Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe - YUM!

Yesterday my daughter Savannah and I were playing with her Melissa and Doug wooden cookie set in her new play kitchen.  The Cottage Grandma (my Mom) sent her this adorable set  - have you seen it?  It is so much fun - it comes with a cookie sheet, cookies, toppings for the cookies, a play knife, a play spatula, and long cookie tin (think slice and bake) - all made out of wood!  The cookies have velcro on both sides, so you can velcro on your topping, velcro it onto the cookie sheet, or put all the cookies together and practice your slicing.  So much fun!!

So why am I telling you all this?  Well as we were playing "cookies", I remembered how much fun we had baking Christmas cookies (remember that post).  I asked her if she would like to make real cookies and she said, "yes, yes, yes!!" and so we did.  We made real chocolate chip cookies and boy were they good.  So here is my favorite recipe for chocolate chip cookies straight from the Barefoot Contessa herself (Ina Garten) out of her "Parties" cookbook!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Makes about 30 cookies

Ingredients:

1/2 pound butter, softened

1 cup light brown sugar, packed

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 extra-large eggs at room temperature

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1.5 cups chopped walnuts

1.25 pounds semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.  Add the vanilla, then the eggs, one at a time, and mix well.  Sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt and add to the butter with the mixer on a low speed, mixing only until combined.  Fold in the walnuts and chocolate chips.

Drop the dough on a baking sheet line with parchment paper (I use a regular spoon for this).  Bake for exactly 15 minutes (the cookies will seem underdone).  Remove from oven and let cool slightly, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.  Enjoy!

Cottage Mama's Note:  The Barefoot Contessa actually uses chocolate chunks - personally I prefer chocolate chips.  If you don't have a fancy electric mixer, just use a hand mixer - no problem!!