Top Secret Recipe to a Happy Husband

Charlie is easy going about most things in life.  However, his weekly batch of chocolate chip cookies is NOT one of them.  That's right, weekly batch! I try not to make them every week but since moving to Malibu, I'm afraid this has become the trend.  For as long as I can remember, my wonderful mom has made these cookies with Semi-Sweet Morsels, which are fabulous! However, I recently discovered Dark Chocolate Chips. Because Charlie is a dark chocolate connoisseur I decided to try them in the chocolate chip cookies.  BIG MISTAKE.  Charlie loved them SO much that he now insists that he "studies 10 times better" with these cookies!

I want to share this recipe along with a few pictures from the batch I made last night.  I hope these cookies fill your home with the same kind of JOY they bring to MaliBama.

*Chocolate Chip Cookies**
Chocolate Chip Cookies
1/4 Cup Unsalted Butter                                      1 1/4- 1 1/2 Cups Flour          
1/4 Cup Shortening                                               1/2 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. vanilla                                                          1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
1/2 Cup Sugar                                                        1 Cup Chocolate Chips
1/4 Cup Brown Sugar
1 Egg   

First, cream together the butter, shortening, and sugars.

This is the easiest way I've found to measure shortening: Fill a measuring cup with 3/4 cup water, then using a spoon, guesstimate with different amounts of shortening.  When the water reaches the 1 cup line, you know you have exactly 1/4 cup of shortening in the spoon!

I use a Kitchen Aid Mixer and set it on low-medium speed for about 2 minutes.


Next, add the vanilla and egg.  Beat thoroughly.  I usually let this mix on medium-high speed for about 3 minutes.

Mix the dry ingredients together in a separate bowl before adding them to the mixture.  (The worst thing in the world is to take a big bite of cookie dough only to find a huge glob of salt!)  When it comes to the flour, my mom adds closer to 1 1/2 cups, BUT Charlie likes his cookies very gooey and not as fluffy so I only add 1 1/4 cups of flour.

Stir in the Nestle Dark Chocolate Chips.

Finally, drop by teaspoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet...I can't tell you the last time I remembered to grease the cookie sheet! I think they do fine with or without greasing it.

The original recipe says to bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes.  Because Charlie likes his cookies SO SOFT I set the timer for 6 minutes and check them.  If they look like they are borderline done, I take them out!

I immediately transfer the cookies to a cooling rack.  If you like your cookies EXTRA soft this will be a challenging task since they like to fall apart and often fall through the wire rack and onto the counter.  I claim those crumbs for myself! 

I let them cool approximately 2 minutes THEN deliver the cookies on a nice paper plate to Charlie's study location!  This is what typically happens...

 

Warning: I only bake 1/3 of the cookie dough per night and wrap the remaining dough in aluminum foil so I have my own slice and bake cookies for the rest of the week! 

Everyone knows it takes more than just cookies to make a marriage work, but this is definitely a key ingredient!