Sunday, February 20, 2011

Chocolate~~ a truly, organic experience!

This afternoon I craved chocolate.

Well, actually, since yesterday.

 And so, I had some different chocolate chips in the pantry to try out for a while now. I picked up the Ghirardelli chips from Walmart~!
Usually, make them from Tollhouse.

Bye, bye Toll house.

Hello, Ghirardelli. I'm so glad we met today.

I opened the pantry door several times, lazily looking back over at the fire in the fireplace and then I caved to bake cookies instead of read, stitch or anything restful!

I HAD to have chocolate chip cookies and so I went to slinging flour and sugar in the kitchen.
Well, it was already a mess from lunch so.....what the heck. Just a little more to clean up! : 0

So here's the recipe and then you'll see why here.



I added in maple flavoring instead of vanilla.
I also added lots of chopped pecans.


I always do. Part of the experience is just chopping them up. Great stress reliever...LOL



and there ya go when all combined.


Stirring in the large chips....and I mean larger ones.
The Tollhouse ones are much smaller.



Now, THESE are chocolate chips!



Made WAY too much for the two of us. Like 6 dozen. 72 cookies.
 The recipe says it makes 4 dozen (my cookies were smaller) of which I didn't read that part yet because we could do well with 2 dozen. Lesson learned. Split the recipe.



And guilt-free.  All organic, right?  Just natural ingredients.



Even the package put this on there, so I'm sure it's healthy, right?
The pecans for protein.
The chocolate for our seratonin levels.
The 2 sticks of butter.......well.......I'm not sure on trans fat-free there....



But they were quite moist and tasty.



Would ya like one with a cuppa tea? or a tall glass of milk?

We have plenty to share!

Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Chip Cookies

(makes 4-6 dozen of cookies depending on size)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

2  and 1/4 cups of unsifted flour
1 tsp of baking soda
1/2 tsp of salt
2 sticks of butter ( not margerine), softened
3/4 cup of sugar
3/4 cup of brown sugar, packed
2 tsp of vanilla OR maple flavoring--I used maple
2 eggs
1 bag of Ghiradelli Milk Chocolate Chips
1 -2 cups of chopped pecans (can use walnuts, I use pecans)

Stir flour with baking soda and salt and set aside. Beat butter with sugars  on medium speed until creamy. Add flavoring and eggs, one at a time, mixing in together well.

Gradually blend dry mixture into creamed mixture. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.
Drop by teaspoon or tablespoon (depending on size desired) to a baking paper lined cookie sheet. (Baking paper helps the bottom of the cookie stay lighter)

Bake for 9 minutes. No more. For chewier cookies, bake 1 minute less.
(That's just my opinion on that, but usually works for me)

Then, write a Dear John letter to Tollhouse and explain that you must go organic now, so all natural-- Ghirardelli, will be in your future..............

24 comments:

  1. It's Ghirardelli or no chocolate chips for me - nothing in between!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Now you've done it! You've made us all crave those cookies and all across the country and perhaps the world, chocolate chip cookies will be baked tonight!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ha! You are so funny Donna!!! I hadn't thought about it that way but when hubbie ate them he said they were comfort food. Made me feel good!
    @ Mary, this is the first time I've used Ghirardelli in cookies and they are delish! I agree now!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Well, I'm not going to bake them
    tonight with one son away, but I
    definitely will make them this
    week. And, my mouth is really
    literally watering just looking
    at those pictures! Cookie love!
    Thanks for sharing. (I think!)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Well, I had my ghirardelli chips in brownies today...Your cookies look great... Freeze some for the next craving... Carol,m

    ReplyDelete
  6. Since you're offering, milk for me thx:) They look wonderfully sinful, not sure if I'm brave enough to stray from Toll House, but I can try:) Have a great week Jennifer!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Yes, Ghiradelli for me as well. I will have no other brownies!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. ummm... YES! glass of milk and then maybe a black cup of Jo... YUM those look so fabulous!!! LOL Donna! Chocolate chips across the world! love it! Maybe they will be cooked in Montana. Jennifer, I've never thought of the maple flavor... how is it? interesting... :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hello Jenniger. I've just learned of your lovely blog. Your cookie recipe looks wonderful.
    Thanks for sharing.
    Jackie.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Uh oh - I'm ion trouble - rather, it's my diet that's about to fail, as I just happen to have a bag of Ghiradelli chips in my cupboard!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Okay I am gaining weight just reading your post! LOL.
    I don't ever bake, because I seem to be the one who eats most of the baked goods.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Yep...now you've done it. I HAVE to make Chocolate Chip cookies now. I'm with you - the Ghirardelli are the absolute best! Your cookies look so delish-all those pecans-yummm! Thanks for sharing the pics and recipe (I think...LOL)

    God bless you - Julie

    ReplyDelete
  13. I borrowed your Jane Austen phrase at the top. February has been an awful month and may bleed into March. But I know blessings are coming in March and I can only hope that April will be even better (or at least mroe normal).
    Jackie
    http://needleworkerssamplings.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love my chocolate cookie recipe out of an old Betty Crocker Cookbook (I have my grandma's).

    Let me introduce you to the chocolate I had tonight: Jello Mousse. No laughing. Comes in a box in the pudding isle. One cup of milk, 4 1/2 minutes with a hand mixer and 2 hours in the fridge later, you have actual mousse. No one would believe it's Jello. I've only done the chocolate, haven't had time to make the caramel yet.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Jennifer: The cookies look very sinful oh my thank-you for a lovely blog site to follow.
    Catherine

    ReplyDelete
  16. How truly rotten of you! Now all I can think about is wanting a cookie & it is all your fault! They look yummy.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Mm-mm. With a cup of tea please.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Love, love ghiradelli. Interesting about the maple - bet that makes is special!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Ghiradelli has been my favorite for a long, long time. Next time you're out try to find their "REAL" milk chocolate chips in the silver bag (not baking chips). They are to die for, move over Hershey's and Nestle! Trust me, they are good just plain like little kisses.

    ReplyDelete
  20. yummy! I wish I could reach out and get one through the laptop screen LOL

    ReplyDelete
  21. I'm with you. I use only Ghiradelli.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I'm with you. Ghiradelli is worth every penny!

    ReplyDelete

Comments are welcome at the homestead at any time! I appreciate your time out of your day to stop and say hello!!
I hope you find some useful information and gentle inspiration for your day.
Jennifer