Old Flame Rekindled

Tonight, I rediscovered a long lost love.

I can't remember the last time I made my famous chocolate chip cookies (which are actually my mom's famous chocolate chip cookies), and I am sad to say that I have been led away by the siren call of other, fancier, new & exciting recipes. But fear not, my love, I have returned.

If you have never experienced these buttery beauties, then you are either 1) a stranger reading my blog, 2) a new friend or 3) someone I have shamefully excluded and who deserves an apology. If you fall into the last two categories, you should subtly hint that you would like a sampling, and I would be happy to oblige.

In my years on staff with a large Christian organization, I have learned that there are five "love languages"-- ways of giving & receiving love (In case you're curious, they're: words of affirmation, quality time, gifts, acts of service & physical touch).

I have decided that I give love in a sixth language (kind of like a sixth sense... but a little less "I see dead people-y"), and that language is chocolate chip cookies. In college, whenever someone was sad-- or happy, or had a birthday, or an important event, or a Bible Study, or if I just had a final coming up & didn't want to study-- there was always a plate of chocolate chip cookies to say "I love you". Our wedding favors were small boxes filled with chocolate chip cookies... one box for each of our 200 guests, every single cookie made from scratch with lots of love from the bride.

Well, like I said, I have strayed away from my first love for a while now-- but tonight I returned. We met a group of students on campus tonight, and it seemed appropriate to have a huge batch of cookies for them (they seemed to think it was appropriate, too. They were very happy!). A plate of chocolate chip cookies just makes any occasion a little more festive & special.

So, because I have great love for anyone still reading this ridiculous blog, here is the famous recipe. But if you make these cookies, you have to promise that it will be for the purpose of bringing joy & love to the world.

• 1 1/2 stick butter, room temperature (not quite soft)
• 1 cup brown sugar (packed)
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1 egg
• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 cup chocolate chips (Guittard are the best!)
  

Preheat oven to 375. Mix first 5 ingredients in a mixer until smooth. Add flour & baking soda & mix. Mix in chocolate chips. Scoop onto a baking sheet (about 2 Tbsp per cookie) and bake for 7-9 minutes, until crispy on the outside & slightly gooey in the middle. Transfer to cooling rack immediately. Enjoy, and spread the love.