A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand...
I'm sitting here, with nothing but the prospect of failing this mammoth assignment that I have yet to write, and I'm finding myself reflecting on treats, desserts, and baked munching delectables..
Given, I have the most amazingly-thick hot chocolate in-hand, and a half-devoured chocolate-chip-cookie in the other.
And as I take each gooey, rich bite I have to acknowledge there is just something about chocolate chip cookies (note the use of the plural).
These seemingly humble creations are so much more than a simple baked goodie, they are tenderly made with butter and love. And chocolate! And when joined together, their ingredients form something magical that is beyond the culinary: a beacon, a symbol, a home.
Think about it. What smell makes you feel more at ease and comforted than that of fresh-baked cookies, betwixt all the melted chocolate and warmed butter? They evoke emotions of warmth, security, family times, childhood, bring back memories, give you 'those' fuzzy feelings in your toes and your tummy, and even in times of trouble, remind you that there is still some good in the world.. In the form of bumpy-dotty-baked-softness...
So, I'm going to share the cookie-love... :)
These cookies are made of vanilla, butter and love.. and will not just make your mouth water, but your heart melt!
Saira's Soft-and-Homey Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 ¾ cups self-raising flour
1 ½ cups deluxe chocolate chips (or your favourite chocolate bar cut up)
Preheat cookie-maker to 145°C. Cream butter with the sugars until smooth and fluffy. Take care not to overbeat, else the poor little dears with be sullen and flat. And we want to raise them all happy and perky!
Mix in the egg and vanilla for 30 seconds until gooey. Add flour, beating until all signs of white have disappeared, leaving a warm butter-yellow mixture of doughy consistency. Stir in chocolate chips tenderly, until well interspersed.
Using a tablespoon, drop spoonfuls of the dough onto greased cookie sheets about 3cm apart – they need room to grow! Gently press their tops to smooth them out, ensuring there are no peaks on the dough balls. Place trays in oven.
Allow house to fill with the sweet aroma of melted chocolate, vanilla and warm butter! Bake for 21 mins for a softer, gooey cookie, or for 27 mins for a chunkier, crispy variety. Remove trays and let cookies sit for 4-5 mins (if you can wait that long) to form a slight outer crust.
Note: Best shared with warm milk and a warm smile! Yes! - Even for those of us, aka myself, who like to keep stashes of delectable treats all to themselves, and often experience the case of the 'disappearing' cookie! ;) I promise, though, these cookies only get yummier when shared!
Enjoy! And share the cookie love..
Remember, a balanced diet is a cookie in each hand, and more to share..