Chef2Chef Note: Is this story true? No. It's a classic urban legend. The Neiman Marcus version of the story began circulating in the 1990s. Other versions date back to the 1940s. And that is why you found this in our Humor section.
$250 Cookie Recipe
Okay, everyone... a true story of justice in the good old
U.S. of A. Thought y'all might enjoy this; if nothing else, it shows
internet justice, if it can be called that.
My daughter & I had just finished a salad at Neiman-Marcus Cafe in
Dallas & decided to have a small dessert. Because our family
are such cookie lovers, we decided to try the "Neiman-Marcus
Cookie".
It was so excellent that I asked if they would give me the recipe and they
said with a small frown, "I'm afraid not." Well, I said,
would you let me buy the recipe? With a cute smile, she said,
"Yes." I asked how much, and she responded, "Two
fifty." I said with approval, just add it to my tab.
Thirty days later, I received my VISA statement from Neiman-Marcus and it was
$285.00. I looked again and I remembered I had only spent $9.95 for two
salads and about $20.00 for a scarf.
As I glanced at the bottom of the statement, it said, "Cookie Recipe -
$250.00." Boy, was I upset!!
I called Neiman's Accounting Dept. and told them the waitress said it
was "two fifty," and I did not realize she meant $250.00 for a
cookie recipe. I asked them to take back the recipe and reduce my
bill, and they said they were sorry, but because all the recipes were
this expensive so not just everyone could duplicate any of our bakery
recipes....the bill would stand.
I waited, thinking of how I could get even or even try and get any of my
money back.
I just said, "Okay, you folks got my $250.00 and now I'm going to have
250.00 worth of fun." I told her that I was going to see to it that
every cookie lover will have a $250.00 cookie recipe from Neiman-Marcus
for nothing.
She replied, "I wish you wouldn't do this." I said, "I'm
sorry but this is the only way I feel I could get even," and I will.
So, here it is, and please pass it to someone else or run a few copies. I paid
for it; now you can have it for free.
(Recipe may be halved.):
2 cups butter
4 cups flower
2 tsp. soda
2 cups sugar
5 cups blended oatmeal**
24 oz. chocolate chips
2 cups brown sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 8 oz. Hershey Bar (grated)
4 eggs
2 tsp. baking powder
3 cups chopped nuts (your choice)
2 tsp. vanilla
Measure oatmeal and blend in a blender to a fine powder. Cream the butter and
both sugars. Add eggs and vanilla; mix together with flour, oatmeal, salt,
baking powder, and soda. Add chocolate chips, Hershey Bar and nuts.
Roll into balls and place two inches apart on a cookie sheet. Bake for 10
minutes at 375 degrees. Makes 112 cookies.
Have fun!!! This is not a joke --- this is a true story.
