Lots and lots of cookies!

This was one of those weekends that really made me appreciate the new double oven. I had a catering order for a cookie and punch reception for 100 people on Saturday night. That meant baking 17 dozen cookies on Saturday, after decorating a cake that morning. So I baked a variety of the large bakery style cookies... all my faves... marbles, snickerdoodles, peanut butter chocolate chip, and oatmeal coconut with cranberries, pecans, and dark chocolate chips (these went fast!). Anyway, however you look at it, that's alot of cookies! My kitchen looked like a little cookie factory for sure, and the house smelled heavenly for about 2 days afterwards. A side note... I was very proud of myself for staying on track with my Weight Watchers program... all those cookies and I didn't get into any. That's a first I think. Miracles do happen!

First of the cookies ready for the serving table

How to keep Home Teachers coming...COOKIES!

In our church, we have a couple of men who are assigned to visit certain families each month. They normally visit with us to see how we're doing and then give us a gospel message. I have found the best way to keep our home teachers coming each month. COOKIES! Yes, I bake fresh cookies right before they come to visit. They always make an appointment with us-usually on Sunday afternoon-so I bake cookies just before they come. Today I "killed two birds with one stone," or in other words, made cookies for the home teachers and another family as a thank you gift for helping Bruce with his pickup problems last week. Today's special cookies...Marbles! These have traditionally been the favorite cookie in the Leavitt home, even though some others are quick becoming favorites also...like the peanut butter chocolate chip cookie. Marbles are soft and chewy, mainly because of the sour cream that is added along with the eggs and vanilla. This recipe comes from Mrs. Fields Cookie Book. The cookies are baked at a lower temperature-300 degrees for a longer time-22 minutes, but the result is amazing! You've got to try these. I'm sure they will become one of your family favorites too.

Marbles

2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup salted butter, softened

1 large egg

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup (4 oz.) sour cream

1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in medium mixing bowl. Set aside. Combine sugars in large mixer bowl at medium speed. Add butter and beat until grainy. Add sour cream, egg, and vanilla and mix on medium until light and fluffy, scraping bowl as needed. Add flour mixture and blend at low speed just until combined. Do not overmix. Melt chocolate chips in microwave or in double boiler, being careful not to burn. Cool slightly, and pour over batter. With wooden spoon or rubber scraper, lightly fold melted chocolate into the dough. Do not mix completely into dough, thus giving the dough a "marbled look." Drop by rounded tablespoons, 2 inches apart onto   parchment lined cookie sheets. Bake approx. 22 minutes. DO NOT BROWN. Quickly transfer cookies to cool surface. Makes approx. 2 doz. 

Our Favorite Cookie...

I needed to use up some sour cream that I had in the refrigerator, so in the middle of baking some cakes, I took time out to make a batch of our favorite cookies...Marbles from Mrs. Field's Cookie Book. They are soft on the inside and chewy on the outside...the perfect cookie.

MARBLES

2 cups all-purpose flour

½ tsp. baking powder

¼ tsp. salt

½ cup brown sugar, firmly packed

½ cup white sugar

½ cup salted butter, softened

1 large egg

½ cup (4 oz.) sour cream

1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 300°. In medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. Combine sugars in large bowl; add butter and beat until grainy. Add egg, sour cream, and vanilla, and beat until light and fluffy. Scrape bowl and add flour mixture, blend until just combined. Melt chocolate chips, being very careful not to burn. Pour chocolate over cookie dough. Lightly fold chocolate into the dough. Do not mix completely so dough has marbled effect. Drop onto ungreased or parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake 23-25 minutes. Do not brown.