Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies- Cooking with Duncan

Our grandson, Duncan, came for a visit.  His favorite thing to make is chocolate chip cookies.  I made the Nestle Toll House Cookies as a kid, so we went right to the original recipe on the back of the package of the Nestle Toll House Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels.  It is always best to go to the tried and true recipe, then make a variation or two, as we did.

Nestle Toll House Cookies!

Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

3/4 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 large eggs

2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels

1 cup chopped nuts
(We added 2 cups oatmeal to the dough, and then 1 cup coconut flakes to half of the dough for a variation & we omitted the chopped nuts altogether.)

Printable version of recipe:

History of Chocolate Chip Cookies:

Ruth Wakefield invented the Toll House brand of chocolate chip cookies. Ruth Graves Wakefield graduated from the Framingham State Normal School Department of Household Arts in 1924. She worked as a dietitian and lectured on food, until, together with her husband she bought a tourist lodge named the Toll House Inn.

Ruth Wakefield prepared the recipes for the meals served to the guests at the Inn and gained local notoriety for her deserts. One of her favorite recipes was for Butter Drop Do cookies. The recipe called for the use of baker's chocolate and one day Ruth found herself without the needed ingredient. She substituted a semi-sweet chocolate bar cut up into bits. However, unlike the baker's chocolate the chopped up chocolate bar did not melt completely, the small pieces only softened.

As it so happened the chocolate bar had been a gift from Andrew Nestle of the Nestle Chocolate Company. As the Toll House chocolate chip cookie recipe became popular, sales of Nestle's semi-sweet chocolate bar increased. Andrew Nestle and Ruth Wakefield struck a deal. Nestle would print the Toll House Cookie recipe on its packaging and Ruth Wakefield would have a lifetime supply of Nestle chocolate.

(from inventors.about.com)

Gather the ingredients.

Measure 2 1/4 cups flour into a bowl.

Measure and add 1 teaspoon salt.

Measure and add 1 teaspoon baking soda and set dry ingredients aside.

In another mixing bowl add 1 cup (2 sticks oleo or butter).

Then measure and add  3/4 cup white granulated sugar & 3/4 cup packed brown sugar.

Measure 1 teaspoon vanilla.

Beat the ingredients together until creamy.

Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Whisk flour mixture together.

Gradually beat in flour mixture.

Beat ingredients until creamy.

Measure 2 cups oatmeal.

Stir into mixture.

Stir chocolate chips into mixing bowl.
(We omitted the chopped nuts).

Make sure all ingredients are incorporated evenly.

Scoop batter by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake at 375 degrees for 9-11 minutes until golden brown.

Remove from oven and cool completely.

We added 1 cup flaked coconut to half of the dough.

Stir until completely incorporated.

Bake at 375 degrees for 9-11 minutes.

This variation of the cookie with coconut and oatmeal won me a ribbon
at the Greene County Fair when I was in 4-H.

Enjoy!

Exploring Grandpa's Work...

On the university campus...

Duncan is 12 years old.  He loves sports,
 and is currently enjoying participating in the sport of wrestling at school.

Grandpa Doug & Duncan.

At the office...

Chilling at the hub.

Cruisin' around the neighborhood...

Thanks, Duncan, for some great tasting cookies and a wonderful day!

Brothers back at home after a visit with Grandpa & Grandma.

Here is Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean.
Johnny Depp is one of Duncan's Great-Grandma's favorite actors.
I love this Halloween picture of Duncan in 2007, so had to include it.
And, speaking of Johnny Depp, here is a  picture of Mom when we went to 
see The Lone Ranger in July.

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Mom loves Johnny Depp (and so do I!), 

Best movie ever!

Later in the month we took a road trip...

I am not sure who liked the excursion better, Grandpa or Duncan!

If your Gummi Bear doesn't have an "A", then it's not Albanese Gummi.

Albanese Confectionery is a United States manufacturer of The World's Best Gummi's, Gold Label Chocolates, and other tasty confections.  It was founded in 1983 with a real passion and reputation for producing the best food products.  For more on Albanese candies go to: Albanese Confectionery.

May 15th is National Chocolate Chip Day...

This is a picture of Ruth Wakefiled in a 1940 printing of her  cookbook,
"Toll House Tried & True Recipes".
(from nestleusa.wordpress.com)