Because the weather in Los Angeles was so beautiful last night, my friend Sly moseyed on over to my place, and the two of us ascended to my rooftop where we split a bottle of Rioja which we had purchased in Harbor City as part of our paella adventure many moons ago. Suffice it to say the wine, Campo Viejo Reserva 2004, was fantastic — as was the view — and after an hour and a half of lovely conversation tinged with scathing remarks about a variety of subjects, we decided the best way to conclude such a delightful evening would be to take in a viewing of this week’s Mad Men. But what’s Mad Men without cookies? Actually, the two are not intrinsically linked; however, in my mind I decided that I absolutely could not watch the adventures of Sterling Cooper this week without some fresh chocolate chip cookies. And so before we began, I busted out the New Basics cookbook and had Sly narrate the directions whilst I assembled the ingredients for what promised to be a very tasty treat. Behind the camera, I should note, was Lil’ Grans, who is hoping to join the ranks of our clique (The VC), but his application is still pending. (He came over for Mad Men and was promptly enlisted into photographic duty).
Photos of this cookie adventure (only the second time I’ve ever made chocolate chip cookies in my life) after the jump…
Here I am melting butter in the microwave. Note the delicate hand of Sly perched ever so close to my back.
I believe this is me pouring sugar into the melted butter. Not a great angle, LIL’ GRANS.
IndianJones, upon leaving town, actually bequeathed me a box of brown sugar, but it was essentially packed together like a brick. Here I am breaking it up. Easier said than done. (I’m weak.)
Dusting off my hands now that I had sufficiently un-bricked the sugar.
The many splendors of watching brown sugar being added to a bowl.
Taking a page from Ruthless People, I aim the whirring hand mixer at Sly when she becomes momentarily ornery.
And the mixing commences. Here I am creaming the butter with the sugars.
Adding the egg to the mixture. If the yolk looks strange, it’s because this is a reenactment (Lil’ Grans missed the action first time around; so I had to scoop out the yolk and do it again).
The bowl after having mixed in the egg. Note the blurriness. Not pointing fingers, but let’s just say any veteran member of the clique would not have let this happen.
Adding the dry ingredients to the wet ones. Continued blurriness…
Here I am folding the dry ingredients into the wet ones with a wooden spoon, as per Sly’s recommendation (lest I use the mixer and over-activate the glutens in the flour).
The scooping process commences. Clearly I’m complaining about something or another, as evidenced by my upturned hand of frustration.
The dollops have been placed.
Time to adjust the heat in the oven just a tad. It was running cold.
Nine minutes later, the cookies are done and ready. I smile triumphantly with the bounty while Sly stands just off to the side, hands crossed in a mutual display of hunger and boredom.
The final product. And yes, they were amazing (we added pecans and extra chips).
All in all, a lovely treat to enjoy with Mad Men. And the answer is no, when that certain bloody incident happened on screen, we did not TOSS OUR COOKIES. Oh, I kill me.
FYI, you can soften brown sugar by putting it in the microwave with a bowl of water next to it for a couple of minutes.
Another more grandmotherly way to soften the sugar is to put a heel of bread in there (you could use a middle piece but why waste that?). Just leave it in there and next time you need the sugar it will be all fluffy.
My jury of me says those chocolate chip cookies were not as good as my chocolate chip cookies. Though I do approve of the extra chocolate chips, pecans and, of course, the selection of wine. I still have to open my bottle! Paella pals fo life!
Your new haircut makes me want to sit on your face.
Or is that Sly’s seat?
The cookies look great but I’m still disgusted how clean that kitchen always looks. And jealous, too.
Another cookie-related use for the heel of the bread: put it in your cookie jar, or the tupperware container you use to store your cookies. That way they remain soft instead of turning dry and crumbly.
Do you pronounce it peecan or pacon?
hb
Did you put them on bottom or top rack?
Right in the middle. Amazing how well these things turn out without your brother fiddling about in the kitchen.
Next time switch out a little cake flour for the regular flour and add double the vanilla I too am a chocolate chip cookie aficionado, your cookies look delicious
Jesus, has Lil’ Grans ever used a camera before?
Okay, are you really available for marriage?
I am famous for my cookies among my peeps. I just use the Nestle recipe with GOOD ingredients- sometimes milk chocolate chips, sometimes semi-sweet chunks. My secret is slightly undercooking the cookies and let them set in the pan on top of the stove. It works wonders. I get requests at the holidays.
Another secret that makes an awesome cookie-you know the peanut butter cookies with the hershey kiss? Swap out a mini-reese’s peanut butter cup for the kiss. It melts down into the cookie and is awesome! Say the word and I’ll send the recipe. Don’t make the cookie part with Bisquick. I have a better recipe.
I don’t know this Lil’ Grans – is he related to Lil BowWow? – but I think he may have Parkinson’s. He should probably get that checked out.
(I like that the Captcha makes me type “ywud.” It sounds like something Sheila would say)