Monday, May 26, 2014

Half-a-batch of Chocolate Chip Cookies!



...for when you want to feel only a little guilty
(makes 20)




This morning Pete and I made half a batch of chocolate chip cookies. Half a batch for a number of reasons - first, if we had a whole batch, we'd eat a whole batch. Second, I only had enough brown sugar for half a batch. Third, I had to borrow a cup of chocolate chips from Katie. That made it pretty simple - a half a batch it was.

This recipe uses melted butter. I melt the butter and brown sugar together. I think it makes for a great cookie - crisp on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside. It comes together in just a few minutes. I chill the dough in the fridge for a while and then stir the chocolate chips in to the cold dough, since it's too warm when it's just mixed and the chips would melt and not keep their shape.

When you want to make chocolate chip cookies but don't want a ton of them, make this half-batch and enjoy them while you can!

HALF-A-BATCH CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
Preheat oven to 375 degrees Farenheit
Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper (buy some if you don't have any - one of the most useful kitchen tools you'll ever use).

Step one: Melting

1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed (I only use brown sugar, no white)

In saucepan over medium heat, stirring often, melt butter with brown sugar until it's completely melted.

Pour butter/brown sugar mixture into a mixing bowl. To that, mix in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Add one egg, mixing well.

Add dry ingredients:

1 cup plus 2 tbsp. all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Mix on very low speed until the dry ingredients are completely incorporated.

Place bowl with batter in the fridge for 15 minutes or so.

Stir in: one cup (6 oz. by weight) semi-sweet chocolate chips. I used mini since that's what Katie had.

Drop by generous teaspoonfuls onto parchment paper.  Bake 8 minutes until the edges start to brown but the tops are still light.



Cool on cookie sheet for a few minutes and move to wire rack and allow to cool completely.  Share with the ones you love (or keep them all to yourself!).





Final note: here's a photo of my Dad, Val O'Farrell, taken March 12, 1945 on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. He's on the left and his buddy Randy Mantooth is on the right. They were serving in the Army after Pearl Harbor. I love this photo.



I love seeing my Dad's handwriting again...


God Bless Our Troops, all who have served and all who serve. This Memorial Day 2014 is in honor to them all.


4 comments:

  1. His dad's name was Donald.But great picture.

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    1. My dad told me his friend was the father of the actor Randy Mantooth. Hard to imagine there were more! If anyone can help clarify, I'd appreciate it. Thanks!

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  2. Maybe Randy was his nickname. Doesn't the pic predate the actor's birth?

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    Replies
    1. It's not the actor, it's a relative from the previous generation. My Dad told me he was Randy's father. Thanks for your comment!

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