In Jennie's Kitchen

my best chocolate chip cookies

The perfect chocolate chip cookie. Is there anything left that hasn't been said about it? Whether it's your grandmother's or David Leite's, every day someone claims to have the best chocolate chip cookie recipe you'll ever need. I've literally worked on this one for years.

I kid you, not.

I'd been making chocolate chip cookie dough and storing it in the freezer for over a decade and always wondered why it tasted so much better when I baked it after the fact, instead of when the dough was fresh made. Well, unless you've been living under a rock, you probably know why having read David's article. And if you just came to from an extended sleep, the reason makes absolute sense. Spoiler alert: A chill time in the fridge allows the flour time to absorb all the flavors and moisture.

I like to call it marinating time, which always illicits a chuckle or two. Gail prefers "dry aging", and that's why I adore her.

 

I swear this was not a posed picture. It's the hazard of juggling a cookie shoot and watching a 22-month old at the same time.

So back to this best of the best cookie slug out. It's like the wild west in food blogging. What makes my recipe so different, you ask? Well, I don't claim it to be the best and only recipe you'll ever want or need. Life is too short for definitives, don't you think?

After years of making variations of this recipe, it is my best chocolate chip cookie. An original recipe that has been in the works for years. And while I'm happy to share some credit with Mr. Leite, whom I immensely respect, I'd been doing that marinating thing for over a decade. He just helped understand why it made such a difference.

Oh, and he also won me over with the chocolate discs. They lovingly spread as they melt, leaving you with a bit of chocolate in each bite. I'm not going to tell you these are the only type of chocolate you can use, though. That's too fussy for a cookie of this simple nature. I'm lucky enough to live near a store that sells Guittard 55% chocolate discs for only $4.20 a pound. Take that Fresh Direct and Whole Foods with your hoity toity prices.

No, rather than dictate what type of cookie you should eat, I want to help you find the right cookie for you. So, if you like regular chips, don't worry about the cookie police. I'll throw them off your scent. Frankly, Ghiradelli and Scharffen Berger make great quality chips that I've happily enjoyed in past incarnations of these cookies.

One thing I will urge, though, is to stick to the baking time as noted. The'll look undercooked when you first take them from the oven. You'll be tempted to put them back in for another minute, or even two. I've been guilty of said "crime" and my punishment was a too crisp cookie with nary a chewy center. The reward is in the inner-chewiness of the cookie, so trust me. The two minute cooling period on a rack will finish the "cooking process".

Most recipes I create are inspired for or by someone else. I was a bit selfish in this one. These are my cookies. I created the taste and texture just for moi. But I'm not too selfish to share the recipe with you. In fact, I'm going to be quite generous and share lots of these cookies at Annie's Blue Ribbon General Store on Saturday, March 27th for my friend Alison's book party. Come join us from 3:00 to 5:00pm for some of these cookies and a sneak preview of my deep chocolate cherry cashew ones. And, yes, there'll be plenty of cold milk for dunking.

lemon blueberry muffins + half white flour

There is a fine line between being a "know it all" and a confident learner. Life has too much to offer to think we can possibly consume, let alone understand it all before our physical time on this earth is done.

And yet, there is an exceeding pressure, on kids and adults alike, to be perfect. It's an unrealistic goal. And a boring one too. Heck, if we become perfect, what pleasure would there be in waking each morning?

Three years ago when I ventured out on a freelance career, I had one main goal in mind—never miss a school event, recital or bringing birthday cupcakes to my daughter's classroom ranked pretty high up there. I knew what kind of mother I wanted to be. I wanted to be active and involved. I wanted to pick her up from school each day and talk about her favorite part—always lunch and recess, and her least favorite—none to report so far, which is good, I think.

That idyllic situation seems like a fairytale most days. Two kids later, a mountain of homework and studying to be done—she's only in first grade for heaven's sake, sometimes the things I wanted to cherish just feel like a chore.

That is until bedtime. Yes, I'll admit, I'm excited come 7:30pm because it means I'm close to reclaiming some "me" time. But it's also the time we unwind and get lost in a book. Oh, the way the baby's fingers dance across the bookcase until she finds just the right one. She then backs up into my lap—or daddy's if he's home from work in time, and gets comfy for a story. Good Night Gorilla is a favorite right now, as are some French board books we bought to help her sister with school.

