Happy National Chocolate Chip Cookie day, to those of you who observe

Happy National chocolate chip cookie day!

It seems like there is a National (insert name) day every day, doesn’t it? I remember recently seeing something about National Mutt Day (which we observe in our house really every day, because of Gracie). I saw that August 4th, 2021 is National Chocolate Chip Cookie day. I couldn’t let that go by without baking some ccc’s to bring into work (and perhaps let Rob eat one or two).

The cookie monster at it again!

Some cool facts about Chocolate Chip Cookies… 1) Ruth Wakefield “invented” them in 1930. She was making cookies for her roadside inn guests and was out of baker’s chocolate. She added broken pieces of Nestle’s chocolate. She thought they would melt, but did not.. and voila, a star cookie was born! 2) the chocolate chip cookie is America’s most popular cookie. 3) the first chocolate chip cookie was the size of a quarter (now, that’s just wrong) 4) there are 7 billion chocolate chip cookies eaten in the US every year, with only half of those being homemade (a travesty. that number should be bigger) 5) the number of cookies the average person eats in a lifetime is 35, 000. (yowsa)

Perfectly puffy!

Remember to spoon your flour from the flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the correct amount. if you pour directly into the measuring cup, you get too much flour and your cookies could be dry. once you scoop out the dough, chill it for a couple of hours to keep your cookies puffy. and, preheat your oven to 375 degrees for 20 minutes so it cycles to the right temperature for baking (that tip from Stanley, our LG oven tech, to whom I am indebted)

  • ingredients
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cupcrisco
  • 1 cup plus 2 tbs brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 tbs vanilla
  • 4 1/2 cups flour
  • 3 tbs cornstarch
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1 1/2 tspbaking powder
  • 3 cups chocolate chips

directions – cream butter, crisco, brown sugar and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. Blend in dry ingredients. fold in chocolate chips. Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough. Chill at least for a few hours. Preheat your oven for 20 minutes to 375 degrees. On a cookie sheet lined with nonstick baking liners or parchment paper, stagger mounds of cookie dough. bake 12 to 15 minutes – you will see light golden patches on top. Cool completely. Store in covered container.

Celebrating the greatest cookie!

thanks so much for stopping by today. Let me know if you make these cookies and how you like them. And, I hope you have a wonderful day filled with love, peace and happiness. Remember that life is hard for all of us, but some have it tougher than others.

Double chocolate, triple chip brownies

Double chocolate, triple chip brownies topped with powdered sugar

These brownies, dear friends, are one of the first treats I remember making my myself. They are an old Nestle tollhouse standby. I actually meased it up by melting 2 cups of chocolate chips instead of one, but I have never gotten any complaints, so I stuck with that “mistake”. Rob wanted me to add a combo of white, milk chocolate and semisweet chocolate chips, so I did. These aren’t super fudgy, but not cakey either. I think you will like them.

All that chocolate!

Reminders – preheat your oven to 350 degrees for 20 minutes before baking. Also, scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.

  • Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 2 cups chocolate chips
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 tsp chocolate extract
  • 1 1/4 cups flour
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/3 cup chocolate chips
  • 1/3 cup white chocolate chips
  • 1/3 cup milk chocolate chips

Directions – preheat oven to 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Line an 8×8 pan with tin foil and spray with baking spray. in a microwave safe bowl, Melt butter and 2 cups chocolate chips in 30 second increments until you can stir smooth. Mix in sugar. Add eggs and extract. Blend in flour and baking soda. Fold in remaining chips. Spread into prepared pan. Bake 17 to 22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Cool completley. Store in covered container.

Someone stole one already!

Thanks so much for stopping by. May your day be filled with peace, joy and love. And remember to be kind. Someone is fighting a battle you know nothing about, and they need your kindness.

Peanut butter cookie sheet cake

Peanut butter cookie sheet cake

A friend was coming over to visit today with her baby and dog, and I know she loves peanut butter. So I needed to make something for her to take home. Instead of cookies, I did a cookie cake on a small cookie sheet and topped it with peanut butter frosting.

Remember to preheat your oven to 350 degrees for 20 minutes before baking So your oven cycles to the right temp. And, scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the correct amount. If you pour it directly into the cup, you pack it in and it’s over the amount you need and makes for a dry treat.

