Old Fashioned Chocolate Chippers

Shortening vs Butter

Old Fashioned Chocolate Chippers

I’ve been making Chocolate Chip Cookies for many years using the original Toll House Recipe. I don’t know if my memory is failing me but I don’t remember a butter option … The recipe called for shortening and a teaspoon of water. No longer.

Often we develop cookie (other foods too) taste and texture preferences early on and we tend to go back to these over and over. You may prefer a chewy chocolate chip cookie while another prefers a crispy one and still another may even prefer a Chips Ahoy.

Butter and shortening may be used interchangeably in this homemade cookie recipe but know the results will be very different. There is nothing like a butter taste but I enjoy a taller cookie that is hard to achieve with butter unless the dough with butter is refrigerated until firm before baking. And still there is a chance if baked just a little too long the cookie will be crispy. I have a taller chewy cookie preference but not too tall. I solve this by using half butter and half shortening. I’ve become accustomed to using salted butter for cookie making. Options for no salt butter were not often available many years ago. And since shortening has no salt I add just a pinch more salt.

The chocolate chips used are equally important. The choices today are pretty varied. Since I grew up on one particular type, the only one available except for a waxy knock off, it’s my choice to this day. Use the chocolate chips you and your family like best.

It has been my experience too that the baking makes a big difference in texture. Most old recipes call for a 375 degree F oven. I like to knock this down to 325 degrees … baking a little longer and removing the cookies at the right moment, a slightly golden brown. Any longer and the cookies will become crunchy when cooled to room temperature.

Hope you enjoy comparing some old recipes for this Old Fashioned Chocolate Chip Cookie. And just maybe trying something a little bit different.

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Mother’s Day Chocolate

Chocolate Chocolate Chips

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies

For the Mother’s Day chocolate fix. I’ve had a big fix with Edible Arrangement goodies (Thank you, Stephen) but a little more chocolate never hurts. Here’s a perfectly easy Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe that will please anyone who is a chocoholic.

Enjoy and Happy Mother’s Day!

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Texas Sheet Cake Roll

Good Idea Or Not!

Texas Sheet Cake

This might have worked if I’d gone about it at a slower pace … Letting things cool a bit … rolling the cake in a towel sprinkled with powered sugar. But iffy at best. This is a heavy cake not spongy like most cake rolls. Why did I even attempt this? It seemed like a good idea at the time … It wasn’t just an exercise … It was about presentation.

Have you tried a slice of Texas Sheet Cake? It’s amazing! And can feed a crowd. But let’s say you’re not having a barbecue and you want to have this moist delicious chocolaty cake for a more formal event. The sheet cake presentation, well, is lacking.

So, here is my Texas Sheet Cake recipe but unrolled.

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Valentine’s Day Maybe’s

Valentine's Day DeliciousnessWhat a great day to whip up a special treat! Here are some of my favorites or are they his favorites! Any one of these recipes will make Valentine’s Day special. From red wine sauce over ice cream to amazing waffles … it’s the perfect day to try out an incredibly simple delicious recipe. Hey, even if it’s just for you!

Tiramisu

Bacon Pecan Maple Buttermilk Waffles

Italian Scramble

Pancakes and Strawberry Syrup

Dessert with Wine Sauce

Salmon and Pasta

Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone! And especially to Steve and Marc or Ed, my fav’s!


Devil’s Food Cake

A Cake To Soothe A Broken Heart

Devil's Food Cake

You might be thinking your broken heart deserves something much more decadent … maybe a chocolate cheesecake. I’ve been there! But at a quarter after one and I need you now … This is much more practical. It’s easy & quick, makes a 9 inch square cake (or on other days two 8 inch layers), moist and best of all, chocolatey.

We’ve all had heartbreak or so I’ve been told. And dealing can be unpleasant and miserable especially if it’s twice with the same guy. Just ask me! And I know about the appetite disappearing, you’ll find as you age this step goes missing, but somehow keeping busy helps. Whether you’re  brokenhearted OR you decide to make this for your sweetheart for Valentine’s it won’t disappoint.

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Deluxe Homemade See’s Fudge

Faux See's Fudge

 

 

 

 

This is one of my Grandmother’s Recipes made during the holidays … Originating other than in her kitchen. This and divinity were her candy specialities. I wasn’t a chocoholic in those days. It’s taken all these years to try out her recipe. Is it really similar to See’s Fudge, See’s being one of my favorites? Nope, but it’s mighty good just the same!

 

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Chocolate A Favorite Flavor

Easy Chocolate Pie

It’s no secret … I’m easily a chocoholic. And I’ve found over time good chocolate matters. If I’m taking the time to put together a chocolate dessert and investing the calories when consuming it I want the best chocolate for the recipe. I still have some candy bar favorites from the Parish’s Market days but if chalky or waxy I’m over it. Yes, candy bar ingredients have changed.

I’m in a chocolate kinda mood. And I’m looking at my chocolate dessert recipes. This one can’t be improved. Why change a good thing! But I have a cookie with a bad rap.The pictures just didn’t capture how amazing they are. I had one follower on Facebook mention in his words, looking similar to dinosaur poop. Nope, he wasn’t a paleontologist but a CEO. Hmm, does that explain it?

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Viennese Cookies With Three Looks

Viennese Cookies

These can be eaten plain or as I have here … Dipped in chocolate, dusted with powdered sugar and dipped in chocolate, or sandwiched with your favorite jam and dipped in chocolate. Just anyway you try them they’re buttery delicious.

And as if these choices are not enough … I have two other posted recipes very similar to this one. I just like these ingredients in a buttery cookie dessert.

Almond Wedding Cake Cookies

Mexican Wedding Cakes

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Short Cut Chocolate Chip Cookies-Quick Mix

No Short Cut In Taste!

Quick Mix Chocolate Chip Cookies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How can a Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe get any easier and faster! Take a look.

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Tiramisu

Here I am in Florence with wanna-be Italian home cooks, like myself, watching our instructor make Tiramisu. I still have the recipe. But there are some glitches … Finding really tasty ladyfingers is difficult in my little town and finding mascarpone cheese is next to impossible. Also, the recipe calls for raw eggs. At one time I made pies, ice cream and desserts with raw eggs and never had any ill effects. But since this is now discouraged … well, it’s hard to turn back.

So … I developed a mock up Tiramisu. Please know this is not a substitute but rather a delicious dessert reminiscent of Tiramisu.

This is really an easy dessert to put together whether you’re making authentic or my make over. If you’re looking to give this your signature my suggestion is to make your own lady fingers or a substitute for them; such as, pound cake … And adding a little fruit flavor might be interesting. I thought about using Frangelico instead of rum … ultimately the alcohol can be left out if desired.

Have you ever experienced a Tiramisu with an almost bitter bite? I have! My very first! And for a long time I didn’t even go near this dessert. You won’t find bitter in this version whether you use rum or not. It’s just perfect! (Note: Be sure your coffee doesn’t taste bitter, and use the coffee sparingly.)

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