Best Chocolate Chip Cookies EVER!

Growing up, my Mom would spend days in the kitchen before Christmas baking up a storm of yummy goodness. I find that now that I'm a Mom and my daughter is old enough to enjoy a cookie or two, I too am in the kitchen baking up a storm. It's also a great way to spend some quality time with your kids during the day when the rain or snow keeps you in out of the cold.

While a future post will feature Charlotte helping me with some Christmas cookies, this is a recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookies that I think is great. I find Christmas cookies usually for me end up being different varieties from what I'd bake everyday, but you can't beat a good chocolate chip cookie. I've tried a number of recipes over the last number of years trying to find a yummy version. Growing up I used to think some CC cookies tasted fishy. Yes, fishy. I don't know if it was the baking powder or a combination of ingredients or what, but some cookies (no, not just my Mom's ;) )tasted fishy. Weird? Yes, but I did, a couple of years ago meet someone who said that she knew what I meant when I said fishy.

Anyway, after years of fishing for a good recipe (pun intended) I have found one I like. When we returned to work in January after the Christmas break, there was a package waiting for us from a production company in Halifax called Egg Films. In that package were two scrummy types of cookies. One of them - Chocolate Chip Cookies. They had included the recipe. These cookies can be baked to make large cookies like you'd find at Starbucks, or small like a drop cookie so that when you have two you don't feel like a pig. At least that's my justification.

Here's the recipe:

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tbl vanilla extract
1 egg
1 egg yolk
2 cups chocolate chips (I quite enjoy milk chocolate chips rather than semi sweet)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease cookie sheet.

Sift together flour, baking soda and salt. Cream butter with brown and white sugar. Beat in vanilla, egg and egg yolk. Mix in dry ingredients. Stir in chocolate chops with wooden spoon.

I LOVE the cookie dough (raw egg be damned). If you don't eat it all....

For large cookies:
Drop cookie dough (1/4 cup) bake for 15-17 mins

For smaller cookies:
Drop cookie dough (1/2 tsp) bake for 10-12 mins

I freeze them (out of sight out of mind) and they're great with a cup of tea. Or coffee. Or milk. Or with another one.

Enjoy!

Friends

I met a friend for coffee tonight who I haven't spoken to in quite sometime. Sure, we've seen each other in passing, but, due to circumstances, we just didn't have the chance for a real chat. Tonight, we talked about everything - kids, husbands, work, our futures. It was great being able to just sit and catch up.


We both agreed on one thing. The most important thing in life is to be true to yourself and to those who are most important to you. At the end of the day, your family and friends are what matters most in life. Everything else is just, well, stuff. 


Something that I've been trying to do recently with things that I have no control of or that may be bothering me is to imagine crumpling it up in a ball and throwing it away. Once I've thrown it away, I try not to think about it again. It's not worth worrying about something I have no control about or that is affecting me in a negative way. Sometimes I have to throw it away a couple of times... I've made a boomerang instead of a ball, but I just keep trying until that ball doesn't come back and then I just forget.


Friends can help with those balls, especially if you find yourself juggling more than one. All you have to do is ask. That's the great thing about a friend. You can tell them anything without worrying what the outcome will be. We sometimes forget that in our busy lives. I was reminded of that tonight.


My Mom told me once that if you can have one true friend in life you're lucky. I'm lucky to have more than that in mine and for that I am grateful.


Friends by Jodi Kenyon
A friend is someone true and for real, 
A friend is someone who means a great deal.
A friend won't hurt you,
A friend won't lie,
A friend will never permanently say good-bye.
A friend is there through the good times and bad,
A friend is there to cheer you up when your sad.
A friend is always there with a shoulder to cry on,
A friend is always there that you can rely on.
So, friend if you ever need someone honest and true,
Just remember ill always be here for you .


To my friends, both near and far. Thank you for being there when I need you and even when I don't think I do.