Peanut butter perfection!
  • Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda

Directions – preheat oven to 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Line a small cookie sheet (I used a 9×13 cookie sheet) with parchment paper. In a saucepan, combine. Cook peanut butter and butter, stirring occasionally, until it is melted and comes to a boil. Remove from heat. Add sugar. Blend in egg, milk and vanilla. Fold in flour and baking soda. Spread evenly into prepared pan. Bake 15 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few crumbs. Cool completley.

  • Frosting ingredients
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1 /4 cup peanut butter
  • 2 to 4 tbs milk
  • 2 cups powdered sugar

Directions – in a saucepan, cook and stir peanut butter and butter, stirring occasionally to a boil. Remove from heat. Add powdered sugar then enough milk to get the consistency you want. Frost cookie cake. Store in covered container.

They’re thin, so have two!

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I wish you peace, happiness and love.. And I remind you to be kind. The world needs more kindness.

A marbled chocolate chip-chocolate chocolate chip cookie

Now, that’s a cookie!

Rob, my president of taste testing, could not decide between a chocolate chip cookie and chocolate chocolate chip cookie, so I made both kinds and smooshed (or is it smushed?) them together. They are very large cookies. Oh, and I dipped the bottoms in melted Hershey kisses just because that makes them even more magical. You’re welcome.

Melted chocolate on the bottom takes these up a notch!
  • Chocolate chocolate chip cookie dough ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 2/3 cup chocolate chips
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp chocolate extract
  • 1/4 cup baking cocoa
  • 1 3/4 cups flour (scooped from your flour bag into your measuring cup)
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 cup chocolate chips

Directions – in a microwave safe bowl, melt 2/3 cup chocolate chips and butter in 30 second increments until you can stir combo melted. In another bowl, beat brown sugar, sugar and eggs 2 minutes. Add melted chocolate mixture, chocolate extract and eggs. Fold in dry ingredients. As you chill this dough in the fridge for 20 minutes, make the chocolate chip cookie dough

  • Chocolate chip cookie dough ingredients
  • 1 cup butter, soft
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 yolks
  • 2 1/2 cups flour (scooped from your flour bag into your measuring cup)
  • 1 1/2 cups cake flour (scooped from your flour bag into your measuring cup)
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2 cups chocolate chips

Directions – cream butter, sugar and brown sugar. Add eggs and yolks. Fold in dry ingredients. Mix in chips.

Cookie assembly directions – Scoop out 3 tbs of chocolate chip cookie dough and 3 tbs of chocolate chocolate chip cookie dough. Form one large mound. (You may have extra chocolate chip cookie dough). Chill the dough mounds for an hour or so. Preheat oven to 400 degrees for 20 minutes. On a cookie sheet lined with nonstick baking liners or parchment paper, stagger cookies. I think I put 6 to 8 on one sheet. Bake for 10 minutes. I do not recommend linger than 11 minutes total because cookies will dry out. Cool completely. Cover bottoms of cookies in melted Hershey kisses (I microwave unwrapped kisses in 30 second increments, in a microwave safe bowl until it can be stirred smooth). Let chocolate set. Store in covered container.

Thank you so much for stopping by! If you make these, let me know how they turn out. I wish you peace, love and happiness today. I know life is hard, so remember to be kind to others, and to yourself.

Triple Chip Blondies

Triple Chip blondies

I just returned from a reunion of sorts, at Geneseo. The pandemic cancelled the SUNY Geneseo reunion for a 2nd straight year, so my core group of friends and I held our own. Five of the seven of us were able to make it. Our friend Jeff, has a house in Geneseo, so he hosted. (Yay for science and vaccines making our gathering possible)! It rained the entire weekend, but we had a ton of fun, reminiscing and laughing. I am blessed to have them as a big part of my life after all these years. We have pretty much gotten together at least once a year every year since we graduated.

I got home and thought Rob might enjoy some blondies since he had to deal with Gracie solo! So here are triple chip blondies as a thank you to him.

I am cute,but exhausting!
  • Ingredients
  • 1 cup butter, melted
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 yolk
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 1/2 cups flour(scooped from your flour bag into your measuring cup)
  • 2 tsp Cornstarch
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 2/3 cup chocolate chips
  • 2/3 cup milk chocolate chips
  • 2/3 cup white chocolate chips

Directions – preheat oven to 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Line an 8×8 pan with tin foil and spray with Pam. In a bowl combine butter, brown sugar and sugar. Add eggs, yolk and vanilla. Blend in dry ingredients. Fold in chips. Press evenly into prepared pan. Bake 30 minutes. Will see a little underdone, but that’s ok. If they bake too long, they will dry out. Let them cool completely (Rob did not do this, shockingly, before cutting them).

