A Monday Quickie - Cherry Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies

A quickie is about all I can handle. What a week!

Sean and I headed to Vegas. Half fun. Half work. One open bar to end the short trip with a bang and a massive hangover. I am still hurting a little from not just Vegas but a whirlwind week with Sean being back in LA. We filled the week and half with food, fun and more fun!! It went by fast and every moment was worth the pounding headache and tired feet! Need rest!

With Sean off and working again, I am back to cooking for one. I have already made my pot of Bachelorette noodles. I hope to eat better than usual. I also made a big ol' Hummingbird Cake. Its an oldie but a goody and hope to post tomorrow. But for today, a quickie. I know Tuesdays are usually quickie day but I got two words - open bar. Quickies are important and can be very satisfying! I promise to put out more tomorrow.

For today I thought I would post a quick cookie recipe. It's just your basic chocolate chip cookie with a few additions. I am always inspired by what's on hand as well as wanting to try something new. It's the perfect base to add anything you would like. I have mentioned this before with the other cookie recipes at Pete Eatemall - be creative - nuts, dried fruits, your favorite candy bar...the possibilities are endless.

I had a small order for cookies. They left the flavor up to me. I thought Cherry, Pecan, Chocolate Chip. No, maybe not too unusual but yummy none the less! Chocolate and orange would be yummy. Why not pistachio and apricots? Chopped up butterfingers and dark chocolate! Dark chocolate and mint extract! Dried cranberries and white chocolate chips! Cherry and almonds! Macadamia nuts and white chocolate!


The recipe comes together quickly so you could have cookies in no time. Recipes for chocolate chips cookies are floating all around the Internet and in most baking cookbooks. This recipe here is not too much different than all of those. I am posting it to encourage you to make something homemade as well as be creative!!


Why not make some for back to school or enjoy the last few weeks of summer and make ice cream cookie sandwiches? I always say - make something homemade and share it with someone you love!

Chocolate Chip Cookies
Makes a big batch. You can freeze cookie dough. You can also freeze baked cookies.


4 Cups Flour or 2 Cups Whole Wheat and 2 Cups All Purpose Flour
2 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Salt
1 1/2 Cups Butter
1 1/4 Cup Sugar
1 1/4 Brown Sugar, Packed
1 TBS Vanilla or any extract that might go with your creative combo. I recommend starting with 1/2 tsp of other extracts espcially mint and orange - a little can go a long way!
2 Eggs
24 OZ Chocolate Chips - or combination of chopped candy bars and chips - Try white chocolate, butterscotch, peanut butter or dark chocolate chunks
2 Cups Chopped Nuts - any nuts will do - use your favorite!
You can also add coconut, dried fruits, orange zest...etc.

Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Whisk to aerate.

In bowl of mixer add butter, sugars, vanilla and eggs. Beat until light and fluffy. Add flour mixture and combine. Mix until incorporated. Stir in your additions.

Drop by tablespoonfuls or use a handy ice cream scoop for bigger cookies. The big cookies are perfect for ice cream sandwiches.

Bake for 11 minutes or a little longer for larger cookies. The center will be soft. Remove from cookie sheet and place on a rack to cool!

Enjoy!

Think what a better world it would be if we all, the whole world, had cookies and milk about three o'clock every afternoon and then lay down on our blankets for a nap. - B. Jordan