Traditional Shortbread - A taste test

I love to bake. I figured today, with 19 days until Christmas, I would officially begin my Christmas baking. Over the next couple of weeks I'll be featuring some of my baking here with the recipes in case you want to try them. 


For those of you who don't know, my husband is English. He loves living here, but one thing he does miss from Jolly ol' England is the food. Especially this time of year. Christmas cakes, Christmas pudding, mince meat pies and shortbread cookies like his Nan used to make just to name a few. 


I decided this year I'd try to make some proper shortbread cookies. I usually make whipped shortbreads. The difference between the two is that they are just that - whipped. You beat them for an extended period of time until they are very light and fluffy. They literally melt in your mouth when you bite into them. 


Traditional shortbread are crisper and more dense. We usually just buy a pack of Walkers Shortbread, one of the most well known brands.


I decided today to try an experiment. I was in dominion the other day and purchased a PC Shortbread Mix. I'm not one for buying mixes, but I thought that maybe this would give me an authentic shortbread. I also looked online and found a recipe that had great reviews that didn't call for any ingredients not readily available here which is what I have had trouble with in the past. I thought I'd make both recipes and let the Englishman try both and tell me which he liked more.


First, I made the PC version. I used butter rather than margarine which is the key ingredient to making any type of shortbread. Rather than putting them in a square or round pan, I rolled them out and used a cookie cutter to make cookies. Keeping with the Christmas theme, I sprinkled with coloured sugars. 

The first half of the cookies I made were a little thin. The traditional shortbread is quite thick, so I made the second half of the batch thicker but still not thick enough. 

PC Shortbread cookies 

Next, I made the shortbread cookies using a recipe I found on allrecipes.com. I altered the recipe a little and added some cornflour as suggested in one comment. This ingredient is found in many of the English recipes and aids in the density. I decided to make these in a square pan and then cut them. 

I let them cool before cutting, but they did still crumble a bit. 

So, when himself came home and saw the cookies, he thought he was in heaven. Or, at least a lucky man, right honey?


I told Andrew that I wanted him to try both and tell me which one he liked best. I also asked him his thoughts on shape and coloured sugars. 


The results? Andrew liked the homemade cookies. He said that the other ones (he didn't realize one was a mix) tasted more like the sugar (cut out) cookies I make but not as nice. I think as well the coloured sugars made them look like sugar cookies too although he didn't mind the sugar.


So, my conclusion. I'm going to try them again and this time make them in a round tin and cut in triangles like traditional shortbread. Andrew is also going to ask his Nan for her recipe to see what the difference is, although he said they tasted very similar. 


Here's the recipe I used today. I made some adjustments to the recipe itself.


Scottish Shortbread


1/3 cup white sugar
3/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp cornflour

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Cream butter and sugar. Add flour and cornflour. Dough will be stiff. Press into a 9 x 9 inch buttered dish. Prick top with a fork. Bake for about 25 min or until pale golden brown on the edges. Cool and cut into squares.

I'll keep you posted on Nan's recipe and whether it is any different.

Enjoy!

Two late nights made for a very lazy Sunday

This weekend was another busy one. From dinner and drinks (waaaaaay to many) downtown Friday night, a most painful early rise Saturday morning, a four year old's birthday party in the afternoon and a 40th birthday party last night, today had a slow start to it. With many intentions including putting the Christmas lights up outside, things didn't go exactly as planned, but yet turned out to be a great day none the less.

Little Harrison has developed a cold. Yesterday when we picked him up, Mom mentioned he was sneezing and eyes watering and had been like it Friday as well. Of course, I dropped them off so early Friday morning out of my need for alone time, that I didn't notice. Guilt? A little. So by last night, he was not well at all. So I decided today, to keep him inside and let him sleep as much as he wanted in his own bed. See, you do learn from past experience (like our recent Costco incident). Instead of taking him out and making it worse, I'm hoping keeping him in will mean he'll be better for a planned Christmas play date on Tuesday.