Once she goes to bed, it's Isabella's turn. She takes out her level books, and now that she's becoming an accomplished reader, she actually enjoys this part of the evening. Before it was a struggle, and honestly it used to drive me and the Mr. crazy. I mean, I'm a writer and we both have a fierce love of books. How could we possibly have birthed a non-reader? She had to come into reading on her own terms, as with every milestone she's reached so far.

Wondering how I'm going to connect this to those blueberry muffins, eh? Easy. Venturing into any unknown territory is always frightening to some degree. Whether it's worrying about decoding language or wondering if a recipe you have in mind will really work, it's a constant reminder that life is about taking chances. Think of it as the eternal search for the unknown—then hit rewind because after we crack one code, we inevitably move on to another quest.

But the muffins. What is so special about these blueberry muffins. You may also be asking why am I making blueberry muffins when berry season is long off. I went crazy buying them up at the farmers' market last year, and thankfully have a stash left in the freezer. I also bought a big bag of Wyman's frozen wild blueberries. And if you live in NYC, check your local Greenmarket. I've seen a few farmers selling some frozen ones from last year's harvest.

But I'm misleading you. After all, frozen blueberries are not that special to warrant this long-winded lesson on patience, learning and open-mindedness. I'm talking about the flour I used to make them. I came across it at the Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket. It's local organic "half-white" from Farmer Ground Flour. The label describes it as a medium protein bread flour, commonly referred to as brown flour in Europe, that "retains some of the bran and germ for nutrition and flavor".

Oh, one more thing. I should probably tell you I don't like whole wheat flour. It's too earthy for my palate. I love mushrooms, and that fresh dirt smell they impart when you get them fresh picked from the farmers' market, but please keep it out my baked goods. So, it was with a little apprehension that I bought a sack of this expensive flour—$6 for a two pound bag. Still, I was intrigued at the idea of tasting a locally milled flour. When I got home, a google search pointed me to this website for a Croatian product that looked similar, but that was about it. It seems to be relatively unknown, otherwise.

On first inspection, this flour looked and felt beautiful. It was quite soft in texture, almost like cake flour, and didn't have that strong scent of regular whole wheat flour. My mother-in-law was coming that evening for her 79th birthday celebration, so I decided to use it in a lemon-glazed raspberry cake. A risky, if not insane decision considering I'd never worked with this flour before and I was developing a new recipe.

devil's food cupcakes + rich chocolate frosting

Since I consider honesty one of my strong suits, I must confess I'm eating one of these cupcakes while I write this post. I needed sustenance to get through a late night of playing catch up after the school chancellor declared a snow day. I love my girls, and while I more often than not try to stop and smell the roses, next week is winter break. Needless to say I'm starting the month on a deficit when it comes to available work time.

These cupcakes have super powers. I'm convinced of that, so please don't burst my bubble. I can't help but smile while licking the rich, creamy frosting from my teeth after taking a bite. Yes, I like to lick the smudge of frosting off my fingers too. Oh dear, I can only imagine the spam that last sentence will illicit.

But, back to the cupcakes. I didn't research the origins of naming a cake devil's food, but I'm guessing it has something to do with the irresistible taste. I know a thing or two about both baking and eating this type of cake. In fact, I'm an expert on finding the best in New York City—outside of my own kitchen now that is. I remember telling my girlfriend my weight gain was the equivalent to eating our then four-year old daughters back when I was pregnant with IRP eight years ago, with a raging chocolate cake craving.

These cupcakes are also very accommodating, and stay fresh stored on a cake stand loosely covered with plastic wrap. I happen to be sitting right next to said cake stand, and since will power doesn't rank up there with honesty in strong suits, I'm eating ate one. I keep adding extra push ups and crunches to my workout routine...once I get started again. The current count must be four-digits by now.

Oh, yes the cupcakes. Well, I'm sure you heard about them if you follow me on twitter or are a fan on Facebook. My mission began two weeks ago when the Mr. told me he wanted a ring ding inspired cake for his recent birthday celebration. I made three cakes in four days. Then decided to make another one and these cupcakes a few days ago, after his birthday. Call it good measure. Or maybe it was a premonition of the impending snow day. They made the girls very happy, especially the ones with sprinkles. This glaze topping reminds of the same cupcake they used to make at my favorite neighborhood bakery that closed six years ago *sniff*. They used to sell them for only 30 cents—35 if you wanted them with a creamy center.

homemade baking powder

I'm not a gambling woman. Not to say that I'm at all conservative. I just prefer to do my homework and go with a sure thing. Now that I've shared that side of my personality, you'll be surprised to hear what I did this weekend.

