A Handful Of Chocolate Chip Cookies & A Glass Of Milk
Do you have those days when you could just use a cookie and a glass of milk? When being six sounds just about as good as winning the lottery? Nothing has to be terribly wrong or terribly right. No. Just good enough to feel like having a cookie.
A warm embrace. A love note. A familiar face. A couple of cookies and a glass of milk. Same difference.
With work and life moving at a million happy miles an hour, all I wanted to do the other day was just to put my pen down and make cookies. And I did just that. The simple act of taking a tray out of the even and getting that first whiff of freshly baked cookies was just the ticket.
I think I got a bit carried away though because I ended up making 3 dozens! I have a difficult time with happy mediums apparently. I am all or nothing. Even while baking. I was on a baking high and well, procrastinating on everything else for an hour made me feel like a kid skipping homework. Everything would be ok, there were cookies.
I grabbed a few and a glass of milk and I started going through all your comments about your food styling struggles or photography in general. You’ll be happy to know that your questions on camera modes, settings, lighting, composition are covered in depth. As far as styling goes, I was thrilled to see that so many of your issues were topics I had chosen to use as examples. But I did see a couple of interesting ones which I must keep under wrap until the whole project is complete.
There has been a lot brown foods made and eaten here the last few days, as well as soups, steaks, pasta, purees, pizza, etc… Lots more than we can eat in one day just the two of us! So with a box of cookies in one hand and a container of chili in the other, I knocked on the neighbors' doors ever so gently and left them at the door. They just had a baby you see. I bet everyone was happily getting some shut eye for a while.
It won’t make everything get better but I figured that if a couple of cookies and a glass of milk made me alright with the world well, maybe the same could happen for them. On a side note, I still have to make the old pup stop howling everytime he hears the baby cries. It’s not helping, ehehe!
One more thing before I end this post. Like everyone else, we are glued to the news regarding the events in Egypt and as someone with friends deeply tied in with the country, I just want to tell all you who are affected by these events that we are keeping you close to our hearts.
Chocolate Chip Cookies, adapted from David Leite of Leite Culinaria.
Notes: I used half coconut oil and half butter for the fat in these cookies. If you do the same, make sure the coconut oil is soft still but not liquid. Coconut butter would work too. You can of course use the same amount in butter which would bring the butter amount to a total of 10 tablespoons.
I used ground flax seeds soaked in a little water to act as a binding agent to mimic the gluten or xanthan gum (I was out of it).
B. finds that flaxseed has a taste so I add just a pinch of cocoa powder to the batter to tone down the flax seed taste.
1/2 cup sorghum flour
1/2 cup millet flour
1/2 cup corn starch (you can sub tapioca starch)
1/2 cup potato starch
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
5 tablespoons coconut oil (centrifuged, extra virgin)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons ground flaxseed soaked in 1/2 tablespoon water for 10 minutes
a pinch cocoa powder
1 large egg, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cups chocolate chips or chocolate chunks
In a large bowl, whisk together each of the flours and "starches" along with the baking soda and baking powder.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the butter and the sugars on medium speed for a couple of minutes, then mix for 1 minute more. Reduce the speed to slow and ddd the flaxseed and cocoa powder, the egg, beating well and scraping the sides of your mixer bowl if necessary. Add the vanilla extract and beat 30 seconds longer.
Add the flour mixture into the batter, mixing just until the dry ingredients are coming together. Add the chocolate chips and mix briefly to incorporate.
Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate 1-2 hours.
When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F, position a rack in the middle of the oven and line baking sheets with parchment paper or a non-stick baking mat.
Scoop your preferred size of dough balls onto your baking sheet, 2 inches apart from each other.
Bake the cookies about 12-15 minutes, depending on the size or until golden brown. Let them cool 10 minutes on the baking sheets before transferring to cooling racks.
Comments
Heather February 3, 2011 um 4:10 am
I was totally craving chocolate chip cookies and this post just brought the craving back. Beautiful photos, as always.
Heather Li February 3, 2011 um 4:19 am
Few things beat out milk and cookies!
