Chocolate Chip Cookies

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe … Ever
Jun 17, 2009
Cookie Recipes

Few things are better than a freshly baked warm chocolate chip cookie that comes fresh out of the oven. This recipe, for the best chocolate chip cookie, was originally published by Jaques Torres in the New York Times. The unique key to this recipe is that you refrigerate the cookie dough for a minimum of 24 hours before you bake the cookies. The New York Times suggests that allowing the best chocolate chip cookie makes the cookie dough have the perfect level of moisture to make the perfect cookie. I feel like I have tried many chocolate chip cookies in my lifetime and I can honestly say, these are the best chocolate chip cookies …. ever.

Best Chocolate Chip Cookie

New York Times Chocolate Chip Cookies
Adapted from Jacques Torres
Yield: 4 dozen.

2 cups minus 2 tablespoons (8 1/2 ounces) cake flour
1 2/3 cups (8 1/2 ounces) bread flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
2 1/2 sticks (1 1/4 cups) unsalted butter
1 1/4 cups (10 ounces) light brown sugar
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (8 ounces) granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/4 pounds bittersweet chocolate disks or fèves, at least 60 percent cacao content (see note)
Sea salt (your best)

1. Sift flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Set aside.

2. Using a mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars together until very light, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla. Reduce speed to low, add dry ingredients and mix until just combined, 5 to 10 seconds. Drop chocolate pieces in and incorporate them without breaking them. Press plastic wrap against dough and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours. Dough may be used in batches, and can be refrigerated for up to 72 hours.

3. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat. Set aside.

4. Scoop 6 3 1/2-ounce mounds of dough (the size of generous golf balls) onto baking sheet, making sure to turn horizontally any chocolate pieces that are poking up; it will make for a more attractive cookie. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt and bake until golden brown but still soft, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer sheet to a wire rack for 10 minutes, then slip cookies onto another rack to cool a bit more. Repeat with remaining dough, or reserve dough, refrigerated, for baking remaining batches the next day

Black Forest Cheesecake

Chocolate Wafer Crust
1 1/4 cups finely crushed chocolate wafers
3 tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted

In a small bowl stir together crumbs and sugar. Add melted butter or margarine. Stir til well combined. Press crumb mixture evenly onto the bottom of a greased 9-inch springform pan. Set aside.

Black forest filling
24 ounces cream cheese
3/4 cup sugar
5 teaspoons cornstarch
3 eggs
1 egg yolk
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips, melted
1/2 cup cherry schnapps
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2/3 cup bing cherries, pitted, copped and drained

In a large bowl combine cream cheese, sugar and cornstarch. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Add eggs and egg yolk, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in melted chocolate, cherry schnapps and vanilla extract. Stir in cherries. Pour the cream cheese mixture over the crust.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Lower the temperature to 200 degrees and bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until the center no longer looks wet or shiny. Remove the cake from the oven and run a knife around the inside edge of the pan. Turn the oven off; return the cake to the oven for an additional hour. Chill, uncovered, overnight.

Chocolate Cherry Topping
1 cup cherry preserves
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon cornstarch
Chocolate Ice Cream Topping

In a small saucepan stir together cherry preserves, lemon juice and cornstarch. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir 2 minutes more. Pour over cheesecake. Drizzle with chocolate ice cream topping. Chill till serving time. Makes 12 to 18 slices.

My Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 cups butter

4 cups flour

2 tsp. baking soda

2 cups sugar

5 cups blended oatmeal

24 oz. chocolate chips

2 cups brown sugar

1 tsp. salt

1 8 oz. Hershey Bar (grated)

4 eggs

2 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. vanilla

3 cups chopped nuts (your choice)

Measure oatmeal and blend in a blender to a fine powder. Cream the butter and both sugars. Add eggs and vanilla, and mix together with flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder, and soda. Add chocolate chips, Hershey Bar and nuts. Roll into balls and place two inches apart on a cookie sheet or drop by teaspoonful onto the cookie sheet.

Bake at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes, or 10 to 12 minutes for a crispier cookie.

Makes about 10 dozen cookies.

Taco Soup

1 lb ground beef, browned
1 package taco seasoning
1 can corn (undrained)
1 can Kidney beans (undrained)
1 large can stewed tomatoes (chop if desired)
1 can tomato sauce
1 cup water
cheddar cheese
tortilla chips

Dump everything but cheese and chips together in a large pot and simmer approximately 20 minutes.

