Real Good Chocolate Chip Cookies

I know that I've posted these cookies before!  But I made them this afternoon for Mike to take to work with him, and  realized that they need an extra shout out!  They are that good! He really likes mint so I used Hershey's Mint Chocolate Chips instead of regular chocolate chips.  I like Hersheys because they are not so "jump out and bite ya" minty! They are fairly mellow with their mint flavor!  To me.... that's a great thing!  :)

I use my larger cookie scoop for these cookies and I got 5 dozen (and a few spoons full of dough to eat) cookies!  They are the perfect texture for a chocolate chip cookie if you ask me.  They have that perfect tough outside with the ideal chewiness when you bite into them! Oh they are just so tasty!  And remember, the higher quality chocolate chips you use (i.e. Nestle, hersheys, guittard) , the gooey-er they'll be.  They will melt and stay that way!  It seems that the store brand or generic brand don't melt and they kind of become grainy in texture! Does anyone else feel this way?  I am a Chocolate Chip snob for sure!  And kind-of proud to admit it! :) And BUTTER!  I used to use margarine, and now I never have it on hand.  I buy butter by the case.  Margarine has a much higher water content and seems to make your cookies flat like pancakes.... and not fluffy pancakes!  Butter adds great flavor and I swear it helps the texture of the cookie also!  Just sayin'!

What is your favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe?  Do you have any secrets for the perfect cookie?



Real Good Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 3/4 cups butter, softened (do not use margarine!)

1 3/4 cups brown sugar

1 1/4 cups sugar

4 eggs

5 1/2 Tablespoons water

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

6 1/4 cups flour

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 pkg semi-sweet MINI NESTLE TOLL HOUSE CHOC. CHIPS :-)

Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease cookie sheets. In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugars. Add eggs, water, and vanilla and mix until nice and creamy. Add flour, salt and baking soda to creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by heaping teaspoonfulls onto prepared cookie sheets. Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.

Happy Holidays!

Hello to all of you.... my dear friends!  I'm sorry I missed wishing you all a Merry Christmas!  I sure hope you all had a great day with all of those that you love! We had a wonderful day at HOME for the first time in 3 years.  We usually have to go to Wyoming, where Mike works, and spend Christmas there because he is scheduled to work.  This year his boss ordered that he go home and spend it with his family!  Such a relief! So we had a great Christmas here and didn't even start a vehicle!  I refused to go ANYWHERE!  I put some ham & potatoes in the crockpot, made a fresh batch of Lion House Rolls, made a "Better than Sex Cake", and 2 pies.  It was my goal to not bake a thing, but we know how that works... at least around here! I can't sit down long enough! I swear the kitchen screams my name, so I just go spend all my time there!  It turned out just perfect because everyone showed up right as the rolls came out of the oven, and we all sat down and had a hot roll with honey butter!  So good!

So.... I have this reception to make refreshments for on Friday, but after that.... no orders YET! So, I will be back to blogging!  I got an amazing camera for Christmas and am so excited to learn how to use it!  And I want to learn how to take better food pictures!  I do look back at my first posts and their pictures, and I do believe I have gotten better, but there is still much room to improve!  It's going to be so much fun!

But as for now, I'm trying to decide on which cupcake recipes to use for this reception.... it's a vintage reception and that's right up my alley!  I am baking Cherry Cola Cupcakes for sure... and some White Sour Cream Cupcakes.... and maybe some Chocolate Cupcakes.... but what to fill them with?  hmmmmm..... And then the 175 Cinnamon Twists! We cut them in half for receptions... You know, I have shared my Cinnamon twist recipe here. You really should try them!


My next question for you is.... What are you doing for New Years?  The kids and I will be here alone again this year.  Maybe we'll watch a movie and eat popcorn... then go to bed... perhaps before the new year?  It's a real big possibility! :)  But I would absolutely love to hear what you're all doing?  Are you making any fun recipes?   I think Spinach Artichoke Dip will be first on my list if we do decide to have some guests and make some food!  My mouth waters, just thinking of it!

Oh Yummy!!!!!

...........................................................................................................................................

I have to say, I have missed my Grandmas this Christmas!  My dear Grandma Jennie has been gone for two Christmas' now and it's still hard to get used to not taking her a sweet little gift on Christmas day.  She was funny.  Kind of ornery.... or was it just that she was EXTREMELY outspoken!  Never afraid to hurt feelings, but she really didn't mean to... or did she?  A very interesting woman, she was! But damn I have sure missed her!  With all these cinnamon twists I've been making, I just laugh even more!  I would always make a couple extra and add raisins to them, because that's what she liked! But.... I'm not sure they ever had ENOUGH raisins.... actually I am sure! There were never enough! At least, she didn't think so:)  But I always looked forward to hearing from her, even knowing what she was going to tell me! And even though she complained, I know she looked forward to getting them!  Because even though she may not have wanted to admit it, she loved them! :) I sure miss her!

