What's Hot

    Treat Yourself: Festa Italiana returns for its 25th year

    September 1, 2023

    315 Bulletin

    September 1, 2023

    Kate Laissle, Director of Education at Syracuse Stage

    September 1, 2023
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Trending
    • Treat Yourself: Festa Italiana returns for its 25th year
    • 315 Bulletin
    • Kate Laissle, Director of Education at Syracuse Stage
    • Explore CNY: Cortland is home to a nature center, a theatre, and a Guinness World Record holder
    • Homework Habits: How to Motivate Kids
    • After-School Activities and Programs in CNY
    • Syracuse Stage Celebrates 50th Season
    • Fun, Educational Websites You Won’t Want Your Kids to Miss
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Family TimesFamily Times
    • Community Guide
    • Things to Do in CNY
      1. Central New York Events
      2. Activities
      3. Treat Yourself
      Featured

      Treat Yourself: Festa Italiana returns for its 25th year

      By Courtney KlessSeptember 1, 20230
      Recent

      Treat Yourself: Festa Italiana returns for its 25th year

      September 1, 2023

      Explore CNY: Cortland is home to a nature center, a theatre, and a Guinness World Record holder

      September 1, 2023

      Treat Yourself: Right Mind Syracuse hosts one-session art workshops at local venues

      August 1, 2023
    • Parenting
      1. Pregnancy
      2. Babies
      3. Kids
      4. Preschoolers/Toddlers
      5. Special Needs
      6. Teens
      7. Pets
      8. View All

      The Power to Save a Life: Cord blood is being used to treat more than 80 diseases

      January 30, 2020

      It’s Not What It Looks Like: Reflections on motherhood’s changes, outside and inside

      July 29, 2019

      In Search of Sleep: 8 Strategies for coping with wakeful babies

      July 29, 2019

      A Surgical Birth: Many pregnant women are likely to deliver by cesarean

      July 29, 2019

      Strangers Bearing Advice: New babies bring out the expert in everyone

      August 1, 2021

      Hand to Mouth: How to help babies start to sample solid food

      August 1, 2020

      315 Bulletin

      August 1, 2020

      Name, Please? Expectant parents face another momentous decision

      August 1, 2020

      Prep Work: Keep your family’s food safe this summer

      June 1, 2022

      A Blooming Craft: These homemade flowers make a great centerpiece

      March 1, 2021

      Rainbow Snowflakes: A colorful craft even little ones can make

      November 24, 2020

      DIY Critter Magnets: Make cute clips for hanging reminders and more

      September 1, 2020

      DIY Critter Magnets: Make cute clips for hanging reminders and more

      September 1, 2020

      Allergy Adjustments: Parents can support their food allergic child

      September 3, 2019

      Calming Commotion: How to deal with car sickness and more

      June 27, 2019

      Introducing Riff Rockit: Kindie artist to play jingles at Leon Fest

      June 1, 2017

      A History of Inclusion: The Jowonio School marked 50 years in 2019

      March 30, 2020

      Reaching a Milestone: Now the largest chapter in the country, Special Olympics New York is celebrating 50 years

      March 30, 2020

      Come Out and Play: Move Along offers adaptive sports for youth, adults

      March 30, 2020

      Let’s Get Together: Remaking classrooms so all students are included

      September 3, 2019

      Prep Work: Keep your family’s food safe this summer

      June 1, 2022

      A Little Jolt: Caffeine’s risks for kids and teens

      March 1, 2021

      A Blooming Craft: These homemade flowers make a great centerpiece

      March 1, 2021

      Environmental Club: Auburn Junior High School

      January 30, 2020

      Furry Friends: What it takes to adopt a pet for the first time

      July 1, 2020

      Tail Wagging Fun: Lights on the Lake Dog Walk 2019

      November 14, 2019

      Uncommon Companions: Local pet store sticks to its niche

      May 30, 2019

      Dog Food for Thought: Trying to keep your pet from your plate

      May 30, 2019

      Homework Habits: How to Motivate Kids

      September 1, 2023

      After-School Activities and Programs in CNY

      September 1, 2023

      Fun, Educational Websites You Won’t Want Your Kids to Miss

      September 1, 2023

      Take the Stress Out of School Mornings

      August 31, 2023
    • Health
      1. Child Development
      2. Food
      3. Nutrition
      4. The “Recipe Doctor”
      5. View All