Cream Cheese-Chocolate Chip Cookies

3 ounces cream cheese , room temperature
16 Tbsp. (2 sticks) unsalted butter , room temperature
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
1 package (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
2 tsp. grated orange zest

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°. In the large bowl of an electric mixer, beat cream cheese, butter, and sugar on high speed until well blended. Beat in eggs and vanilla until smooth. Reduce speed to low; beat in flour and salt until just combined. Stir in chocolate chips and orange zest.

Drop dough by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets; space dough about 1 inch apart. Bake 10 to 12 minutes, or until cookies are lightly browned around the edges. With a spatula, transfer to racks to cool completely; store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

French Fries

French Fried Potatoes
1/3 cup white sugar
2 cups warm water
2 large russet potatoes - peeled, and sliced into 1/4 inch strips
6 cups vegetable oil for frying
salt to taste


Directions
1. In a medium bowl, dissolve the sugar in warm water. Soak potatoes in water mixture for 15 minutes. Remove from water, and dry thoroughly on paper towels.

2. Heat oil in deep-fryer to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Add potatoes, and cook until golden, 5 to 6 minutes. drain on paper towels. Season with salt to taste.


Oven French Fries
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 cups water
1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
2 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into strips
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/8 teaspoon salt


Directions
1. In a large bowl, combine the cornstarch, water and soy sauce until smooth. Add potatoes; cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.

2. Drain potatoes and pat dry on paper towels. Toss potatoes with oil and sprinkle with salt. Place on a baking sheet coated with nonstick cooking spray. Bake at 375 degrees F for 15 minutes. Turn; bake 15-20 minutes longer or until tender and golden brown.


Crispy Seasoned French Fries
2 1/2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1 teaspoon onion salt
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 cup water, or as needed
1 cup vegetable oil for frying


Directions
1. Slice potatoes into French fries, and place into cold water so they won't turn brown while you prepare the oil.

2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. While the oil is heating, sift the flour, garlic salt, onion salt, (regular) salt, and paprika into a large bowl. Gradually stir in enough water so that the mixture can be drizzled from a spoon.

3. Dip potato slices into the batter one at a time, and place in the hot oil so they are not touching at first. The fries must be placed into the skillet one at a time, or they will clump together. Fry until golden brown and crispy. Remove and drain on paper towels.

Egg Drop Soup

6 C. Chicken Broth
1 large Egg, lightly beaten with 1 tsp. sesame oil
1/4 tsp. White Pepper
4 sliced Green Onion tops for garnish
Salt to taste

Bring the broth to a simmer over low medium heat. Very slowly stream in the egg, use a fork to pull strands of the egg gently. Do not stir vigorously; you will have a mess if you do. Add white pepper and salt. Continue to cook until egg is done. Serve promptly.

Oriental Chicken Salad

6-8 cups romaine lettuce
2 chicken breasts
1/2 cup crispy rice noodles
1/2 cup sliced almonds
2 tablespoons shredded carrots
2 tablespoons olive oil
salt and pepper
Oriental Salad Dressing

Grill chicken breasts, by first placing into plastic wrap, and gently pounding them to about 3/8 of an inch thick. If you have a grill you can use a grill to cook your chicken breasts. You can also cook the chicken breasts in a skillet, add olive oil to a skillet and heat on medium heat. Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper, and cook for approximately 5 to 7 minutes on each side. Place fully cooked chicken breasts onto a plate, and allow to rest for 4 to 5 minutes before slicing.

Toast almonds by placing in a small skillet over medium heat, watch almonds carefully, there is a fine line between toasted almonds and burnt almonds. Shake pan gently and when you begin to smell the almonds they are toasting, allow them to toast for a few seconds more and immediately place almonds onto a papertowel and allow them to cool for a moment or two.

Assemble salads by first putting down the lettuce, I use about 3 to 4 cups of lettuce, add the shredded carrot, 1/4 cup crispy rice noodles, 1/4 cup toasted almonds, and then place on sliced chicken. Serve with plenty of the Oriental Salad Dressing

Pizza Rolls

1 roll refrigerated pizza dough (or make your own)
marinara/pizza sauce
2 T grated Parmesan cheese
1 T olive oil or melted butter
1/2 t garlic powder
1 t dried Italian seasoning
mozzerella cheese
Pizza toppings of your choice: ham, pineapple, pepperoni slices, sausage, etc.

Preheat oven to heat specified on pizza dough package. Usually it's 400 degrees. If you make your own dough, 400 is usually a good heat as well.

