Post
 Posted By: chubbyalaskagriz 
Mar 17  # 1 of 7
These are light, thin, damned near flavorless, have perforated holes that I don't remember from before- and seem to be missing the thin white layer of cool mint that used to be inside them. These taste like some yoga instructor's "new & improved" no-fat version! Am I confused, or what?
Post
 Posted By: Mama Mangia 
Mar 17  # 2 of 7
first of all - read your box - if it was somehow bought out by KRAFT there's the reason - Kraft s buying up everything they can, changing all the formulas and raising all the prices - they have totally ruined Stella D'Oro

but if its still the same company - they are doing what everyone else is doing cutting down, cutting back, changing, and re-formulating

NOTHING is like it used to be

try this -

1-1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened Dutch-processed cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
7 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1 teaspoon vegetable oil


Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt in a
medium-size mixing bowl.

Combine the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl and, with an electric
mixer, beat on medium-high speed until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the egg
and the extracts and beat until smooth. Stir in the flour mixture until just
incorporated.

Divide the dough into 2 equal portions. Turn 1 portion onto a piece of
waxed paper and shape it, rolling it inside the paper, into a log about 10
inches long and 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and
refrigerate it for at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours. Repeat with the
remaining dough. (Dough logs may be wrapped tightly in plastic and frozen
for up to 1 month. Slice and bake directly from the freezer.)

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Slice the dough into 1/3-inch-thick rounds, rotating the dough often so it
doesn’t become flattened as you cut. Place the cookies on ungreased baking
sheets at least 2 inches apart. Bake until they are firm around the edges
but still soft on top, 13 to 15 minutes (a minute or two longer for frozen
dough). Let them stand on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then remove them
with a metal spatula to a wire rack to cool completely.

Put 1 inch of water in the bottom of a double boiler or a large saucepan
and bring to a bare simmer. Place the chocolate and vegetable oil in the top
of the double boiler or in a stainless-steel bowl big enough to rest on top
of the saucepan, making sure that the water doesn’t touch the bottom of the bowl. Heat, whisking occasionally, until the chocolate is completely melted. Remove from the heat and whisk until completely smooth.

Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Use a small
offset spatula to spread a thin layer of the chocolate glaze over the top of
each cookie. Place the cookies, chocolate side up, on the baking sheets and
refrigerate until the glaze is firm, about 15 minutes. Thin Mints will keep
at room temperature in an airtight container for 4 to 5 days.
Post
 Posted By: Cook Chatty Cathy 
Mar 17  # 3 of 7
Quote chubbyalaskagriz wrote:
These are light, thin, damned near flavorless, have perforated holes that I don't remember from before- and seem to be missing the thin white layer of cool mint that used to be inside them. These taste like some yoga instructor's "new & improved" no-fat version! Am I confused, or what?

I am afraid they have changed and I experienced the same thing myself! I actually get a better thin choc. mint cookie at the Dollar General complete with the thin white mint icing inside. But I do not thinkl it is limited to the Thin Mints, all the Gril Scout cookies are seriously lacking from the Girl Scout cookie products of years gone by.
Post
 Posted By: chubbyalaskagriz 
Mar 18  # 4 of 7
Well, I'm gonna tell ya somethin'! :)

I am historically a binge eater, and nearly every year of my life it'd been nothing for me to hunker-down w/ a sleeve or two of Thin Mints- or other varieties of GS Cookies and just eat 'til they were gone.

This box of Thin Mints I opened last night? I ate no more than a handful before sending them home w/ a neighbor. They were about as satisfying as a mouth-full of toothpaste! Damn- they weren't even worth the effort of chewing them! Awful, awful, awful!

I don't give a damn- good cause or not- I believe in demanding excellence. No more for this fat guy! I'm just gonna stock-up on Crest and mini semi-sweet morsels and sit w/ the tube and the bag while watching TV from now on... similar effect- Phooie!
Post
 Posted By: jpshaw 
Mar 18  # 5 of 7
After all my Marketing classes in college I can tell you what "New and improved" actually means. THEY FOUND A CHEAPER WAY TO MAKE IT.