Cookie, Anyone?

I have wonderful memories of making chocolate chip cookies with my mom and sister growing up. Mom was always so good about letting us help her, which I am now learning requires a lot of patience! Every time Kolbe hears me turn on the mixer, he comes running and cries out, "I want to help!" Which is of course so cute...but it ultimately means there will be twice the mess...

Now to all of you college girls who have ever heard one of my chastity talks, I went on about how my modesty, femininity, and silly personality are the reasons Dan fell for me...but in reality it was my delicious chocolate chip cookies. I am about to share with you my secret weapon. When I was in college I was known as the cookie girl. One time my girlfriends helped me bake these cookies for our guy friends. We made 42 cookies and I didn't let my friends even eat one. All 42 went to the boys. They still tease me about that to this day.

But all of that practice was so worth it because in the end, this particular recipe is what stole my future husband's heart.

Before Dan and I were dating (but when I already knew I was going to marry him) I mailed him a batch of these cookies for his birthday. He called me that night and I knew by the sound of his voice that I had him. A few weeks later he was mine.

So here it, the recipe that my mother taught me and that I will one day teach my children...

Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 1/2 cups All Purpose Flour
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Salt

1/2 cup Unsalted butter (1 stick)- softened
1/2 cup Crisco shortening
1 cup light brown sugar(packed)
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
2 cups Semi-sweet chocolate chips (or one 16 oz bag)

*Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.

1. Stir together the first three ingredients in a separate bowl (I do not always do this, if I am short on time or if I have little hands helping me, but this extra step does make a difference, I think.)

2. In a mixing bowl, beat the butter and shortening, until it is creamy with no lumps.

3. Beat in the brown sugar, white sugar, eggs, and then vanilla extract.

4. Slowly mix in the dry ingredients.

5. Stir in the chocolate chips.

Then use a spoon to put the cookie dough on the baking pan.