It was the big party, remember. The Mr. turned 50, and I went on a cake baking marathon the week before to make his birthday cake wish come true. Three cakes in four days to be precise. Oh, the damage to my waistline, though it could've been worse had it not been for the willingness of my neighbors to take the surplus off my hands.

Well, I found myself in the kitchen the morning before, ready to bake the cakes—frosting would happen the next day, only to find I was out of baking powder. Yeah, I know, real genius, right? It was so cold out, and frankly the idea of leaving my cozy, warm apartment was not at all what I had in mind. I hadn't even had my morning coffee.

brown butter banana nut muffins

It's a stormy day in Brooklyn today. This is fitting given the occasion. Today is 12 years since my dad died—he was only 49, and the day we buried him it was cold, rainy and the winds were full of gust. He never lived the life he wanted. He dreamed of being an artist, and what an amazing one he was, but his father didn't support that dream. His father was also an alcoholic, as was his sister, and that was a noose around his neck that he unfortunately battled his whole life...and often succumbed to.

Our relationship had been strained for a long time before he died, but we'd made our peace a week before he was hospitalized. When I left the hospital that day, I was at the elevator bank and wanted to run back for one last hug and kiss. I decided it could wait until my next visit in a week. I was going to talk with my boss about a leave of absence after finding out he only had a few months left to live. Three days later, I got a call that he was in a coma, and it would only be a matter of time since he had signed a DNR.

Twenty-seven hours later I watched as the last breath left his body. It is an experience I cannot fully put into words. Something happens when you watch someone alive one moment and gone the next. It is humbling in a way. While we know life is just a short visit in the scope of things, the fact really hits home when you see it disappear in an instant. I also learned the hard way to seize the moment. I often dream of what that final hug and kiss would've felt like had I ran back from the elevators the week before.

Now, I'm sorry if I've saddened you because that is not really the point. The lesson I took away after losing my father was to always, always, always follow my dreams—no matter how uncertain they may seem or fearful of failure I may be. As I told my daughter just yesterday, every mistake is a chance to learn. Learn how to do it better the next time, and the next time, and so on.

walnut fudge brownies

There's nothing like a nut-studded, fudgy brownie to cure a chocolate hankering. Problem is many recipes lure me in with promises of chewy, chocolate squares of goodness only to leave me crestfallen from the first bite. Thankfully, I've created the perfect brownie recipe to satisfy my craving whenever the mood strikes.

The first hurdle to overcome is the notion of a one bowl batter. Like all good things, this one comes at a price—a few extra dishes to wash. One for melting the chocolate and butter, another for combining the dry ingredients, and the last for the most important part—whisking the eggs and sugar. This last bowl is where all the other ingredients will eventually land to create the batter for the best brownies...ever. Yes, I'm that serious about this recipe.

merry christmas & happy new year

Forgive me for the pause in posting. It has been a harried week, and I'm nursing a wee cold in the midst of the usual juggle. I did manage to get some of my holiday baking done, though not as much as I'd hoped. Many friend, neighbors and school teachers got some of these mini crumb cakes, while others got some cocoa candied pecans and homemade pancake mix.

This has been a busy, yet prosperous year. No matter how tough times have gotten, I try to stay focused on the girls and the Mr. And for that reason, I'm taking some much needed time off. Isabella will be delighted to know she doesnt have to compete with mommy's work during the school vacation, and I'm thrilled about that too. People often wonder how I do it. Well, the fact is I get much less sleep than an human being should get for a prolonged period of time. I also take on way to many projects, but so is the life of freelancing—you've got to strike while the cast-iron skillet is hot. This next week and a half will be a recharging of the batteries. Watch out 2010, 'cause here I come. Happy holidays, and thanks for joining me on my cooking journeys.

12 Days of Sharing

I have to apologize for being MIA in my posting yesterday. It was a crazy day with IRP's winter recital, class holiday party, deadlines and then we ended it with a mommy-daughter night on the town to see The Nutcracker at Lincoln Center. I hope you stopped by and took a peek in the virtual cookie jar. Gaby, of What's Gaby Cooking, brought some very tempting peppermint bark smookies for the occasion. The cookie jar is now brimming with over 60 recipes from some amazing food bloggers. As for yesterday, I needed to make my dear, sweet daughter the priority. In some ways  the memories and traditions I'm trying to create for her are a way of easing the troubled ones I have from my own childhood. 

