A Cookie is More Than Just a Cookie -- It's a Memory
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A Cookie is More Than Just a Cookie -- It's a Memory

"Grandma's" Chocolate Chip cookies were one of my favorites as a kid. I couldn't wait to get to Grandma's house and pull one of her delicious cookies out of the glass cookie jar. Her cookies were slightly crunchy around the edges and chewy in the middle. No other cookie has compared to hers!


I baked up her recipe and sold them in my shop in New Hampshire. These cookies didn't last long once they hit the shelf!


I used grandma's recipe and I often wonder what she would have thought when she took a bite of one of mine.





I would say my Uncle Lary's cookies are a close second to Grandma's. He keeps the tradition of Grandma's glass cookie jar alive and it's almost always filled with her recipe for his grandkids.


Most of the time the cookies are devoured while still warm and never make it inside the jar.


Grandma's Chocolate Chip Cookies


Ingredients:

1 cup butter flavored or regular shortening

1 1/2 cups white sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 package semi-sweet chocolate chips


Directions:

  1. In a large bowl, cream the shortening, sugars, vanilla and eggs together until fluffy.

  2. Shift dry ingredients together. Gradually stir into the creamed mixture.

  3. Fold in the chocolate chips.

  4. Use an ice cream scoop to drop the cookies onto the cookie sheet. Make sure the dough is even with the top of the scoop.

  5. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

  6. When you take the pan out of the oven, drop it on the counter. This will make the cookie flatten a bit and it will be extra chewy!

  7. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before moving to a wire rack to cool completely.


My mom's chocolate chip cookies are a spin-off of Grandma's cookie.


While I insist on following Grandma's recipe to a "T" -- Mom substitutes butter for the shortening in her version.


Sometimes her impatience for a hot cookie gets the best of her and she'll bake the first batch before chilling the dough.


The cookies always end up spreading too much but secretly, I think that's intentional. After all, you can't share a cookie that doesn't look just right!


Mom's Chocolate Chip Cookies


Ingredients:

1 cup (2 sticks butter)

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

2 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste

2 1/4 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 package semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 package mini M&Ms

Honey roasted pecans, crushed


Directions:

  1. In a large bowl, cream the butter, sugars, vanilla bean paste and eggs together until fluffy.

  2. Shift dry ingredients together. Gradually stir into the creamed mixture.

  3. Stir in crushed honey roasted pecans until blended.

  4. Fold in the chocolate chips and Mini M&Ms.

  5. Chill for 2 hours.

  6. Use an ice cream scoop to drop the cookies onto the cookie sheet.

  7. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

  8. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before moving to a wire rack to cool completely.


Now you be the judge. Mix up a batch of Mom's and Grandma's cookies and have your family do a taste test.


I know which one I'd pick. Oops ... no offense Mom!











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