Tossing the Cookies

Do you ever get the insatiable urge to have warm cookies in the evening?? Well I do, my whole house does, too often I think! Our go to in my house is called dada cookies, to my slight annoyance. See- my husband is no baker, or much of a cook for that matter although he is learning more over the years. But sometime in 2020 when the whole world seemed to be on pause, he wanted to recreate the classic chocolate chip cookie recipe that his Mom was faithful to. He tried- and succeeded! Being the supportive and gentle loving wife I am, I was proud of him but also kinda jealous. No one can bake yummy things but me! Naturally, this led me to tweak the recipe and make it "better". All that really meant was making them thicker and sickeningly full of chocolate chips and baking them until they reach the level just above gooey dough. I have other secrets that I've poured into this particular cookie process but time will tell if I reveal them! But what I do is self serving- everything that to me and my strange preferences would call a perfect cookie. My daughter has learned to love them the same way. But my boys and poor husband prefer cookies with far less chocolate chips, baked for much longer. My hubs prefers them CRISPY......the sacrilege! It almost hurts my soul to see those beautiful balls of dough turning an actual brown in the oven, but it makes him happy so I try to reserve a few for this ill fate.

When he makes "dada cookies" he needs 15 measuring cups and 45 bowls, and probably 30 minutes to bring it all together. He always grabs the "wrong" cookie sheets and is not quite sure when I want my squishy morsels pulled out of the oven. But he indulges me and does his very best. He is proud of his ability to make yummy cookies, as he should be.

When it's my turn at the recipe it's called "mama cookies". Naturally I do not need the recipe book- it's all up here in the old noggin. One measuring cup and two bowls plus my trusty stand mixer is all I need. I swear I can whip up the dough in five minutes, while the men of the house are reminding me to make some without a "gross" amount of chocolate chips and to bake them until they are actual cookie texture....pssshhh. I know the best cookie sheets to use, where to place them in the oven and techniques to form the dough on the sheet for the thickest cookie outcome. In short, I am a baker so I take a lot of pride and thought into the task, maybe too much pride! But either way- no matter if it's mama or dada cookies- delicious morsels come out of the oven "almost" every time. After all the preparation and work it is not a competition of who can make it faster, or prettier- something I need to remind myself. If you have someone in your life who is willing to make you cookies- even if it is something that makes them nervous and stressed, you are blessed! And if you make them for yourself- enjoy the fruits of your labor!

Five years ago was my last blog post, but in all that time baking has never ceased to be a source of joy, comfort and sometimes healing. I have much to catch you up on in posts to come! But for now let me say, life is short and crazy- if you get the hankering for warm chocolate chip cookies- go for it! I am even willing to share my recipe with you, and if you will; consider sharing a favorite cookie recipe with me!

The cookies pictured above are my chocolate chip recipe with walnuts and peanut butter chips added. (to make my man who is a peanut butter fiend happy)