It seems to me that no self respecting blog can truly call itself complete without a recipe tab. Now, I cook and bake. And I do these things fairly often. Whether I'm qualified, in even the loosest sense, to share recipes, cooking advice, food suggestions, anything pertaining to the preparation of food...is another story. Well, too bad. I'm doing it anyway. So, I racked my brain in hopes of finding something - anything - I can make well and then it hit me! I can honestly, truly, absolutely, authoritatively say that I am a damn fine chocolate chip cookie maker. I am. I can bake a chocolate chip cookie like nobody's business. And now....the secret to my success! The recipe itself is the standard from the back of the bag, but I tweak it here and there. First off, make sure you let your butter come to room temperature. Now, if you are using a Kitchen Aid, make sure you use the whisk attachment. I don't know why - my friend Mary told me this years ago. I just obey! Also, you must use good vanilla and lots of it! Now we all know the recipe, but here it is again with my tiny changes.
Chocolate Chip Cookies
2 cups all purpose flour 3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup whole wheat flour 3 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking soda 2 eggs
1/2 tsp. salt 1 1/4 cups semi sweet chocolate chips (I prefer Ghirardelli)
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter 1 1/4 cups milk chocolate chips (Again, Ghirardelli)
3/4 cup sugar
Heat oven to 375ºF. Stir flour with baking soda and salt. Put side. Beat butter and sugar together until creamy. Add in eggs and vanilla. (All the recipes say to do this one at a time, but I never do!) Next add the dry ingredients. I do this in two or three batches. Make sure you are working on a low to medium speed or the flour mixture will fly! When this is nicely incorporated add in the chocolate chips. You want to drop these in rounded (overfull) teaspoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet. I use a melonballer to scoop mine. Bake for 8 and half to 9 minutes. They should look gold around the edges, but a a little underdone everywhere else. You will want to put them back in the oven, but don't!
Makes approximately 56- 60 cookies.
Enjoy!
