Nana's Good, Good Chocolate Chip Cookies

To add to the Chocolate Chip Cookie collection is of course Nana's recipe that she made all the time. She loved to bake and would always have some kind of treat around for snacking on. I know Papa loves these cookies too.

In the K-5 bowl with the batter or whipping attachment cream together:

1 C. (2 sticks) butter

1 C. shortening

2 C. brown sugar packed

1 C. sugar

4 eggs (add one at a time)

3 T. corn syrup (light Karo)

4 T. water

2 t. vanilla

In a separate bowl whisk together:

5 1/2 C. flour (bread flour can be used as the high gluten content makes for softer cookies).

1 t. salt

1 t. baking soda

1 t. baking powder

Change attachment to the dough hook and gradually add in the flour mixture until all is just moist.

Fold in:

6 C. (3 12oz. packages total) Chocolate Chips (Nana liked the milk chocolate kind) or part Chocolate Chunks.

1-2 C. chopped nuts (optional)

Pre-heat oven to 350º F.

Drop by a small ice cream scoop (cookie scoop) and flatten a little onto ungreased baking sheets. Nana favored baking parchment so cookies never stuck. Silpats work well too. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown. Allow to cool on baking sheets for a couple of minutes and then remove to a wire cooling rack. When just cool, put in ziplock gallon bags, or other airtight container to keep fresh. 

Yeild: about 6 dozen cookies.

Chocolate Chip Cookies–Ghirardelli Style

I am posting the tried and true recipes for Chocolate Chip Cookies from the makers of our favorite chocolate chips. Ghirardelli, Nestle, Hershey, they are all good. Some of us like semi-sweet, some milk chocolate, some white chocolate, but they all make great cookies. 

Here is the Ghirardelli recipe for cookies:

Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

Dry

2 1/4 C. all purpose flour

1 t. baking soda

1/2 t. salt

Mix together in a bowl and set aside

Wet

Cream together on medium speed:

1 C. butter, softened

3/4 C. sugar

3/4 C. brown sugar, packed

Add to mixture on low speed:

2 large eggs

2 t. vanilla

Change to dough hook, or cookie paddles and gradually add in the dry ingredient mixture.

Stir in:

2 C. Ghirardelli Bittersweet Chocolate Chips

1 C. chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

Drop by tablespoon or cookie scoop onto ungreased cookie sheets. Parchment or silpats are a good choice too. 

Preheat oven to 375º (I don't bake my cookies that high, usually 360º as I like the middles done and not doughy.)

Bake for 9-11 minutes or until golden brown. 

Yeild: about 4 dozen

Chocolate Chip Cookies–Nestle Toll House Style

This recipe is almost exactly like the Ghirardelli one. This is the one I grew up making and love, love, love it. Nana later refined and perfected her Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe, but this one works well too. She always made her cookies in her KitchenAid K-5, so the instructions are for that method.

Original Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies

Dry ingredients:

2 1/4 C. all purpose flour

1 t. baking soda

1 t. salt

Whisk together in a bowl and set aside.

With the batter or whipping attachment cream together on medium speed:

1 C. (2 sticks) butter, softened

3/4 C. granulated sugar

3/4 C. brown sugar (packed)

On low speed add:

2 large eggs (one at a time)

1 t. vanilla extract

Change the attachment to the dough hook and gradually add in the dry ingredients until all mixed together.

Stir in:

2 C. (12 oz.) Nestle Toll House Semi-sweet Chocolate Morsels

1 C. chopped nuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 375º F.

Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets. Parchment or silpats work wonderfully for never stick to the pan cookies.

Bake for 9-11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Yeild: about 5 dozen.

For high altitude (5,200 feet); increase flour to 2 1/2 C. Add 2 t. water with flour and reduce both granulated and brown sugar to 2/3 C. each. Bake drop cookies for 8-10 minutes.

Strawberry/Citrus Salad

This is the same crazy good Spinach Salad that came to Lacy's Bridal Shower and Wedding. Malea found it, made it and we are all addicts now.

Spinach Salad

1  head of lettuce

1 bunch or bag of spinach (preferably baby)

3/4 lb. of sliced mushrooms

3/4 lb. of grated swiss cheese

1 red onion, diced

1/2 lb. bacon, cooked and crumbled

1 can mandarin oranges, drained

sliced strawberries (up to you how many)

In a frying pan combine:

1/2 c. sliced almonds

3 T. sugar

Cook sugar and almonds over low heat until almonds are golden brown. Watch closely as the sugar will liquefy and can burn fast. Spread on wax paper or silpat to cool.

When almonds are cool toss into salad greens.

Dressing:

3/4 T. poppy seeds

1/3 C. white sugar

3/4 C. olive oil or veg. oil

1  T. grated onion

1 t. salt

3/4 C. vinegar, apple cider kind is fine

2 T. prepared mustard

Blend ingredients in blender and pour over salad right before serving.