Unroll your pizza dough onto a lightly floured surface. Pat or roll the dough so it's about 12" by 8". You're going to want to cut it into 24 squares, so just eyeball it if you need to. Use a pizza cutter to slice the dough into 24 squares.

Place cheese and desired toppings on each square. (Note that you're not putting the marinara sauce on the dough- it's for dipping after) Just eyeball how much. You just need to be able to enclose the toppings in the dough so keep that in mind.

When all of your dough squares have cheese and toppings on them, carefully lift up each square and wrap the dough around the toppings. Pinch to make sure each ball is sealed shut and then place them seam side down in a lightly sprayed pie pan (or similar sized dish).

Brush the tops of the dough balls with olive oil or melted butter and then sprinkle with the garlic and Italian seasoning and top with Parmesan cheese.

Cook them in the oven for about 15-20 minutes or until golden brown on top. Keep an eye on them! Doughs vary, so I'd check them after even 10 minutes.

Serve warm with warmed marinara sauce on the side for dipping.

The outsides are like garlic bread and the insides are full of oozing cheese.

Parmasan Crusted Chicken

1 C. Plain Bread Crumbs
2 Tbsp. Flour
1/4 C. Kraft Parmesan Cheese
1 C. Milk
6 (1/2″) Thick Pieces of Chicken Breast Strips (chicken tenders)
Vegetable Oil ( frying )
2 C. dry Bowtie Pasta
2 Tbsp. Butter
3 Tbsp. Olive Oil
2 tsp. Crushed Garlic
1/2 C. White Table Wine (Chablis)
1/4 C. Water
2 Tbsp. Flour
3/4 C. Half and Half
1/4 C. Sour Cream
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/8 tsp. Basil Leaves
3/4 C. Mild Asiago Cheese (finely grated)

Prepare pasta according to package directions. Wash and drain chicken strips. Mix breadcrumbs, flour, and Parmesan cheese together. Place milk in dish for dipping. Dip chicken in breadcrumb mixture and then in milk and then back in breadcrumbs. Place in fry pan that the oil has bee heated and fry at medium to medium low temperature until golden. Remove and drain chicken. In a saucepan on medium heat, melt butter, add olive oil. Whisk in flour until mixture is blended. Quickly add garlic, water, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt stir well. Add wine and blend. Immediately add half and half and sour cream stir. When mixture is smooth add grated cheese stir until melted. Finally sprinkle fresh basil in the sauce and stir lightly and remove from heat.

Garnish
4 Broccoli Florets (lightly steamed)
2 White Mushrooms (quartered lightly steamed)
1/4 tsp. Crushed Red Pepper

Assembly:
Place 2 cups pasta in individual a pasta dish. Spoon about 1/2 – 3/4 cup sauce over pasta, add broccoli and mushrooms. Place Parmesan Chicken on pasta and sprinkle red crushed pepper and add grated Parmesan cheese if desired.

Parmesan Rolls

2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water (110 degrees F to 115 degrees F)
1 cup warm milk (110 to 115 degrees F)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
3 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup cornmeal
2 eggs
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
TOPPING:
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. In a large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Add milk, Parmesan cheese, butter, sugar, salt, cornmeal and eggs; mix well. Add 3 cups of flour and beat until smooth. Add enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. Punch dough down. Shape into 24 ovals; dip each into melted butter and Parmesan cheese. Place on greased baking sheets. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes. Bake at 375 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to cool on wire racks.

White Chicken Chili

1 T Extra virgin Olive Oil
1 lb boneless chicken, cubed (about 3-4 boneless, skinless breasts)
1 medium onion, diced
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
2 cans Great Northern Beans
1 3.5 oz can green chilies
1/2 t cumin
1/2 t dried oregano leaves
1/2 t coriander
1/2 t salt
fresh cracked pepper
1 lime
1/2 C chopped cilantro
1 32oz box chicken broth


Directions:
In a large pot, heat olive oil. Add chopped onion and cook for about 2 minutes- just until it starts to become translucent. While onions are cooking, drain beans and rinse with cold water and set aside. Sprinkle chopped chicken with a little salt and pepper and add to pot. Add garlic as well. Cook until there's no more visible pink on the chicken, probably 3-4 minutes.

Then add green chills- along with all of the juices in the can. Add beans, cumin, oregano, coriander, salt, and a few turns of fresh cracked pepper. Stir to combine and then add chicken broth.

Bring to a boil and reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer uncovered for 10-15 minutes. Remove from heat and add the juice from one lime and the 1/2 C chopped cilantro. Add salt and pepper to taste.




It's really a soup consistency. If you want it thicker, just reduce the amount of broth.