Charlotte as usual, woke happy and rearing to go. She asked if we could go swimming. We had told her on Friday we'd go swimming this weekend. So, what to do? I heard Andrew tell her that yes, we could go. That wouldn't be a problem but at the moment she's in a phase where she wants me (or both of us) to do everything with her instead of just Daddy and well, with my plan to keep Harrison home, that wasn't going to happen. So, when she mentioned it to me, I told her that unfortunately Harrison was not feeling well so we'd have to figure it out. Once again, my three year old surprised me. "That's Ok Mommy, you stay home with Harrison and Daddy and I will go swimming". So, once the initial shock was over, I said "You know what Charlotte, that is a wonderful idea. Why don't you go ask Daddy" She did, and they did and had a great time.

I'm glad I listened to my instincts with Harrison. It's something I don't always do and usually regret my decisions, but today I did the right thing. Harrison slept for the majority of the day and only woke for food.

While Harrison slept, I too had a little (but very needed) nap. Andrew and Charlotte returned to find me asleep in her bed. Now she knows how the dwarfs felt. ;-) She has a pink Princess tent over her bed and I have to say, it's soooooo very cozy in there. I went in to just lay for a couple of minutes to see if Harrison would settle next door, and well, half an hour later they woke me up. Charlotte then joined me in her bed and we read some stories until she fell asleep herself and I left her to her dreams. That hour was the highlight of my day.

The day wasn't a complete lazy day, but it was still enjoyable. With Michael Buble on my iphone, I listened to the Christmas album (which is great) and got some much needed vitamin D and fresh air in the December sun while putting up most of the Christmas decorations. Charlotte later joined me in the decorating, claiming we needed a tree with leaves (needles) on it for the lights. That's next week!

Tonight, I decided I would watch Sherlock Holmes in preparation for the second instalment coming out on the 16th of this month... I just love Robert Downey Jr. and I can't wait! Now, to get a babysitter. It was a fantastic way to end another wonderful weekend.

Hope you too had a great one.

A day to myself

Today, for the first time in three and a half months, I had a day to myself. My Mom is having the kids overnight and VERY kindly said I could drop them out early so I could have the day to do whatever. Well, how early could I drop them off I wondered.... try 8:30! Yup, after dropping Andrew at work, we headed out to Topsail and we were there just after 8:30. By 9:15 I was on the road again, to do whatever I wanted.

What did I do? Well, I shopped of course, Santa can't do it all. He has other children to look after so I thought I'd help him out. There were a lot of other mommies and daddies thinking the same thing at 9:30 in the morning. Toys R Us was packed to say the least. But, after an hour or so, I think I have everything on the list (except one thing for Harrison I just can't find) and hopefully that was my last trip there before Christmas. Hopefully.

It was then onto Dominion for their tax free day. Got some more things crossed off my list. Yes!

12pm. What to do? I called up Andrew to see if he wanted to go for an impromptu lunch., which we did. Very nice indeed! After lunch I headed home for an intended little nap (Harrison was a restless little boy last night) and then intentions on a quick tidy of the house (hard not to do something), a little exercise and a shower before picking up Andrew and coming home to get ready for a night out on the town with good friends (Happy Birthday Mel).

When I got home, I thought I'd give my sister who lives in Ontario a quick call to see what to get my nephews for Christmas. She's off on Fridays with the boys at home. Not being a lover of the phone, I figured I'd still get my nap in, a little exercise regime, tidy and shower before having to pick up Andrew. It was only 1pm after all. Two and a half hours later we said good bye. Two and a half hours! Where did the time go? Well, as I'm not one for chatting I don't know. We chatted about the kids, Christmas, family, each other, shared guilt about said kids (for a future blog) and everything else in between. It was a wonderful way to spend two and a half hours. Something we don't do often and certainly not enough. For me, it was something I rarely do.... not only talk on the phone, but do nothing else while doing so. Me, I'm a multi-tasker and will normally do other things while talking on the phone, but doing nothing, for two hours, well, that's foreign to me, but was just as good as a nap. Once I got off the phone, I quickly did some bits and pieces before a shower and off to get Andrew. I realized all the things I could have been doing while on the phone (which is my usual thing to do), but also realized had I done so, I wouldn't have been as rested as I was. I realized that while I sat there the world didn't stop and maybe I should do that more often. Just sit and relax.

