Back to Basic: Chocolate Chip Cookies

Back to Basics

Making chocolate chip cookies might be the best therapy known to man. I'm not sure if Nestle Tollhouse realized what they were doing when they put that recipe on the back on the package but it undoubtedly changed every child's life from that day on. Once America knew how to make love in the form of a cookie, ever mom used that recipe to take to potlucks, cheer you up on a bad day, pass the time when it was raining outside, entertain all your friends at sleepovers, put a smile on daddy's face, and send love when you moved away to college or whatever next life step.

Its probably for this reason that making chocolate chip cookies is my go to for almost every every occasion. I grab the butter, pull the flour out of the cupboard, (maybe open a bottle of wine... doo-do-doo..), and whip together those tasty little morsels that make everything a little brighter. 

After many recipes and experimentation (why are they flat sometimes and big others? does chilling the dough change anything? this seems goopey-er than normal...) I've determined a few things.

1. deciding to make cookies is always a good idea

2. eating more dough than anticipated is expected

3. when you're all done, you'll wish you were just getting started

Making chocolate chip cookies is more than just preparing a dessert or snack, it's a reminder of the simple things that put a smile on your face. Let's face it, life can be a shit storm in many forms and for seemingly endless amounts of time; but once in a while you need a reminder of the basic joys that mom showed you when life wasn't so complicated so you can get back on track and keep moving forward. 

The original recipe on the package is wonderful and essentially where my love for baking and cooking began, but I have made a few adjustments to create what is my perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

• 1 stick of butter, room temperature
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla, be generous
• 1 1/4 cup flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• chocolate chips, as many as you want

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 (325 if you have a convection - most ovens are nowadays)
2. In a large-ish bowl, cream together butter and sugars until combined. A stiff rubber scraper works well or you can take the easy road and use a stand mixer.
3. Mix in the egg and vanilla until combined and everything looks the same.
4. Place a fine mesh sieve over the bowl and measure your flour, baking soda, and salt into the sieve. 
5. Shake the sieve to sift the ingredients together into the egg mixture.
6. Stir until it's not quite combined so there's just a bit of flour in a few spots and then toss in the chips. 
7. Stir until all the flour is incorporated and you've got cookie dough!
8. eat.
9. Portion remaining dough onto cookie sheet about 2 inches apart and put in the oven for 8-10 minutes. You want them just browning on the edges and a couple spots on top. 
10. Remove and let cool for 2 minutes (the hardest part) and then place on a cooling rack. 
11. Feel free to consume as desired!