Levi woke up a few mornings ago and the first thing he said to me was, “I really want you to make chocolate chip cookies”. I asked him what kind, what did he want in them, did he want them cakey or chewy? He looked at me as if I was speaking a foreign language. And then he looked at me and said, “just a plain and simple chocolate chip cookie – and mom, fill up the cookie jar with them!”.
I think he is tired of the hoopla surrounding my baking endeavors. He wants the basic. And after thinking about it for a bit, I understand how we all crave just the basics from time to time. I enjoy(and miss) a lazy Sunday morning, under the covers with a good book, I am happy on the couch, sharing an episode of Friday Night Lights with Eli(our obsession), a walk with the family to the neigborhood bagel shop, or simply building a puzzle with Levi, a.k.a “the puzzle king”.
I promised him that he and I would bake together. When he got home from school the other day, I had all the ingredients measured out and waiting for him. He took off his shoes, put his jacket away and we got down to business. I let him turn on the mixer, crack the eggs, use the spatula – and our simple, basic little time together is really all a mommy and a child need to feel reconnected. Life gets in the way sometimes. The constant running here, there, and everywhere makes all of us crazy and the chaos interferes with all the good stuff that surrounds our family.
As I sit here, with my three boys, sharing hot out of the oven, freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and a tall glass of milk, I say to you…take those few moments, slow it down and just BE! Be with yourself, be with your kids, be with your partner, just BE!
A Really Good Chocolate Chip Cookie
Ingredients
7.5 ounces | 210 grams | 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon Celtic sea salt
4 ounces | 115 grams | 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
3.5 ounces | 100 grams | 1/2 cup maple sugar
3.5 ounces | 100 grams | 1/2 cup light muscavado sugar
1 large organic egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
12 ounces | 340 grams | 2 cups bittersweet chocolate chips
Instructions
• sift flour and baking soda together and set aside.
• in the bowl of a standing mixer, cream teh butter until creamy. add the sugars and the salt and blend well.
• scrape down the side of the bowl. add the egg and the vanilla extract.
• add the flour mixture on low speed and mix well. add the chocolate and mix thoroughly.
• using a 1 tablespoon scooper, make balls using all the dough. cover with plastic wrap. let rest in the fridge over night.
• preheat oven to 350*. line two baking sheets with parchment.
• place cookies on sheet, 2 inches apart. bake, rotating sheets back to front, top to bottom, 12-15 minutes.
• let cool on wire racks. enjoy!
The Urban Baker / SusanSalzman.com
Are you a cookie monster? If so, check out these cookies:
Double Chocolate Chip Cookies – The Urban Baker
Cranberry Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie – I am Baker
Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies – Brave Tart
Chocolate Chip Cranberry Cookies – Three Many Cooks
Crispy Chocolate and Coconut Cookie – A Communal Table
I cannot tell you how much I loved this post, Suz – it’s so full of love! What a wonderful time you and your son had together, and these cookies look every bit the fun you two had together. Beautiful and delicious!
I am so glad you like it, Patricia! I love sharing the kitchen with my kids as I know you feel the same way when you cook with your sister. The kitchen is the nucleus of the home, don’t you think? xxx
Just “be”??!! trying to 😉 These cookies look great. I know people love Sherry Yard’s treats, glad to hear these are the perfect cookies.
this should be our mantra, don’t ya think, Marla?! xx
I LOVE how these look… and the use of organic and healthy ingredients!!
What a wonderful post. It’s a good reminder to slow down. (and a little Friday Night Lights always helps, too) 🙂
Friday Night Lights, Riggs(thumpity-thump-thump), Cookies – it really doesn’t get much better than that! Agreed? x
So wonderful to be with family, just simple moments… And cooking with one or many of these members of the familly feels so good. By the way, these cookies looks good!
I think I need to have that phrase “just be” tattooed on my forehead!! A great post, a great cookie and a great reminder of what is really important!!!
Maybe we should form a secret cult and all tatoo this on our forehead. Then we can pick one another out in a crowd!!! xx
slow down and just be……LOVE this! hear that everybody???
Susan,
On the subject of cookies,just thought I’d let you know my new copy of Flour (from my previously mentioned B+N gift certificate) has been calling my name and my first endeavor from the cookbook will be Lime and Cornmeal cookies. I will let you know how they turn out!
Lime and Cornmeal? I will take a dozen, please!
I am just being – in Hawaii – Minty and I had breakfast together on the beach then made shell bracelets, a little shopping and then went swimming all morning – heavenly – precious time
sounds heavenly! so glad you are having this time with your family! miss you!
Ok. You seriously make the best cookies!
Say the word, Allison, and I will make you your very own batch!
I love Sherry Yard! She has another chocolate chip cookie recipe that is really similar to this one, it’s in her book “The Secrets of Baking”, one of my favorites.
thanks, Sylvie! I am going to check them out!
fairly new to your fab site & i must say that i truly am enjoying your posts & recipes!
we love ccc & i enjoy sherry yard recipes (her cornbread is a staple in my kitchen).
thank you for sharing this lovely “kitchen time” story!
Hey Linda, Welcome! So glad you are enjoying. I love that you are here and I love, love, love your comments. I will check out the cornbread recipe
as I have chili on next weeks meal planning list! I love trying new recipes.
I love it! That is all my husband ever asks for- “plain chocolate chip cookies”. And with my “more is more” attitude it is hard to oblige sometimes! This looks like a great recipe- maybe I will surprise him 🙂
Oh I love FNL… can’t wait until the last season gets on NBC but don’t want it to get here either because I don’t want it to be over with!
Good thing I have PArenthood to keep me happy!
I LOVE that show(Eli is home sick today and we are getting ready to watch a few from the first season(got in late -3rd season). I have friends who have watched season 5 on direct TV, yet I want it to last as well. I knew I liked beyond food!