And Grandma Kay.... this is the first Christmas without her here! And it's been sad.  Sad to see Grandpa alone... I miss our phone calls! I miss telling her what I was baking! She taught me alot about baking!  I cherish many of her recipes!  I took on her tradition of bottling hot vegetables and dill pickles!  So, this year I took a bottle of each to Grandpa... it was good to reminisce about Grandma with him.  However, my heart is crying for his broken heart!  To be together for 64 years with the one you love, then to be without them.... oh, what a feeling of pure loneliness it must be!  I hope to be able to get some of Grandma's old candy recipes and try them.  She was the Queen of Peanut Brittle!  So, I need to get her recipe and make us some!  And peanut clusters! Oh my!  We looked forward to Christmas time, when we could go into the little bedroom and grab the Christmas tins filled with peanut clusters!  You know what I always noticed?.... her chocolate had to be perfectly tempered all the time!  Because her chocolate never had white streaks like you see on homemade candies often!  She was pretty amazing!  I miss her!

So, to make a long story short.... please look at all those around you!  All those that you love!  Tell them how much you love them! Tell them often!  Because one day, unfortunately, you won't be able to!

I appreciate each and every one of you, my dear friends!  A Lot!  I look forward to your comments!  So please, feel free to share your thoughts with me!

Happy Cooking!

Teauna

My New Adventure...... *Your Cup of Tea Bakery*

So... now you know why I haven't been on my blog as much! My new {at least the name is new... not necessarily the business} bakery business has taken off like CrAzY!  I have been soo busy baking and filling orders for people!  Lots of cakes & cupcakes & rolls & pies!  Lots and lots of yummy treats!  I love that people call me when they want some baked goodies! I'm glad that people trust me to bring tasty treats to their friends and family!  :)  My sweet friend and I spent an afternoon doing a fun photoshoot to get some pics for business cards and signs!  I'll share a few here....  And, in case you're wondering.... YES.... I LoVe red AND I LoVe shoes!  So.... bring me shoes {cute ones} and I'll bake for you! :) 

Boo!

ha ha... I should've cleaned my boots?! Ummmm.... nope! Just keeping it real:)

Yeah.... I know! This has nothing to do with me in the kitchen... but hey! It's me! And that's all :)

Happy Cooking !

Teauna :)

Eggnog Snickerdoodles

Hey all!  I have so much to talk about... just where to begin?  Alright, so first, let's talk about the HOLIDAYS!!  Well, the Holidays and I have this love/hate relationship thing going on!  I love having a perfect excuse to gather with family, friends...aka loved ones, and spending quality time with one another!  I LoVe giving!! I lOvE, LOVE, love the flavors of the holidays!...  The pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, rum, mint, & citrus flavors are among my favorites!  I love baking for others that don't enjoy it like I do :)  I hate how quickly the holidays are over.... and how my.butt.is.dragging.by.January.1st!  THE END!

Well, considering the fact that I went MIA in November, I first should apologize for that!  Believe me, I was thinking about you all and your awesome recipes you all must be making for Thanksgiving! But, sorry to say, "thinking about you all" was as much as I could possibly do!  I had a couple weddings to do, lots of birthdays, and then of course, Thanksgiving(lots of pictures to come later)!  Oh how I love spending the time in my kitchen with all my new commercial equipment!  A dream come true, really! But the last few days of doing pretty much NOTHING were also much needed!  Now I think I'm all ready to begin another crazy month!  So, shall I say....bring on December?!  Ready or not.... it's here!

Today, after having an awesome visit with a great friend, I decided that I should make some cookies!  Christmas cookies are the next thing on my list, so I decided to start tackling the LOoooNnnnGgggg list of cookie recipes I want to get on the blog before Christmas so the rest of you can share them at your Christmas parties, family gatherings, and homes!  This recipe is definately one I look forward to baking this time of year!  And the aroma that fills your house while they're baking is so yummy!  I hope you all enjoy these chewy snickerdoodles spiced with nutmeg and rum! I know I just can't get enough!
*a small disclaimer from me: Read the directions and mix the nutmeg with the sugar to roll the cookies in:) I added the nutmeg to my cookie dough because I was, of course, running as fast as I could to get them done! They are still yummy, just a bit strong on the nutmeg side:)*

Eggnog Snickerdoodles
recipe from TOH Best Loved Cookies & Candies 2010
adapted by From Cupboard to Cupboard

Yield: 6 1/2 dozen

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
1-3/4 cups sugar, divided
2 eggs
1/4 to 1/2 tsp rum extract
2-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp ground nutmeg

In a large bowl, cream the butter, shortening and 1-1/2 cups sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in eggs and extract.  Combine flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.
In a shallow bowl, combne the nutmeg and remaining sugar.  Roll dough into 1-inch balls; roll in suar mixture.  Place 2 inche apart on ungreased baking sheets.
Bake at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned.  Remove to wire racks to cool! 


Enjoy!

Happy Cooking!

Teauna