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So who doesn't think of the Toll House cookie recipe when chocolate chip cookies are mentioned? The recipe from the ubiquitous yellow package comes to mind, but I also think about Mrs. Field's cookies. Though I recognize that if I ever get a recipe like that in my hands, ultimately, it will not be a good thing.
The other day I was watching an older episode of America's Test Kitchen, and they had a segment where they took the Toll House cookie recipe and adapted it to their tastes.
Well, you know I had to try it, right?
Oh.
My.
God.
And of course, you know I'll share.
So join me as this:
Becomes this:
(And lasts about five minutes post oven!)
First things first. Whisk together 1 3/4 cup flour and 1/2 tsp baking soda and set aside. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside. Preheat oven to 375.
So the first thing they do differently, is instead of creaming the butter and sugar together, they melt and brown the butter. The recipe calls for 14 tablespoons of butter. Melt 10 tbsp of them in a skillet. It's best to not use a non-stick skillet for this, because you can't track the progress of the butter in a dark skillet. The whole process takes between 3-4 minutes. And to avoid burning the butter, as well as to track the browning of the milk solids, it's a very good idea to be swirling the pan constantly as you brown the butter. It will fill your kitchen with the most delightfully nutty aroma!
Remove the butter from heat and put in a heat proof bowl. Now add the remaining four tablespoons of butter.
Once it's melted, whisk in 3/4 cup dark brown sugar, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tsp salt, and 2 tsp vanilla.
Then whisk in the egg and egg yolk.
Whisk for 30 seconds. Let rest for 3 minutes. Repeat twice more.
Add the flour mixture.
Add 1 1/4 cups chocolate chips.
Scoop in 2-3 tbsp mounds onto baking sheets (The recipe adaptation yields 16 cookies, but they're HUGE, so I usually go for the 2 tbsp size and a shorter cooking time.)
At this size, put one cookie sheet in the oven for 10 minutes, rotating 180 degrees after 5 minutes. Repeat with the other cookie sheet. Cool on rack.
Apply to face.
Without further ado, here are tonight's top comment nominees!
From jnhobbs:
In Witnessing Revolution Liveblog #155, in a long comment, conchita tells the story of Mohammed Nabbous.
From princesspat:
This comment, by carolita in her Top Comments diary last night, reflects my own views exactly.
From bronte17:
nikilibrarian brings attention to what happens when for-profit corporations take over library operations while pelagicray provides examples of the gutting of our public libraries in the excellent diary The Library is a repository of everyone who has ever thought and written. You're about to lose it! by Democrats Ramshield.
From blueoregon:
LeftHandedMan posted an important bit of wisdom today in Billy Glad's diary It's Not Just NPR That's In Danger.
From belinda ridgewood:
In Ojibwa's fascinating diary about the Hyksos of ancient Egypt, geez53 asks a question and gets an appropriate answer from Ojibwa.
From Dragon5616:
In Epsilon's scholarly and informative rescued diary Humanitarian Intervention (Part Two), papicek expresses the misgivings of many on the left regarding US intervention. Read Epsilon's reply as well.