Bryson, Katie and Family

Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

2009-05-19T23:22:00.002-06:00

Many of you requested the recipe for the chocolate chip cookies that we brought to the picnic last Friday and someone mentioned posting it to our blog. Well I figured out how to log in again so here is the recipe.

Ingredients:
2 sticks unsalted butter (if you use salted butter just add less salt)
2 1/4 cups bread flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt (do not substitute you can tell a difference)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/4 cups brown sugar
1 egg
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons milk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Hardware:
Ice cream scooper (#20 disher, to be exact) [I have a small scooper so it makes smaller cookies.] Parchment paper
Baking sheets
Mixer

Directions:
Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Melt the butter in a heavy-bottom medium saucepan over low heat. Sift together the flour, salt, and baking soda and set aside (I actually just sift this together while it is mixing). Pour the melted butter in the mixer's work bowl. Add the sugar and brown sugar. Cream the butter and sugars on medium speed (I cream them together until it is light in color). Add the egg, yolk, 2 tablespoons milk and vanilla extract and mix until well combined (Once again mix until creamy). Slowly incorporate the flour mixture until thoroughly combined. Stir in the chocolate chips. Chill the dough overnight, then scoop onto parchment-lined baking sheets (the parchment keeps the cookies from getting too brown on the bottom, you will have more uniform in color cookies). Bake for 5 minutes, rotate the baking sheet and bake for an additional 4-5 minutes for even browning. Let stand on cookie sheet for 5 minutes then transfer to a cooling rack. I have two cookie sheets so I leave the cookies on the sheet for the first 5 minutes of the second batch cooking and then transfer it to a cooling rack. Cool completely and store in an airtight container.

I also have a gluten free version of this recipe if Grandma Porter is interested. I actually got this recipe from Food Network. Alton Brown did this recipe. I have made my own adjustments to this recipe and I have included my adjustments to this recipe.

If you have any questions let me know. Everybody makes this recipe different even Bryson does. He doesn't mix it as long as I do but I think you get a better looking cookie with the extra mixing. Bryson just mixes them until everything is incorportated together and his cookies end up being flatter.

I also have a blog set up for Kaden if anyone is interested. I haven't updated it in awhile but hopefully I will be able to get some time and do that.

Cabelas trip

2009-02-03T14:10:00.004-07:00

After a very persistant Shylee request we broke down and took the kids to Cabelas. She wanted to see them feed the fish again. We had been to Cabelas on another occasion and happened to be there during feeding time and she had remembered that so we went ahead and went down around feeding time. My kids just think it is the funnest thing to watch the big fish swim after the feeder gold fish and eat them. Those big fish can move. After they were done feeding the fish we went upstairs and got lunch and of course we had to go around and look at all of the animals. I wish I could say the only expense was lunch and gas but I don't think you can really walk out of that store with out spending something. We had fun and the kids enjoyed it and that is all that really matters.

Family Home Evening Fun

2009-01-19T22:24:00.000-07:00

We went to Fat Cats tonight and went bowling and had pizza. We had a lot of fun. By the time we were about done bowling Shylee and Kaden decided that they were too big for the ramp and tried throwing the ball. We found them a 7lb ball and let them "bounce" the ball as Kaden calls it. After we finished bowling we went and got $5 worth of tokens and let the kids just have fun. They cashed in their tickets and got some fun little prizes.
This was the kids' surprise from daddy since daddy didn't have to work due to the "Government Holiday". They loved it and we all had fun.