)
ReplyDeleteI've never tried their Moose Munch, but it sounds like the absolute perfect combination of salty and sweet :D
Looks like you had an amazing time. Love all the photos and recaps. The pears look amazing and the shortbread looks divine. I love the touch of glitter too. Makes me happy.
ReplyDelete-Lisa.
Sweet 2 Eat Baking
Oh friend!!
ReplyDeleteI was there and you make me want to go back again!
Your cookies are truly inspired <3 miss you, already
this sounds AMAZINGLY delish!!!! I wish i had some of that popcorn here!
ReplyDeletelove K
These cookies! Oh my gosh, these cookies! You are a genius!!!
ReplyDeleteYour photographs are gorgeous, Bridget! Absolutely gorgeous!
Totally amazing! Trip of a lifetime really! Looks like you ahd a fab time!!
ReplyDeleteThe trip looks phenomenal as do these cookies. My goodness!! I remember eating a lot of Moose Munch as a kid!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely trip, it seems that you all had a wonderful time. Thanks for sharing that yummy recipe.
ReplyDeleteIt was so fun to read your post and re-live the fun. And you're right. I keep waiting for the tour bus to pick me up and take me places with wine and cheese. So far, no one has come. :)
ReplyDeleteIt was such a treat to see you again and to share in getting to know and love Harry and David!
It seems like quite a place to work at. Thanks for the moose munch cookie recipe.
ReplyDeleteThis treat looks very cute and delicious!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing opportunity Bridget! Looks like you all had a fabulous time - and you all look so lovely! Speaking of lovely...these cookies look INCREDIBLE! Can't wait to give them a try! Thanks for posting! XO
ReplyDeleteHow fun! Forget the gift basket from Harry and David, go for the Tower of Treats! Once I open a bag of Moose Munch it's gone, I can't stop, I have an illness. I'm pretty sure it will be the same thing with these delicious cookies.
ReplyDeleteOh my! Those look delicious. I love Moose Munch, so these cook be an issue with my hips..
ReplyDeleteEdible gold dust? HELLO!
ReplyDeleteWe have a Harry & David nearby and I love it! Looks like you had tons of fun:) I have shipped those fabulous pears to my in-laws, who already have "everything" and they loved them!
ReplyDeleteI admire your piece of work, regards for all the good blog posts.
ReplyDeleteCut Out Cookie Recipe
You have an amazing blog! More power to you!
ReplyDeleteWow!Excellent and wonderful post.I love this post very much.Its so attractive and colorful.Here,I got lot of sweetest informations.I want to visit my friends too.Thank you for your superb post.
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Love moose munch .Great post.
ReplyDeleteMMMMM, I absolutely love Harry & David!! How do I get invited :) Getting their gift baskets are the best present.
ReplyDeleteForwarded this to some friends, appreciate your advice
ReplyDeleteChocolate Cutout Cookies
Your wrap up makes me want to go back! If only we'd been able to taste that Moose Munch hot out of the vat, can you imagine? I love your pics of the weekend, and those cookies are TDF! So happy to have met you in person this go around. Can't wait to see you again, it can't come too soon! XO
ReplyDeleteI love your mouse munch very much man !!!!!!! Amazing and delicious
ReplyDeleteChocolate Cookies
How yummy!!
ReplyDeleteIts yummy
ReplyDeleteHoliday Cookies Recipies.
What an amazing your Bridget! Looks like you all had a fabulous time - and you all look so lovely! and also related site women gift baskets is my site plz visit the site and greet comment hear.
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