The HomeStretch...

As the semester comes to a close, times are hectic for everyone. As a result, I have had barely enough time to eat, let alone time to bake cookies. Strangely, I've kind of missed the baking. Who'd a thunk it?? However, tomorrow I will have time to bake that final batch before the end of the semester. This is an important batch because I will be sharing these cookies with my classmates. I'm a little nervous. However, I know that if I focus on what I'm doing and pay attention to my measurements they will turn out fine...hopefully!

Rubbing off...

I suppose that learning how to bake The Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie has given me a certain amount of confidence. Recently, i have found myself trying out other recipes that I would usually not even think about attempting. For instance, this past weekend I made a coconut pie (from scratch!!) and a Strawberry--and get this--TWO layer cake. Granted, the cake was out of a box and the icing out of a jar, but it was still a big hit on my family's dessert table at Easter lunch. I think that learning how to follow the recipe for the cookies and learning about how important it is to be precise when baking has not only given me confidence, but it has also helped me learn how to enjoy baking.

Batch 2 & The Co-Workers...

My co-workers were a little more helpful in giving me some constructive criticism than my neighbors. In fact, it was interesting that one of them was actually able to pick out the fact that I had used more salt this time than last time. As a result, she suggested that the cookies would be better with less salt. Another person suggested that I use more chocolate chips and less "cookie" because she just really likes chocolate. A very valid point! However, she did admit that this suggestion was based more on her individual preference which I should take with a grain of salt (hahaha) since she is a self-professed Choc-a-holic.

Overall, I found these comments very helpful, especially about using less salt, and I plan to take them into consideration when baking Batch 3!

Batch 2 & The Neighbors...

Well, the cookies were a big hit...again...with my neigbors. I'm not sure how much this has to do with the how good the cookies really were or because they were just so glad to have something homemade given to them. Either way, they gobbled them up and even offered to pay for the next batch! Does this mean that my cookies are of the quality that would allow me the chance at an entrepreneurial endeavor?!?!?!? I really don't think so!! However, the compliment was greatly appreciated and motivation for making the next batch.

I haven't been back to work to hear the comments from my fellow co-workers but never fear...you will be the first to know as soon as I do!

Batch Two...

On Sunday, I bit the bullet and made batch two. I don't know why I was dreading it so. I guess I was just thinking about how much work it takes to get to the final result. In fact, my neighbor who was eagerly awaiting the taste of a homemade cookie straight from the oven said, "I can see why people do slice-n-bake now. This is a lot of work!" But then again, when you're trying to make The Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie, I guess that should be expected.

In making this batch, I realized that I had done somthing wrong last time: I didn't separate the wet and dry mixtures. You're supposed to mix up all the wet stuff and the sugars in one bowl, all the dry stuff in another and then mix them slowly together. I'm not sure what difference this makes but I thought that I should follow the directions as written.

I also made some changes that I had mentioned earlier. First, I used regular chocolate chips instead of semi-sweet. Batch 1 just didn't seem as sweet as I thought they should be and my testers (see earlier blog) seemed to agree. Second, I made them smaller. The cookies seemed to large last time which made them a little more cake-like than I prefer. I had a bigger cookie sheet than last time so this meant that I didn't have to use 10 different panfuls in order to make them the right size.

The only feedback I've gotten so far is from my neighbor who enthusiastically said that "homemade DEFINITELY beats slice-n-bake!!"

Sorry For The Delay!

Sorry I've kind left everyone hanging. Things have been a bit hectic in my life over the past couple of weeks. But I'm back in the game now! Hopefully I will have time in the next couple of days to get around to trying out Batch 2!

Just so you know, I didn't completely forget about baking. In fact, I actually made a few purchases that I thought might be helpful in making Batch 2 the "perfect" batch.

First, I bought a bigger cookie sheet so that I could make the cookies smaller and not have to make 4 pans full. Then, I got a wooden spoon. Sounds silly, I know. But the whole time I was making Batch one, I had a really hard time stirring with the spoons I already have. Hopefully these little additions will prove to be worthwhile purchases!

No Cookies This Week...

I've decided to take a break from my quest to make The Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie this week. Next week I'm going to try Batch 2. Hopefully the feedback that I got on Batch 1 will prove helpful for Batch 2. We'll just have to see...