The Chocolate Chip Cookie

This is the chocolate chip cookie in my life, the ones Mom made (makes), the cookie I judge all others by. One whiff of the batter and I'm five years old again, licking the mixer attachment and scraping down the bowl.

These are different than your chocolate chip cookie; does your recipe contain molasses and coffee? These ingredients weren't a secret to us kids, just components in a delicious finished product. We loved them. It was the nuts that I wasn't so hot on back then; batches were 1/2 with, 1/2 without nuts until recently. The original recipe uses walnuts, but I like to swap out pecans or use a combination now.

They are called Brian's Chocolate Chip Cookies, from The Tassajara Cookbook. I have no idea who Brian is. I don't need to know. He makes a yummy cookie.

Brian's Chocolate Chip Cookies

from The Tassajara Cookbook, makes 4 dozen

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

2/3 cup light brown sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla extract

2 tsp molasses

1 tsp instant coffee

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat pastry flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

14 oz semisweet chocolate chips

2 cups walnuts or pecans, chopped (optional)

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

In a small bowl, mix the dry ingredients together. Set aside.

In a stand mixer, cream the butter until smooth, then add the brown sugar. Scrape down the sides and cream until fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, then the vanilla, molasses and coffee. Beat well. Add the dry ingredients slowly and mix in, scraping down the sides as needed. Add the chocolate chips and the nuts and mix just to combine.

Using two teaspoons, drop small balls of the cookie batter on to a baking sheet. Bake for 12 minutes total, switching levels in the oven halfway through. Allow to cool, then store in an airtight container.

~::~

These cookies are so yummy by themselves and I've never had them any other way.

Today, however, I had a brainwave.

Standing in front of the freezer section at Target, I saw new ice cream cookie sandwiches right next to a pint of Haagen Daaz vanilla bean. I bought the pint and slicked some between two cookies at home.

I wrapped three sandwiches in plastic wrap and stashed them in the freezer to harden. My better half has a soft spot for the ice cream cookie sandwich, but I doubt he's ever had one homemade. . .

~:::~