Recently, I was lucky enough to be invited to a very special book signing. It was to honor my friend, “Q”, who is 95 years old and has enjoyed baking all of his life. Read about Q and his book signing at the Kansas City Star’s Chowtown Blog.
After writing about Q and his baking life, I reflected on my own life which involves baking almost every day. My mother loves to bake and she is a master baker. I don’t recall a time when there wasn’t a pie, cookie, brownie or cake to try when visiting my mom and dad. I just enjoyed Sunday dinner at their home, and of course, mom served brownies with a mint frosting for dessert. They were to die for!
Is it no surprise that I chose a career path in the food world. My mom is happiest when she is in the kitchen. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Many folks use their spare time to shop, craft or read….no, no notta notta not me. I can be found in the kitchen baking, smiling and serving love the best way I know how.
It is my belief that most of us began our baking journey with good, old fashioned, chocolate chip cookies. Chocolate chip cookies have always intrigued me. Most everyone follows the same recipe, the one on the back of the chocolate chip package, but yet, have you noticed that no two chocolate chip cookies look alike? Hmmm, does make one wonder about all the variables involved in the science of baking?
At our home, the chocolate chip cookie baking blue ribbon goes to our daughter. I can’t quite remember how this tradition began, but since our daughter was about 3 or 4 years old, she and her daddy made chocolate chip cookies together. I was always banned from the kitchen until the process was complete. They have shared literally hundreds of hours together baking chocolate chip cookies. Today, as a 16 year old, she is always busy baking chocolate chip cookies for one occasion or another. True confession….her chocolate chip cookies are far superior to mine, hands down. I did bake the cookies for this picture and I think it is the first time that I have baked chocolate chip cookies in years. It brought back lots of fond memories both at my parents’ home and at our home, too.
The morale of this story is simple. Get into the kitchen and for heaven’s sake start baking. Nothing evokes more joy than the aroma of baked goods, the wholesome taste (no preservatives!) and the love you can share. I can’t imagine conquering life’s hurdles and homework without chocolate chip cookies and a cold glass of milk.
Here is the recipe that our family uses, which is adapted from the original Toll House cookie recipe.
Chocolate Chip Cookies
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 eggs
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups semisweet chocolate morsels
Preheat oven to 375°F.
Using a mixer in a large bowl, combine butter and shortening until blended. Beat in sugar and brown sugar until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Add to creamed mixture and beat until just blended. Stir in semisweet morsels until well blended. Using a cookie scoop, drop onto a cookie sheet that has been lined with parchment paper. Bake for 9 to11 minutes or until golden. Allow to cool on cookie sheet one minute and then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
Makes about 2 1/2 to 3 dozen cookies
Tip: If desired add 1 cup chopped nuts to batter when add semisweet morsels.
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