Ann's delicious cookies

Chocolate Chip Cookies
This is a large recipe, might be good to make half a batch. Also I make the cookies smaller than suggested.
350 degree oven, grease cookie sheets. Yield: 1 1/2 dozen 5-inch cookies, or a lot more smaller cookies.
3 1/2 cups flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 sticks (1 1/4 cups) butter
1 1/4 cups light brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/4 pounds bittersweet chocolate chips
Sift flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Set aside.

Using a mixer, cream butter and sugars together until very light, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add vanilla and mix well. Add dry ingredients and mix until well combined. Add chocolate chips and mix well. For best results press plastic wrap against dough and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours. Dough may be used in batches, and can be refrigerated for up to 72 hours.

Scoop mounds of dough (the size of generous golf balls) onto baking sheet, and bake until golden brown but still soft, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer sheet to a wire rack for 10 minutes, then slip cookies onto another rack to cool a bit more.

All About the Butter

Or so says this article from the New York Times.

I'm planning on the traditional holiday baking this weekend. Usually cookies, but I've been unsuccessful with bread lately and I am very determined to get it right!

I think baking is so much more "scientific" than the rest of the cooking I do - and I have not got the hang of exact ingredients like I should. Or temperature/procedure for those ingredients. We'll see how it goes tomorrow!

Pumpkin cupcakes

We had delicious cupcakes at a Birthday yesterday, and I know I will lose this recipe if I don't write it down. So here it is.

In one bowl, blend in given order:
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 cup oil
2 cups pure pumpkin (I never get 2 cups, and used just the regular sized can yesterday)
2 cups flour
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp baking soda1/2 tsp salt
Bake as cupcakes or in 13x9 pan. Grease and flour pan and pour batter. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes (for cake) - less for cupcakes, watch them.

We will make them later today. Maille loves cupcakes (so does mommy!)