      Financial Literacy for Families: How parents can teach children, teens about money management

      April 1, 2022

      Strangers Bearing Advice: New babies bring out the expert in everyone

      August 1, 2021

      Choosing a Daycare: Learn As You Grow’s Joshua LaGrow offers some tips for finding the right fit

      August 1, 2021

      A Little Jolt: Caffeine’s risks for kids and teens

      March 1, 2021

      Berries and Cream Croissant Breakfast Casserole

      June 1, 2023

      Prep Work: Keep your family’s food safe this summer

      June 1, 2022

      Nutrition in No Time: Are you always on the go? These tips will help you stay on track.

      January 1, 2022

      Easy Holiday Recipes: Are you searching for some new dishes this season? These are some of our favorites.

      November 1, 2021

      Nutrition in No Time: Are you always on the go? These tips will help you stay on track.

      January 1, 2022

      Liking Lunch: Best bets for serving kids a delicious, nutritious meal

      September 1, 2021

      A Little Jolt: Caffeine’s risks for kids and teens

      March 1, 2021

      Better Choices: How about a resolution to eat vegetables and other nutritious foods?

      January 1, 2021

      Best Friend’s Treats: Bake up some special dog biscuits

      June 1, 2018

      Colorful Soup in a Jar: Give the gift of winter comfort

      December 1, 2015

      Berry Good! Use a summer favorite in this ice cream

      July 1, 2015

      Flapjack Fever: Even pancakes can be a healthy breakfast

      June 1, 2015

      Treat Yourself: Festa Italiana returns for its 25th year

      September 1, 2023

      Treat Yourself: Right Mind Syracuse hosts one-session art workshops at local venues

      August 1, 2023

      Treat Yourself: Oswego Harborfest returns with food, live music and children’s activities

      June 28, 2023

      Treat Yourself: Explore restored wetlands, more at Canastota’s Great Swamp Conservancy

      June 1, 2023
    • Travel
    • Education
      1. Educator of the Month
      2. Class of the Month
      3. Education News
      4. Reading
      5. Teaching
      Featured

      Kate Laissle, Director of Education at Syracuse Stage

      By Courtney KlessSeptember 1, 20230
      Recent

      Kate Laissle, Director of Education at Syracuse Stage

      September 1, 2023

      Annie Gordon, Education Program Coordinator at the Sciencenter

      July 31, 2023

      Stephanie Waldron, Director of Environmental Risk Assessment for the Onondaga County Health Department

      June 28, 2023
    • Crafts & DIY
      • Create
      • Holiday Crafts
    Family TimesFamily Times
    Home»Health»Food»Chipping In: Here’s a Toll House cookie variation that’ll win you over
    Food

    Chipping In: Here’s a Toll House cookie variation that’ll win you over

    Chris XaverBy Chris XaverMay 1, 2021No Comments4 Mins Read
    Chocolate Chip Cookies
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    My love affair with cookies began decades ago. Didn’t yours? There’s nothing like a warm cookie from the oven to say, “I love you.” And making them with kids is more than making a treat, it’s about making memories.

    It’s no surprise then the United States is the No. 1 nation of cookie eaters and bakers. However, it might surprise you to learn the famous “Toll House” cookie recipe was created by accident. The story goes that Ruth Wakefield, who owned the Toll House Inn in Whitman, Mass., used to serve her guests fresh cookies at the end of their meals. Her go-to cookie was chocolate, crisp, and about the size of a quarter.

    There are three versions of what happened that fateful evening in Massachusetts. One account is that Ruth went to get her Nestle baking bar of chocolate and realize she simply didn’t have enough. In a pinch, she broke the bar into bits and stirred it into the batter, hoping the chocolate would melt and the cookie would “make do.” Another report says she was stirring nuts into her cookies and didn’t have enough, so she broke up bits of chocolate to resemble nuts. And still a third story says that’s not what happened at all; instead, the box of chocolate “fell” into the bowl and prudent, rather than proud, she decided to bake the cookies up rather than throw out the dough. Ruth named these cookies “Butterdrop Do” cookies. My guess is the name was given for “making do” with what she had. Little did she know that folks would prefer these to her famous chocolate crisps!

