Chocolate Chip Cookies

This is based on the Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip cookie recipe, but I changed it up a bit because my cookies always ended up flat when I followed their recipe.

This is probably one of Ben's favorites. They disappear quickly hot off the cooling rack.

Tip: Buy a cookie scoop. I purchased one last year and it makes it really easy to scoop up dough and drop onto the cookie sheet. I also use it to fill cupcake and muffin cups. Really GREAT tool.

Chocolate Chip Cookies (Arrion's version of Toll House)

Ingredients
2 2/3 C. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 C. margarine softened
1 C. packed brown sugar
2/3 C. sugar (try Splenda)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 egg
2 C. semi sweet chocolate chips

Instructions
Combine the flour, soda, and salt in a small bowl. In a large bowl, beat margerine, sugars, and vanilla. Beat in egg. Gradually add dry ingredients. Gently stir in chips.

Drop by rounded Tablespoon onto ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 degrees, 8-10 minutes. Let cool 2 minutes. Remove from pan to wire cooling rack.

Makes about 3 dozen cookies

Recipe Credit: Nestle and Arrion Rathsack

Mom's Sugar Cookies

I have been making these cookies for as long as I can remember. In particular, I can remember dipping the glass in sugar and smashing the cookie dough along side my mom and older sisters. At Christmas, we would add red and green sprinkles. My family has always liked to store and eat these cookies straight from the freezer. They have a great lemon flavor, which makes them different from a traditional sugar cookie. This is one of my personal favorites.

Mom's Sugar Cookies

Ingredients
2 eggs - beaten with a fork
2/3 C. vegetable oil
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. lemon flavor extract
3/4 C. sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt

Instructions
Mix together first five ingredients. Sift together flour, powder, and salt. Add to the sugar mixture.

Drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten with bottom of greased glass dipped in sugar.

Bake 8-10 minutes or until a they just start to turn a light golden brown on the edges.

Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

Recipe Credit: Nancy Smith

Grandma Smith's Orange Cookies

These cookies are a Smith family favorite and once again could be found stored in an aluminum cake pan on Grandma Smith's porch. I think these are my sister Allison's favorite cookies and I always think of her or grandma when I hear "orange cookies". My mom has another version which I will post sometime as well.

Grandma's Orange Cookies

Ingredients
1 1/2 C. sugar
1 C. soft butter
1 egg
1 tsp. lemon flavor
1 tsp. vanilla flavor

Liquid mix
1 T. vinegar
Add buttermilk to make 1 C. liquid

Dry mix
3 1/2 C. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt

Juice of one orange

Instructions
Combine and mix the first 5 ingredients. Set aside.
Mix together vinegar and butter milk. Set aside.
Mix together flour, soda, powder, and salt.

Add the liquid mix and dry mix to the sugar mix alternating each a little at a time.
Add the orange juice.

Drop by spoonfuls onto a lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes or until just a little bit brown. Touch the top, as soon as it doesn't dent, they're done.

Frosting
Mix together to following ingredients in order.
1 lb. powdered sugar
1 stick melted butter
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. lemon flavoring
orange juice

Add the orange juice to make stiff enough to spread and smooth on the cookies.

It's my understanding that there is a special procedure for storage. It includes an aluminum cake pan and wax paper. Carefully layer cookies and wax paper in the pan and store in the freezer.

Recipe credit: Eileen Kinnick Smith (1918-1999)

Grandma Kinnick's Oatmeal Cookies

I remember my Grandma Smith (and my mother) making these cookies from her mother's recipe. In particular, I remember helping roll the dough into logs, wrapping them in wax paper, and putting them in the fridge to chill. I also remember eating a bunch of the dough. Yum! My dad and husband prefer raisins, but I usually leave them out because my son Alex doesn't like them in his cookies. Watch them carefully to determine to correct baking time, they can burn easily.

Here's a photo of my Great Grandma Dorothy Kinnick, holding my Dad Billy Smith, around 1940.

Grandma Kinnick’s Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients
1 stick butter or margarine

1/2 C. brown sugar

1/2 C. white sugar

1 egg

1 C. Flour

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 C. oats

1 C. raisins (optional)

Instructions

Soften margarine by smashing & whipping with a fork. Add sugar, egg, & vanilla. Add flour, salt, soda, & powder. Add oats (& raisins.)

Stir all ingredients with fork, do not use mixer. Mold into 1-2 inch thick rolls/logs. Chill for 2-3 hours.

Cut rolls in 1/2 inch slices and place greased cookie sheet. Bake 10-15 minutes, watch first batch closely. Bake until golden brown.

Makes about 2 dozen cookies

Recipe Credit: Dorothy Christine Sorensen Kinnick (1887-1983)