Remember the 17 million children that go hungry every day? The face of hunger comes in all different colors and economic backgrounds. After my dad suffered a work injury when I was younger, we went through some pretty tough times. I remember quite often visiting my aunt for dinner and leaving her house with a bag or two of groceries. Thankfully we never went hungry, and were lucky to have family that could help us out. But what if they hadn't been there to help out? Hunger knows no boundaries, and it doesn't discriminate. Falling on hard times, especially during this economic crisis, can happen to anyone.

Traca from Seattle Tall Poppy knows this well too. Do you believe in fate? I do, and there's most certainly a reason Traca and I were brought together. Read her story and you'll see what I'm talking about (and don't miss her recipe for chocolate crinkles at the end). It's so easy to help if you think about it. So, on this last day of the 12 Days of Sharing, take a minute to donate and help make sure no child goes hungry.

• $25 can feed a child three healthy meals a day for one month
• $50 can feed two children nutritious meals for the entire summer when school is out
• $100 provides 25 bags of healthy foods to a family at a local food bank
• $500 provides a child with healthy afterschool meals for an entire year

And in case you need a few more incentives, your donations are tax-deductible, and there's only 13 days left in 2009. Another bonus? Each donation is an automatic entry to win some great prizes, including a Cuisinart Stand Mixer, a Wusthof Knife Set and a Scharffen Berger Chocolate Gift Basket.

cocoa candied nuts

Before I give you one of the best and easiest recipes or a homemade gift this year, I'd like to introduce today's co-hosts. Imagine growing up eating your favorite foods, then one day realizing they're your foe? Rather than let the news get her down, Shauna went to work on recreating gluten-free versions. And if you have any doubts about gluten-free baked goods, take a look at Shauna's cinnamon rolls (even though she says they're still a work in progress). Now if I ever to Seattle, I'll get to see her and Alice on their home turf. Shauna will have some gluten-free rugelach later today, so be sure to visit her over at Gluten Free Girl and The Chef.

Speaking of awesome ladies, Gina brought some yummy egg-free white chocolate raspberry slices for the virtual cookie jar. Talk about kindred spirits. Her blog Change Becomes Change is all about the small steps that make a difference for the greater good.

Now about that quick and easy homemade gift. One of my favorites (and I think everyone else's too), are my cocoa candied nuts. You can use any variety nut you like really, but my favorite for this crunchy, sweet and salty coating are pecans and almonds. It is amazingly easy to make and they look beautiful packaged in clear cellophane bags with a festive ribbon.

spiced apple cider + soft molasses cookies

Ten days left until Christmas, and there's still lots to be done. The kiddies and I decorated a gingerbread house yesterday. Boy will IRP be upset to come home and see the burglary that took place this morning. One gingerbread man was lost in the attack, and I must admit I was an accomplice after the fact. The poor thing had it's head bitten off, so eating the rest of him was all I could to end his suffering.

Today Rachael joins us from La Fuji Mama, and she brought soft molasses cookies for the virtual cookie jar. I want them...now. And look at how cute her little kitchen helper is too. I'm thrilled Rachael is today's co-host. We got to meet in person a few months ago at an event in NYC, and boy does she radiate warmth and love.

Get the recipe for Rachael's soft molasses cookies.

Want to see more pictures of Squirrel?

Now much as I love hot cocoa, these cookies call for a more delicate beverage, so I'm adding my star-anise spiced apple cider to the virtual cookie jar. Put up a batch in your slow cooker and you'll be all set for any holiday parties you have in the next week or two.

Get the recipe for my star anise spiced apple cider.

We're in the homestretch of the 12 Days of Sharing, so while you begin to kick into high gear and busily wrap all the gifts you've bought, please give the gift of a hot meal to one of the 17 million hungry children in this country and donate now. You might even win a brand new Cuisinart Stand Mixer or one of these other great prizes.

Visit me at Oprah.com where I'm a featured blogger along with Rachael, Jen Schall, Michelle Stern, Diana Bauman and tomorrow's co-hosts Shauna James Ahern and Gina Rau.