    Advertisement

    Here’s a couple of interesting tidbits about chocolate bits. Ruth Wakefield “sold” her recipe to Nestle and was paid in a “lifetime” supply of chocolate. They also bought the rights to the name “Toll House” cookie and the recipe is still America’s favorite. So, I’m tempting fate by giving you a different recipe. But, hey, you can’t just have one favorite, can you? Life should be full of variety. And the secret ingredient in my cookie recipe adds a dimension we just don’t find in Ruth’s cookie. Not that I am dissin’ hers – because believe me, I’m not. But mine has something special to offer too. My secret ingredient: cream cheese.

    So, here’s why I add the cream cheese. I pull out the majority of sugar in my cookies. And when I do that, I lose a lot of the texture we have grown to expect. But when I add cream cheese, it contributes a richness, and also a lactic sour flavor note to the cookies that marries beautifully with the butter and the semi-sweet chocolate. Think wine and cheese. This is chocolate and cheese. Mmm.

    Carolyn Wyman wrote a volume called The Great American Chocolate Chip Cookie Book. She fills it with fun facts like: Chocolate chip cookies are among only four foods acceptable to even the pickiest of eaters. Or people in the in the Middle East top their cookies with chocolate sauce and eat them on a plate with a knife and fork. And if you think you’re alone in fighting to just eat one cookie, you’d be wrong. Wyman says 13.5 percent of Americans admit to sitting down and eating more than 20 chocolate chip cookies at a time!

    This recipe makes approximately 36 cookies. Enough for everyone to have more than one.

    Secret Ingredient Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Ingredients:

    • 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour (I use a gluten-free rice blend with good results)
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 cup stevia, Splenda, sugar or your favorite sweetener
    • ½ cup packed light brown sugar
    • ¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
    • ¼ cup cream cheese, room temperature
    • 1 ¼ teaspoons vanilla extract
    • 2 large eggs
    • 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (splurge on a good brand, and you’ll be rewarded with a better flavored cookie)
    • ½ cup walnuts (optional)

    Instructions:

    1. Cream together butter, cream cheese, sweetener, sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy (about two minutes). This is an important step because the cream cheese and butter will not get fluffy if they are not at room temperature.
    2. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each egg. Gently stir in the dry ingredients and then fold in the chocolate chips (and nuts if desired).
    3. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the dough for at least two hours (or up to three days).
    4. Bake chilled cookies on parchment or Silpat for nine to 11 minutes or until golden brown at 375°F.

    These are very tender cookies. Cool for two minutes on the baking sheet before moving to a wire rack to cool completely.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Tumblr Email
    Chris Xaver

    Related Posts

    Treat Yourself: Festa Italiana returns for its 25th year

    September 1, 2023

    Treat Yourself: Right Mind Syracuse hosts one-session art workshops at local venues

    August 1, 2023

    Treat Yourself: Oswego Harborfest returns with food, live music and children’s activities

    June 28, 2023
    Flip Through Our Latest Issue!
    Stay In Touch
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    Top Posts

    Summer Activities Guide

    June 1, 2023147 Views

    DIY: Make your own vibrant, paper fans in only a few easy steps

    July 1, 2020108 Views

    Wondrous Waterfalls

    June 1, 202374 Views

    Staying Safe This Summer

    June 28, 202366 Views
    Recent Posts
    • Treat Yourself: Festa Italiana returns for its 25th year
    • 315 Bulletin
    • Kate Laissle, Director of Education at Syracuse Stage
    • Explore CNY: Cortland is home to a nature center, a theatre, and a Guinness World Record holder
    • Homework Habits: How to Motivate Kids

    Family Times Magazine publishes a digital magazine highlighting events, businesses, and content to inform and entertain families here in Central New York. Sign up for our twice monthly newsletter to have the magazine and other featured content.
    ____

    Email Us: [email protected]
    Contact: 1.315.422.7011

    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn RSS
    Our Picks
    Most Popular

    Summer Activities Guide

    June 1, 2023147 Views

    DIY: Make your own vibrant, paper fans in only a few easy steps

    July 1, 2020108 Views

    Wondrous Waterfalls

    June 1, 202374 Views
    © 2023 Family Times, CNY. Designed by Crossroads Marketing.
    • Our Authors
    • Archives
    • Community Events Calendar
    • Advertising

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    Go to mobile version