Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies

I'm always hesitant to use the words "the best" in regards to anything. The best book I've ever read, movie I've ever seen, meal I've ever had. But whenever someone uses the words "the best", I have to try it, see it, or read it for myself.

Unless you're my husband. He exaggerates about everything, as all those who know him would say. ;)

So, of course, when  I saw these cookies on The Novice Chef blog a few weeks back, I had to make them. We're all searching for that perfect chocolate chip cookie, and I'll happily eat batch after batch to find the one.

That food strike I told you about? Yeah. It happened after these cookies. That must tell you something, right?

I don't know if these were "the best", but yes, they were pretty dang good. Some of the best I've had in a long time. :) They're fat, puffy, soft, and full of the perfect amount of sweetness. I didn't touch the recipe at all and followed it to a T. Make sure you read about how to form each ball of dough, that's pretty important and the key to great looking chocolate chip cookies.

Source: The Novice Chef
Servings: 24

2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
14 tablespoons (1 stick plus 6 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 heaping cup milk chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

In a stand mixer, beat butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla extract until lightly incorporated. Add the flour, in batches, mixing slowly until combined, then add the baking soda, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt. Mix until combined. Stir in chocolate chips with a wooden spoon. 

Roll two heaping tablespoons of dough into a ball. Tear the ball in half and place the torn side down on the cookie sheet. Take the second half and place it on top of the first half (this is the what it will look like) -- leaving about two inches for spreading.

Bake for 10 minutes, until the edges are slightly browned. Remove from oven and let cookies rest on baking sheet for 10 minutes. The cookies may not look cooked in the center, but they will finish cooking while cooling on the baking sheet. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before storing. Store in an airtight container for up to 7 days (a slice of bread will keep them soft). 

Life as a SAHM- Weekend Edition

Sometimes it feels like I have two kids in the house. ;) Three if you count our dog. Over the weekend my husband picked up his pre-order of the PlayStation 4, an early birthday gift from his parents. He's been talking my ear off about the game system for weeks and about all the new games coming out for it. Needless to say, he was VERY excited Friday morning and spent pretty much the entire day on the couch. We played as a "family" with Miss A pausing to stop and stare at the screen and me giggling any time I made it to another level in this cute spaceship shooting game.

While the hubby played, I made us a huge salad with a hard boiled egg, bacon, tomatoes, chicken, cheese, and croutons. I love having a big salad for lunch! Miss A picked into the bowl and grabbed a piece of lettuce, which she took a bite of, decided she didn't like it, and put it back into the bowl. :) 

The two of us went outside a lot, enjoying the sudden spike in warm temperatures. She is trying to say the word "outside" and it's the cutest thing I've ever heard. That and the word "up". I absolutely love it!

Her favorite thing to do outside is pick up and pull off leaves. She also likes being in the front yard, not the back, and walking into the street! We live in a cul de sac, so it's very safe, but I do wish she'd spend more time in the backyard!

On Sunday I told the hubby we had to get out of the house and use our legs. Especially him! We stopped at Starbucks to take advantage of the bogo holiday drinks and I took an obligatory his and hers coffee picture. Our first red cups of the season. I got a peppermint mocha and it was like Christmas in a cup. Seriously! I think I'm going to have an addiction problem.

We're still dealing with a serious case of mommy-itis. Pick me up, hold me, let me eat on your lap, etc, etc. It is very cute and sweet, but sometimes mommy needs a break!

To end the weekend, I made the most delicious pot roast ever. I've never had a pot roast this good before. We were eating in silence, enjoying it, until Miss A started begging for more! Be on the lookout for the recipe, coming soon. 

How was your weekend? I'm getting ready to finalize my Thanksgiving menu this week and create a shopping list! I'm so excited to have my parents here next week. How will you be spending the holiday? Oh, and, in case you haven't entered yet, my giveaway is still going on, you have two days left to enter!

Five on Friday

We're halfway through November, which means one more week until my husband's birthday and Thanksgiving the week after that! I'm getting really excited about the next coming weeks. And especially for the month of December! As always, I'm linking up for Five on Friday today.

1. GroopDealz

Have you heard of GroopDealz? I love this site. Every day I get an email with over +10 items of awesome deals on jewelry, clothes, accessories, baby items, and things for the home. Recently there have been lots of cute holiday items.