Hmmm, someone cut these while they were hot!

Thanks for stopping by! Let me know if you try this recipe. Wishing you peace, joy and love.

Oreo stuffed chocolate chip cookies

Oreo stuffed chocolate chip cookies

These are the queen of stuffed cookies. An Oreo baked inside a chocolate chip cookie. And they are a request of one of my goddaughters, Sara, for her birthday party. Rob may or may not have taste tested one, so he can vouch for me at the family party tomorrow 🙂

The original Oreo is the best!

The trick to this is to not use too much dough to surround the Oreo. Use 1 1/2 tbs on top and 1 1/2 tbs on the bottom of each Oreo. That way they are nice and puffy and perfect looking.

The Queen of stuffed cookies

Couple of other tips – I also like to use cornstarch to keep the cookies from spreading too much… Spoon your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup… Chill the cookies at least for a few hours.. And preheat your oven to 350 degrees for 20 minutes before baking.

Staggered cookies
  • Ingredients
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 3 /4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 eggs
  • 3 1/2 cups flour
  • 1,tbs cornstarch
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2 cups chocolate chips
  • Oreos!

Directions – cream butter, brown sugar and sugar. Add vanilla and eggs., fold in dry ingredients. Blend in chips. Scoop out 11/2 tbs of dough (I used a cookie scoop), slightly flatten, place an Oreo on top. Scoop out another 11/2 tbs dough, slightly flatten., place on top of Oreo. Mold dough around to completely cover cookie. Chill a few hours in fridge. Preheat oven to 350 degrees for 20 minutes. On a cookie sheet that’s been lined with nonstick baking liners or parchment paper, stagger cookies. (See pic above)

Bake 10 to 13 minutes, or until you see a few golden patches on top and bottoms of cookies are lightly golden. Cool completely. Store in covered container.

Thanks so much for stopping by today., remember to be kind to others, and yourself too. We are all battling something.

Another Chocolate chip cookies recipe

Gooshy goodness!

Another rainy, humid day here, so to make things better, I opted to whip up some chocolate chip cookies. I used bread flour in these because, well, I have a bag of bread flour that I am trying to figure out what to do with.

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount. (If you directly pour it into your measuring cup, you will end up with too much, making for a dry cookie). If you have time, chill the dough at least for an hour to keep the cookies from spreading too much. Also preheat your oven to 350 degrees for 20 minutes before baking to get the oven to the right temp.

  • Ingredients
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 2 cups brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tbs vanilla
  • 3 cups bread flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 cup chocolate chips
A little flatter than I prefer my cookies to look, but I think they’re ok

Directions – cream butter, brown sugar and sugar. Beat in egg and vanilla. Blend in dry ingredients. Mix in chips. Scoop out 1/4 cups dough. Chill an hour or two. Preheat oven to 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Line a cookie sheet with nonstick baking liners or parchment paper. Stagger cookies on the prepared sheet. Bake 10 to 13 minutes, or until you see light golden patches on top. Cool completely. Store in covered container.

Happiness is a chocolate chip cookie

Thanks for stopping by today. Remember life can be hard some times, so be kind to others as well as yourself. Wishing you peace, love, joy and happiness. ❤

Happy father’s day triple chip cookies

Happy father’s day cookies

Today’s recipe is in honor of father’s day, especially my dad, who had quite the sweet tooth. He would have been so thrilled this past week to see his grandson, my nephew Jackson, get a ball from Bills qb Josh Allen, after Josh threw out the first pitch before the Yankees- Blue Jays game in Buffalo. It was such a thrill for me to get the pix from my sister in law. For sports and life to intersect like that, it makes my heart full. My dad loved both the Bills and Yankees, and Jackson more. ❤well, my papa did have a good view od it from heaven.

Josh handing Jackson (on the right) the ball after his ceremonial first pitch
Jackson (right) and his friend Lucas (left) with the ball from Josh’s first pitch

I added an instant vanilla pudding mix to this recipe and used a combo of all purpose flour and bread flour, because I have a bag of bread flour and am trying to use it up. You can use entirely all purpose flour if you want. Remember – Scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup, chills your dough for a few hours, and preheat your oven to 350 degrees for 20 minutes before baking.

