My sweet husband hosted a brown bag lunch to glean baby advice and parenting tips from his more experienced coworkers. It was a wonderful idea, and just one small example of the type of father he’ll be. Corey is a researcher, a planner, someone who investigates all possible solutions before settling on the most practical course of action. We all know children do not always follow a predictable path, so it’s a good thing Corey also happens to be the most easy-going and flexible man on the planet.
He asked me to bake something as a thank you to those who attend his event. Chocolate chip cookies were the easiest and most transportable option, and as I stirred up the dough I got to thinking about my own potential as a parent. For most of my 20s, I questioned whether the whole parenting thing was even for me. I loved (most) kids, but I also loved the freedom to do what I want, spend what I want, act how I want with no real responsibility to anyone other than myself and my spouse. I had great younger siblings and a fabulous niece and nephew to dote on and spoil if I was so inclined. I also had a dog who put me through the canine version of the terrible twos for most of his terrier life. Life was pretty good, as is, and my fear of change made me wonder how I could handle an addition to my small family.
The answer lies in chocolate chip cookies.
Baking has always been a selfish process for me. I almost always share the goods with others, but I select recipes based on my own tastes and preferences and use the experience to relieve stress and escape into my own little (sugary) world. It’s hard to bake with friends or family and not try to take over the entire process and do things my way.
Having a child will change all of that. Instead of rushing through the process, I’ll show her how to measure the ingredients, to stir them together, to carefully scoop dough onto a prepared pan. I’ll care less about the look of the finished product, and more about the pride my daughter will feel as she presents a lopsided cookie made especially for her daddy. And instead of giving most of my baked goods away to friends and coworkers because I don’t want so many empty calories at my beck and call, I’ll save most of them for our little family and show my child that on certain days, it’s totally necessary to have cookies and milk for lunch.
Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies*
adapted from Cook’s Illustrated
makes about 16 cookies
* Yes. They really are perfect. Even better than this recipe, I’d say.
1 3/4 c all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
14 tbsp unsalted butter (1 3/4 sticks)
1/2 c white sugar
3/4 c packed brown sugar (recipe suggests dark brown, but light brown is also acceptable)
1 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
1 1/4 c chocolate chips
optional: 3/4 c chopped pecans or walnuts
Preheat oven to 375 and line two large baking sheets with parchment or silicone baking mats. Sift or whisk together the flour and baking soda in a medium bowl.
Put 10 tbsp of the butter in a medium skillet set over medium high heat. Allow the butter to melt for 2 minutes and begin to swirl it around the pan, allowing it to brown. Keep the butter moving so it doesn’t burn. Browning should take about 3 minutes and you’ll know it’s done when it smells nutty and it has a dark golden brown color. Remove the pan from the heat and use a heatsafe spatula to transfer the butter to a large, heatsafe mixing bowl. Add the remaining 4 tbsp of cold butter to the melted butter, and stir gently until it is melted.
Add the white sugar, brown sugar, vanilla and salt to the butter and whisk the ingredients together. Add the egg and egg yolk and whisk again until mixture is smooth, 30 seconds. Allow the batter to rest for 3 minutes, then whisk for 30 seconds more. Do this two more times; the end result should be thick and shiny.
Add the flour mixture and stir until just combined, about 1 minute. Gently stir in chocolate chips and nuts, if using. The batter will be soft.
Form each cookie with roughly 3 tbsp of dough (if using a cookie scoop, use a #24). Place cookies 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets and bake one tray at a time, 10 to 14 minutes, on the middle rack of your oven. Rotate baking sheet after 5 minutes and check the cookies at 10; you want them to be golden brown and set around the edges, but puffy in the middle. (My oven yielded perfect cookies at 12 minutes.)
Allow to cool on the pan for 1 to 2 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
i’ll take 24 please, and have them devoured by 9am
I couldn’t agree more. Baking is selfish for me, too. But I hope to take the same mindset when I have a child. Hopefully, I have that much patience.
Gasp! Even better than my very fave cookie…how could this be? Has the universe been turned upside down? Do pigs fly?
To the kitchen, I say!
What a great idea to pick people’s brains!! Chocolate chip cookies make the world go round.
What a sweet post! (Sorry I couldn’t help it) you guys will make awesome parents
No time to comment on your sweet and thoughtful baby sentiments… MUST MAKE COOKIES NOW.
that was pretty sweet.
I’m totally gonna try those cookies! I’m always up for a new chocolate cookie recipe. Oh and BTW you’re gonna make an awesome mom!
OK, now you made me cry, and not over the chocolate chip cookies. Love you.
I lived for the first time Tucker and I made cookies together. So maybe he ate more chocolate chips than he should and made a bigger mess than three adults…but it was certainly one of the finest motherhood moments for me. BTW, these cookies are awesome. My dad uses this recipe. Ironically, he made them the first time and then tried to fix it. I told him to read the title again. He agreed he was a dufus and was on his own quest for the perfect cookie until he made these. The second time. Just like the recipe said.
I too bake for selfish reasons at time and really enjoy the process and knowing my ‘product’ will be well received.
My husband loves my applecrisp and I think I bake it for me just as much as for him, because I love to see how excited he gets
Having children and cooking with them is something I am so excited about for my future as well. I am sure it will all be about the process more than the product! What great words about your wonderful husband as well! The cookies sound amazing.
This post is so sweet, and it totally gave me the chuckles. Calla has entered a “helpful” mode and is eager to participate in the kitchen. So I’ve been letting her help me cook dinner. I’ve found the key to letting my 2 year old have a positive and me a productive experience is to let her help make things that are best done with hands and don’t make me worry about the level of harmful bacteria entering her mouth. Last week we made schnitzel and my heart stopped a little bit when she licked her palm after we pounded out the pork chops. But yesterday we made whole wheat carrot muffins and I let her mix the batter entirely with her hands. She loved it, and it was much easier to tell her that she needed to wash her hands afterward when they were covered in batter than when they were just wet with raw pig juice… She loved wielding the meat mallet, but maybe schnitzel is something for a 3-4 year old and not a 2 year old!
I think the fact that you made schnitzel at all is impressive!
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Offically my new favorite cookie recipe!! They are divine.
Oops, I meant officially…
OH MY GOSH I MADE THESE COOKIES & THEY WERE THE BEST EVER!!!!! Sorry for the caps, but it was the only way to convey my feelings. Thanks so much!
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