Holiday Pillow Covers

Christmas Watches

Chunky Necklace

2. Finding the Time to Exercise

I've never been a workout junkie. It takes A LOT for me to motivate myself to work out. Before I became a Mom I'd go to the gym and walk/jog on the treadmill. That got boring real fast. I took some yoga and Pilates classes here and there. Now that I am a Mom, it's even harder for me to find the time to exercise. Sure, we go on walks all the time, but I know it's not enough. So, yesterday, Miss A and I went to try out a Jazzercise class. It was SO much fun! I signed up afterwards for 10 classes and I can't wait for my next one. My poor babe though, it was her first time in any kind of child-care setting and she cried pretty much the whole time. :( Any tips?? If you're a Mom, how do you find the time to work out? 

3. Christmas Crafts

Are you crafty? I've tried my hand at some DIY crafts in the past. It's been a while since I've made anything! I'm feeling inspired by all Christmas crafts I've seen floating around Pinterest. 

Snowflakes

Glittery Christmas Lights

Ornament Garland

4. Peanut Butter Pie with Mississippi Mud Fudge 

This is, hands down, my favorite food pin on the week. Take a look at this PIE! I want to make it, but I'm afraid I'll end up eating it, by myself, in the pantry.

5. The Walking Dead

Last, but not least, the hubby and I are huge fans of The Walking Dead. We've watched since the beginning and it has never freaked me out as it does been lately! I can barely watch it without something covering my face. Last week I was hidden behind a blanket for most of the episode. I just can't take it! Do you watch it?

Before you go, I hope you'll take a moment to enter my giveaway. Happy Friday!

What We Ate Wednesday- Sleep Deprivation Eats

Dare I say my picky eater of late is making a turn around? I don't want to jinx it, so that's all I'm going to say! Yesterday was a tough day around here. Miss A woke up several times throughout the night and I couldn't for the life of me figure out why. She's not sick, not teething from what I can tell, but she was pretty upset every time she woke up. Is it too early for nightmares? I just don't know. She was awake for the day at 5:45am.

So, our schedule was completely thrown off. We had two breakfasts. Lots of snacks in between meals. And we stayed home because thankfully, she was tired, and took more naps than she usually does.

Breakfast: 7:00am

Not pictured. Too groggy and blurry-eyed to function. And it wasn't that appetizing anyway!

I ate: a bowl of cereal

Miss A: toast

Second Breakfast: 9:00 am

What does one do when they're up so early? I bake. Sleep deprivation makes me want to eat all the things.

I ate: a banana bread muffin with strawberries

Miss A: the same, devouring her muffin and eating all her strawberries (!!)

Lunch: 12:00pm

I ate: a turkey wrap with roasted red pepper spread, tomatoes, and cheese

Miss A: a turkey wrap with cheddar cheese

Snack: 3:00pm

I ate: homemade mozzarella sticks. Not the healthiest snack, I know. But as I said, sleep deprivation makes me want to EAT. Unhealthy things apparently. :( I also had more COFFEE. And some cookies, I'm sure.

Miss A: she ventured to the pantry a couple times before this, snacking on granola bars and crackers. Then she sat down and ate some watermelon and banana. 

Dinner: 6:30pm

I ate: sloppy joes with sweet potato wedges

Miss A: the same, except she ate the meat mixture, with no peppers or onions. I was surprised she liked it! It was a huge mess afterwards. ;)

In case you're wondering, Miss A did sleep through the night last night. Yay! I'll be a much happier mama today. Enjoy hump day!

Life as a SAHM- I'm a Cookie Monster!

Last week I made a batch of chocolate chip cookies.

Little did I know they would be the cause of many, many tantrums. 

I always allow Miss A to have a piece, a bite, or a whole slice, of whatever I'm cooking/eating/baking. There was no exception with these cookies. Well, as soon as she ate one, this was her face.

Too cute, right! I know I know. BUT...what you don't know, is that since that day, Miss A has been a nightmare about food. Remember how I bragged grateful I was about her being such a good eater? Not in the last few days folks. Not anywhere close. That's what I get for opening my big fat mouth!

Never brag mothers, never brag.

This is what she'd rather eat instead of pasta, chicken, potatoes, rice, eggs, watermelon, vegetables, cheese....

COOKIES.

Case in point. This morning I prepared a healthy, nutritious meal of pumpkin oatmeal- one of her favorites, and received an outrageous cry and covering of the face. No Mom. I want cookies. To the pantry she goes. Grabs her box of banana cookies and chows down.

I've been dealing with this for days. She won't eat anything I've prepared for her, she wants to snack all day. I know it's some kind of phase. It is kind of funny, writing about it now. But it's also very frustrating for a mama who wants to get some vitamins and nutrition into her child!

Oh, and, I've also been dealing with this.

A MAJOR case of Mommy-itis. It's been pretty hard to get things done around here. Oh well. I'd better enjoy the extra hugs and cuddles now, before I blink and it's all I'll ever want again!