Amanda February 3, 2011 um 6:22 am
Chocolate chip cookies and milk reminds me of winter weekends in front of the fire with my mom! She would bake all the time and she always did it so well.
Heather I. February 3, 2011 um 6:32 am
Wow your photos are drop dead gorgeous. Oh how I'd love to be 6 years old again. Those cookies look amazing.
muppy February 3, 2011 um 6:40 am
Thats so funny as i had some friends over today so i cooked for the young ones some choc chip cookies! (not gluten free though). These look great.
Bea February 3, 2011 um 8:27 am
Sometimes I have to share my 'samplers';) mostly 'douceurs' 🙂
I love this milk bottle on first picture!
Et j'attends le livre toujours aussi impatiemment 😉
Anonymous February 3, 2011 um 8:42 am
Me encanta tu blog y las fotos. Estas galletas deben estar deliciosas. Un vaso de leche con galletas siempre apetece, no? y más recien horneadas.
Un abrazo!
Fragolina February 3, 2011 um 9:05 am
Beautiful pictures, as always. If I want to use wheat flour and oats, I would add the same amount of flours combined (means 2 cups?). You just add 1 egg,or more as written in the recipe!! Thank you.
Three-Cookies February 3, 2011 um 10:47 am
Wow, nice mix of flavours. Love it that coconut oil is used. One question. Soaking flaxseed in water is an eggwhite replacement. However the recipe uses an egg as well. What is the purpose of flaxseed?
BAKING COLOURS February 3, 2011 um 11:26 am
Helene, lovely pics as always!. I love the cookies recipe. And you just told a truth!… cookies can heal everyone soul. kisses from argentina
Alice at Northeast Locavore February 3, 2011 um 1:27 pm
These cookies look delicious and I love your creative use of flaxseeds!
deedub February 3, 2011 um 2:06 pm
If I used Xanthan gum instead of flax, how much would I use? Thanks, these look fabulous.
Myka Iyer February 3, 2011 um 2:40 pm
I wish I were your neighbour 🙂 Lovely pictures I can eat out of..the recipe and everything is just perfect!
Cheers,
Myka Iyer
@mykaiyer
Michelle Stiles February 3, 2011 um 2:53 pm
Sometimes cookies make life better. These look tasty. I am looking forward to your finished book!
phoenix February 3, 2011 um 2:58 pm
Milk and cookies sounds heavenly.
phoenix February 3, 2011 um 2:59 pm
Milk and cookies sounds heavenly.
oneordinaryday February 3, 2011 um 3:10 pm
Love the cookies. Love the straws. The whole post reminds me of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. Love that book too. 🙂
The Iconic Blog February 3, 2011 um 3:36 pm
This looks absolutely divine!x
Cookin' Canuck February 3, 2011 um 4:02 pm
You're right – sometimes a break for milk and cookies is all it takes to put the day on track. I echo your thoughts on Egypt. The images and stories are absolutely heart-wrenching.
Mmmm! for the love of food February 3, 2011 um 5:08 pm
I couldn't agree more, a perfect reflection of cookies and milk and such a lovely post. You have such a way with words and I love reading through your site! And such a lovely gesture for your neighbours. You never see that anymore. So sweet of you!
Hilary February 3, 2011 um 5:49 pm
I can't wait for 'Foodography' to come out, you are a continuing inspiration for me! I am yet to find anyone else whose food photography/styling compares with how beautiful and simple yours is.
Mollie February 3, 2011 um 5:56 pm
I'm pretty sure EVERY day for me is "one of those days"! I have this theory that cookies can solve all the world's problems, so I'm glad to hear you're spreading them! 🙂
I've never used coconut oil (or butter) before…I may have to look into that!
Chocolate Freckles February 3, 2011 um 9:48 pm
Gorgeous pics.. this is a classic!
Helena February 3, 2011 um 9:53 pm
Chocolate Chip Cookies must be the greatest food ever to be invented!
Nisrine|Dinners and Dreams February 3, 2011 um 10:13 pm
Wonderful GF chocolate chip recipe. I love flaxseed in cookies. I'd love a couple with a glass of milk right this minute!!