My nephews Ryan and Kyle with Charlotte and Harrison when they were home in August

Tonight we went out to dinner to celebrate Mel's 40th birthday with Mel, Andrew's Dad and Mel's sister Row who is visiting from England. We chatted about lots of things, and it was lovely being out without the kids and not having to worry about getting home. We went to Magnum and Steins and had a wonderful meal. Afterwards, we went to The Fat Cat where The Monday Nights were supposed to be playing. We obviously got there while they were either on a break or hadn't yet started (around 11:30) and instead listened to "The Box". While these three ladies were talented, we found their music and songs very similar to each other and left within the hour. It was time to go home anyway as we have to pick up the kiddies early in the AM.

Being home now, the house is quiet. Too quiet. There are two people missing. No matter how much I enjoy having time on my own, and no matter how much I often wish I could have more, at the end of the day, the best days are the ones I spend with the kids and Andrew.

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Thanks Mom, for letting me have a relaxing day, but also realizing what I miss so much.... my kids. xo

Appreciating the view from down there

Charlotte goes to daycare on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It's a chance for her to play with her friends and a chance for me to spend time with Harrison on his own. It's also a time for me to catch up on errands, housework, general odds and ends that I just don't get a chance to do when Charlotte is home with me. Unfortunately, those things often take up a lot of the day.

Today was a similar day, we got up and headed out around 8am. After dropping Daddy at work and Charlotte at daycare, Harrison and I headed towards our usual Thursday morning destination - Dominion. After grocery shopping we came home and he woke up. He was rearing to go. So, we did his favourite thing.... He got naked (well, off came the pants and diaper) and he got on his play mat. If he's naked and in a good mood, he loves to spend time on it. Playing with the giraffe and monkey and his favourite way to pass time - looking at himself in the mirror.

I decided, instead of running around doing things while he hung out on the mat, I would do the same. Yes, hang out on the mat and just spend time with the boy, seeing things from his point of view. He often finds it very funny down there, especially when looking at himself in the mirror. Me, I found it uncomfortable on my back on the hard floor, but enjoyed every minute of it.

It's important to take time out of our 'busy' schedules now and then to do simple things that we'll remember forever. That's what I did.

Michael Bublé - Christmas

Well, Happy December everyone. We've had our first snowfall (it was beginning to look like Christmas, now it's more like spring) and shopping, baking, and holiday crafts are in full swing.

I thought as it was the first of December I'd tell you about Michael Bublé's new Christmas CD. While I bought it earlier this month, I've yet to listen to it in its entirety (I did listen to the snippets on iTunes) as I have a little rule about listening to Christmas music before December first. Unless of course, I'm in a store and they're shoving Christmas down your throat as soon as Halloween is over. 

My friend Sarah, also a lover of Christmas music, told me he was releasing a new CD. We used to work together and once December 1st came, on went the Christmas music (although I'm sure I heard a scattered Christmas song coming out of her headphones before said date. She's also told me that she too has this CD and has listened to it over the past couple of weeks. Well Sarah, I too will now start listening to it more often. In fact, on our way home today, Charlotte asked me if we could have some Christmas music on in the car. Thank goodness she didn't ask earlier. Well, I would have just pretended not to hear that request. Or, at least forgotten it. 

 If you're a Michael Bublé fan and love Christmas music, then this should be added to the top of your Christmas list. All the classics are there, including my favourites, Silent Night, White Christmas, I'll be Home for Christmas to name a few. If you're not a fan of Michael Bublé but you are looking for a nice Christmas album, I think you'll like it too. Not sure? Go to iTunes and have a listen to the album, you may be pleasantly surprised.

The CD Cover