I am on a mission!

I'm on a mission to be good at blogging and photographing my food. We have a really good camera (Nikon D80), so I have the capability to take some really cool shots of my food. However, this camera is pretty high-tech(to me), and you have to use crazy settings to make pictures look good, so it takes practice! I took like 100 pictures while I was baking these Chocolate Chip cookies, and think I came out with a pretty good one. I also took pics of my new adorable cake stand that has red ribbon with white polka dots! So cute!

Anyway, on to the SWEETS....These chocolate chip cookies turn out AMAZING every time, and I don't know if I will ever use another recipe! I would keep this recipe to myself, but the secret is too amazing not to share! Anyway, here they are:

Best Chocolate Chip Cookies EVER

1 c. unsalted butter (softened...but not melted)

3/4 c. sugar

3/4 c. brown sugar

2 tsp. vanilla

2 eggs

2 1/2 c. flour

3/4 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

*Milk Chocolate Chips

Hand mix the butter and both sugars until incorporated (I use a wooden spoon). Add vanilla and eggs. Sift dry ingredients together and add to mix. Mix thoroughly and add a whole package of milk chocolate chips. (I think the Ghirardelli ones are the best, Guittard are good too) Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes, or until barely brown.

*You can use whatever chips you want. Milk chocolate chips are my favorite! This time I used half milk chocolate and half Reese's Peanut butter chips. They are so yummy! Enjoy!

Yummy Sugar Cookies!

This Sugar Cookie recipe was always my favorite growing up. I remember my Sister-in-law Lynda made them once with a carrot cookie cutter. She put orange frosting on the bottom and green for the top leafy part. Not only were they adorable, they tasted so good! Dense and chewy with homemade cream cheese frosting. YUM!

*I made these heart-shaped cookies for Valentine's Day

Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies

1 c. sugar

1 c. butter

3 oz. cream cheese (softened)

1 egg yolk

1/2 tsp almond extract

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 tsp. salt

Mix together above ingredients and add 2-1/4 c. flour. Chill for 2 hours. Roll out on lightly floured surface and cut into desired shapes. Bake at 375 for about 7-10 minutes depending on size of cookie. I usually take them out when they are beginning to turn light brown on the edges. Cool on wire rack and frost...

Cream Cheese Frosting:

8 oz. cream cheese (softened)

1 cube butter (softened)

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 lb. powdered sugar

Mix until light and fluffy.