Big Bang Theory: Sheldon Cooper's Red Velvet Cookies

What the hell is "Bazinga"?

I see it on t-shirts. Within memes. All over the internet. Yet, I still have no idea what it means.

At least know it has a connection to that nerdish TV show, Big Bang Theory. I say "Nerdish", because I always feel like it's trying to make an effort to appeal to a geeky fan base, but a lot of it seems forced. For the longest time, I avoided the show like a plague. The laugh track was just too much. But, very soon, I felt left out. This show has quite the following. It even has a board game for god's sake. I mean, was I missing out? I don't have patience for a lot of TV shows, but is this one worth my time?

Luckily, Big Bang reruns are always hanging around the boobtube. Like Seinfeld, Friends, and The Simpsons,  I can always find it on one channel or another. So I watched it. I think it was about cosplay? Or, at least, forcing their next door neighbour to dress up like Wonder Woman, because she was the only female they knew to be a part of their Justice League. I appreciated the Aquaman humour. But, overall, it was meh.

So, why was it so popular? Was I was just not nerd enough to appreciate all the nuances? I had to find answers, so I scoured youtube to find a clip that would actually make me laugh. Or at least giggle.

I found it.

Wil Wheaton playing himself. As a total douche bag. It's a beautiful thing.

Any show that has Wil on it has to be a-okay in my book. And, after a while, a couple other characters grew on me. Sheldon's annoying uber-nerd tendencies were a little trying at first, especially when paired with his BFF (the laugh track), but his character slowly became (dare I say it?) endearing. He's one of those geeks who knows it's okay to wear your nerdom on your sleeve. And I'm all about that. Also, he has, like, the coolest shirts ever.

These cookies are based on Sheldon's good ol' fashioned southerness, and his love of the Flash. The recipe is slightly adapted from Nerdache Cakes (who is an awesome little lady and you should all go over to her blog and fawn over her awesomeness) - it's soft and slightly chewy, with the right sort of tang you want in a red velvet. Let me tell you, if your "red velvet" recipe, no matter what form it's in, doesn't have at least vinegar, cocoa, and baking powder in it, then it's no velvet.

Anyway, someone still has to tell me what "Bazinga" means. It's driving me nuts.

Sheldon Cooper's Red Velvet Cookies
Makes about 16 cookies
Slightly adapted from Nerdache Cakes 

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 Tablespoon white vinegar
Red food colouring (I recommend using gel colouring)
1 1/2 cup flour
2 1/2 Tablespoons cocoa powder
1 teaspoon cornstarch
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
White chocolate

1) Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. In your mixer, whip together your sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add your egg and continue to mix until completely incorporated. Add your vanilla and vinegar, as well as your red food colouring (use just enough to give it your desired shade - We added just a couple squirts of red colouring gel, but you might want yours to be brighter). Continue to mix, being sure to get the sides of your bowl, until everything is distributed evenly.

2) Sift in your cocoa powder, cornstarch, and salt and give it a couple stirs. Add your flour and baking powder, and mix slowly, making sure to get an even dough. Roll into golf ball sized pieces (warning: your hands will get pretty red!) and bake for 9-12 minutes, or until you get some good cracks going. Cool and drizzle with white chocolate. Enjoy and . . . Bazinga?