  • Ingredients list
  • 3/4 cup butter, softened
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tbs vanilla
  • 3.4 oz instant pudding mix
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 cup bread flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 1/3 cup milk chocolate chips
  • 1/3 cup white chocolate chips
  • 1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions – cream butter, brown sugar and sugar. Add egg and vanilla. Stir in pudding mix. Blend in flour, baking soda and cornstarch. Mix in chips. Form 1/4 cup mounds of cookies. Chill dough for a few hours. On a cookie sheet lined with nonstick baking liners or parchment paper, stagger cookies. Bake 8 to 11 minutes. They will have a few light golden patches on top. They may seem undercooked, but will be fine. Cool completely. Store in covered container.

Happy father’s day

White chocolate chip macadamia nut cookies

White chocolate chip macadamia nut cookiss

This cookie is a request from my mom.  White chocolate chip macadamia nut cookies.  A pretty standard cookie dough.  I used a mixture of Crisco and butter.  You can do all butter or all Crisco, if you prefer.  I added an egg yolk for a softer cookie. I also added 1 tbs of cornstarch because they help keep the cookies puffy. 

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into you measuring cup.  I also recommend chilling the dough for a few hours.  Also preheat your oven for 20 minutes before baking to get the right temperature.

For you, mama! ❤
  • Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1/4 cup Crisco
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 yolk
  • 1 tbs vanilla
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 cup white chocolate chips
  • 1 cup chopped macadamia nuts

Directions – cream butter, Crisco, sugar and brown sugar.  Add egg, yolk and vanilla.  Fold in flour, cornstarch,and  baking soda.  Fold in chips and nuts.  Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough. Chill a couple of hours. Preheat oven to 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Line a cookie sheet with nonstick baking liners. Stagger cookies. Bake 10 to 14 minutes (light golden patches on top). Cool completely. Store in covered container.

Looks like someone had a bite or two!

Thanks so much for stopping by. Let me know if you try these cookies and how you like them. And, I wish you happiness and love today. If you are struggling, may your burden be lightened. Tomorrow will be a better day. ❤

Chocolate chip cookie brownie sandwiches

Why have a brownie or a cookie when you can have both?

I was looking to whip up something for work tomorrow, as Rob, Gracie and I watch Islanders-Bruins game 2 and Maple Leafs-Canadiens game 7. So I settled on this treat. Quite simply put, are a chocolate chip cookie “sandwich” with a filling of a brownie. I have seen different versions of this, using reese’s peanut butter cups, mallo cups and brownies as the filling. I went with brownies this time. Although I am partial to puffy cookies probably a flatter cookie wouls be a better option next time. You can use any cookie and brownie recipe you want. I actually put a ganache on the brownies, thinking it might help the cookies stay on the brownie, but I think I just made it messier!

Couple of notes -remember to scoop your flour from you container into your measuring cup so you get the right amount. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees for 20 minutes to get the right temp. And make the cookie dough as your brownies bake bc they both are baked at 350.

  • Brownies ingredients
  • 3/4 cup butter, melted
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 yolk
  • 1 tsp chocolate extract
  • 1/2 cup baking cocoa
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 2 tbs water
  • 1 cup chocolate chips (opt)

Directions – preheat oven to 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Line an 8×8 pan with tin foil and spray with baking spray. Combine butter, sugar and brown sugar. Add egg, yolk and chocolate extract. Mix in baking cocoa, salt and flour. Add chips. Spread into pan evenly (mixture is thick). Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center cones out with a few moist crumbs. Cool completely. Cut into 2 inch squares. Set aside.

Brownie filling!
  • Cookies ingredients
  • 1 cup Crisco
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tbs vanilla
  • 4 cups flour
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp water
  • 1 1/2 cups mini chocolate chips
This is how I staggger my cookies

Directions – preheat oven to 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Line a cookie sheet with nonstick baking liners. Cream Crisco, sugar and brown sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. Fold in dry ingredients then watwr. If you feel dough is too dry, add another tsp or so of water. Fold in chips. Scoop out 1 1/2 tbs of dough. Slightly flatten. Staggee on prepared sheets. Bake 8 to 9 minutes (light golden patches on top) cool 20 minutes. Now let’s assemble

Place one cookie flatside up
Top with a brownie
Top with a second cookie flatside down and gently press down.
They look like little hamburgers. 🙂

Thank you for stopping by today. If you make these, let me know how they turn out. And, remember to be kind. We are all fighting some battle. And don’t forget, there is greatness in all of us., and YOU matter and are loved. Wishing you happiness and joy.