A bit about vanilla; it comes from the same family as the orchid plant. The orchid plant – the only one that bears edible fruit among more than 35,000 orchid species - produces vanilla. The process of growing vanilla beans is labor intensive, which explains the high cost.

When the plant matures at three years, it flowers for just one day. In that time, it must be hand-pollinated. The plant will not bloom for another year. When the bean is removed nine months later, it must then undergo several months of drying and fermenting.

• 1/2 cup Butter
• 1 1/8 cups of Gold Metal Flour
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/3 cup white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 1 cup chopped macadamia nuts
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Wilton
• 1 1/4 cups semisweet chocolate chips white

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
• Cream the butter, and sugars together in a large bowl.
• Beat in the egg and vanilla until well blended.
• Sift together the flour and baking soda and salt and then
  gradually blend in the batter.
• Stir in the nuts and chips.
• Drop rounded teaspoon size on greased cookie sheets then pat down with the palm of your hand.
• Bake only for 9 minutes then take the cookies out and let sit on the pan for 1 minutes then remove to a rack to cool.