The cookie recipe that cost a bundle-Fiction!

The Cookie Recipe That Cost a Bundle-Fiction!

Summary of the eRumor: The email describes the story of a person who was eating at a famous restaurant, department store, or hotel and liked the cookie that was served for dessert so well that she asked for the recipe. Later, when going through the credit card statement, the diner discovers that the restaurant charged an enormous amount of money for the supposedly "secret" recipe. So, in revenge, she decides to send the recipe to everybody she knows so it won't be so secret anymore.

The Truth: This is one of the classic urban legends. It has circulated for decades and various versions have named different restaurants and hotels, although one of the most common versions says it happened at Neiman-Marcus.


A real example of the eRumor as it has appeared on the Internet:
A TRUE "GET EVEN STORY " MUST READ The following is a story of a lady who decided to get even with a company that ripped her off. I thought it was an interesting way for one to get even and illustrates the power of people when empowered with the Internet. Enjoy...Not A Joke My daughter & I had just finished a salad at Neiman-Marcus Cafe in Dallas & decided to have a small dessert. Because both of us 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 the waitress said with a small frown, "I'm afraid not, but you can buy the recipe". Well, I asked how much, and she responded. "Only two fifty, it's a great deal!" I agreed, just add it to my tab, I told her. Thirty days later, I received my VISA statement from Neiman-Marcus andit 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". That's outrageous! I called Neiman's Accounting Dept. and told them the waitress said it was "two-fifty," which clearly does not mean "two hundred and fifty dollars by any POSSIBLE interpretation of the phrase! Neiman-Marcus refused to budge. They would not refund my money, because according to them, "What the waitress told you is not our problem. You have already seen the recipe. We absolutely will not refund your money at this point." I explained to her the criminal statutes which govern fraud in Texas. I threatened to refer them to the Better Business Bureau and the State's Attorney General for engaging in fraud. I was basically told, "Do what you want, it doesn't matter, and we're not refunding!! your money." 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 $25,000.00 worth of fun." I told her that I was going to see to it that every Cookie lover in the United States with an e-mail account has a $250.00 cookie recipe from Neiman-Marcus... for free. She replied, "I wish you wouldn't do this." I said, "Well, you should have thought of that before you ripped me off," and slammed down the phone on her. So here it is!!! Please, please, please pass it on to everyone you can possibly think of. I paid $250 for this... I don't want Neiman-Marcus to ever get another penny off of this recipe.... ****************************** THE NEIMAN MARCUS COOKIE (Recipe may be halved): 2 cups butter 4 cups flour 2 tsp. baking soda 2 cups sugar 5 cups blended oatmeal (measure oatmeal and blend in a blender to a fine powder.) 24 oz. chocolate chips 2 cups brown sugar 1 tsp. salt 1 - 8 oz. Hershey Bar (grated) 4 eggs 2 tsp. baking powder 2 tsp. vanilla 3 cups chopped nuts (your choice, but we liked pecans best) *********************************************** 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. Ride free, citizens! PLEASE PASS THIS TO EVERY ONE YOU KNOW!