The InTolerant Chef â„¢ February 3, 2011 um 10:35 pm
Happy neighbours! The styling is lovely and those funky little straws are extra cute.
Patricia Scarpin February 3, 2011 um 11:14 pm
Now I want to bake cookies, too, Helen! 😀
I'll have to wait until Saturday to do it, but I'll have your beautiful cookies in mind when I'm baking.
Your neighbors are lucky to have you!
xx
cindy* February 3, 2011 um 11:40 pm
you are so right, sometimes the simplicities of childhood are the best escape. a handful of cookies is definitely one of my faves…and naps w/ my dogs 🙂
notyet100 February 4, 2011 um 1:15 am
cookies look so good
Brilynn February 4, 2011 um 2:01 am
Cookies are quite possibly my favourite thing to eat and to make… When I don't know what I feel like making, I always end up turning to cookies. Now I'm craving them, great!
FaB Keramik February 4, 2011 um 5:34 am
Yummy!
Marc @ NoRecipes February 4, 2011 um 5:36 am
Your photographs always make me happy. I can't think of another food blog that I can say the same for. Chocolate chip cookies also make me happy, so needless to say I'm smiling right now:-D
Unknown February 4, 2011 um 6:45 am
those look so yummy!
would you happen to have any vegan recipes you'd recommend??
thanks!
Unknown February 4, 2011 um 6:46 am
These look great! If I wanted to sub chia seeds for the flax, is it a one for one exchange?
Unknown February 4, 2011 um 1:10 pm
Delicious and fantastic photos!
[email protected] February 4, 2011 um 1:32 pm
Homemade chocolate chip cookies & polka dot straws??!! I'm in and now very happy 🙂 xo
Anonymous February 4, 2011 um 2:30 pm
I love cookies, but not the milk. 🙂 Great pictures!
susan February 4, 2011 um 2:36 pm
gorgeous! i am going to make these this weekend and see how critics (my kids) respond! p.s. I need those straws…where are they from!
Christina_Cookie Gifts February 4, 2011 um 5:00 pm
I'm definitely making this for my husband this weekend, MMM MMM good!
Kathryn February 4, 2011 um 5:19 pm
Your photos are so beautiful- I could just stare at them all day! And I completely know what you mean about those days when you just need a cookie and some milk. I was having one of those days yesterday, actually. Yours look absolutely amazing. The classic American treat!
Rocky Mountain Woman February 4, 2011 um 8:26 pm
I like how you think, not "A cookie and a glass of milk", no a handful of cookies and a glass of milk..
These look like I might eat two or three handfuls…
crystal – The Best of Thymes February 4, 2011 um 9:06 pm
These look amazing on a cold day like today.
Mina B. February 5, 2011 um 12:02 am
these are so tempting and wonderful.
sara February 5, 2011 um 2:02 am
oh yes, i more often feel like a cookie and milk than I feel motivated to make them. These look great – i would love to make cookies with coconut oil. Will do so asap, thanks for the recipe!
equisetaceae February 5, 2011 um 3:05 pm
thankyou for the recipe!
I've been 'star'-ing your posts in google reader for ages, planning to come back and make your recipes, but I had to make these right away on Thursday when you posted!
My partner thinks they are the perfect cookie with their flakey, crunchy texture. Thanks so much for sharing!
Maggie February 6, 2011 um 1:44 pm
Helene,
I would love to know where you find those cute paper straws I see in many of your photos.
Thanks!
angela@spinachtiger February 6, 2011 um 3:13 pm
You sure have a way with taking the ordinary and turning it to the extraordinary.
Hannah @ Pickled Sweets February 16, 2011 um 9:36 am
that cookie might just put me on a cloud way above number 9!
Taylor February 25, 2011 um 9:39 pm
Love the Straws! Cookies look great!
susan May 22, 2012 um 7:20 pm
Helene – I just baked a batch of these off and all I can say is "WOW"! Better than the original!!!
El May 22, 2012 um 7:25 pm
I am having one of those days. the cookies look sensational!