good-for-you cookies and the beauty of trees

This weekend we drove out to Chickasaw State Park to see the trees. The weather was perfect: sunny, upper sixties, late afternoon. It was amazing. The kids ran and played, John and I sat in the swing and talked and smooched until the sun set. I've been told that the leaves started turning late this year. I think they were waiting for us to get here.

While it is still 90 degrees back in South Texas, the cooler weather here has made me feel like baking, so I finally tried out a whole wheat chocolate chip cookie recipe I found over here. They were absolutely delicious! Crispy on the outside, chewy inside, and best of all good for you. I don't even think they made it through 24 hours. The kids said they were the best ever and I think I've found my new standard chocolate chip cookie recipe.

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies

3/4 C Unsalted butter
1 C Sugar
1 C Light Brown Sugar
1 1/2 tsp Vanilla
2 eggs
2 Cups sifted Whole Wheat Flour
1 C Flour
3/4 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Salt
2 C Semi-sweet chocolate chips

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. Cream butter & sugars in an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix in vanilla & eggs. Combine flours, baking soda & salt. Gradually blend flour mixture into butter mixture. Fold in chocolate chips and drop onto a greased cookie sheet.  Bake 8-10 minutes. Allow cookies to cool for 5 minutes on baking sheets before placing on a wire rack.

A few tips: the dough is crumbly until everything is completely worked in. We didn't have an electric mixer so I did all the mixing by hand and it was more like kneading bread by the end. The cookies hold their shape really well, though. Because they are darker, it is harder to tell when they are done, but I waited until they browned a little on the edges before taking them out. It was closer to 10-11 minutes but they were perfect. Next time I'll use all whole wheat flour because the one cup of white flour didn't seem to make much difference in the texture. So delicious and when the kids ask for a cookie before breakfast, you can say proudly, "Sure! Let's all have one!"

Comments

[Felicia]

Wow! Stunningly beautiful.

[NancyB]

Great to see another lovely photo of you! Tennessee is beautiful isn't it?! In the 3rd and 5th photo look exactly like Cherokee Lake where we go camping and boating in TN! Fall has got to be my favorite season especially when I lived in TN so many trees! Can you tell I want to be there!? LOL Have a great day hun! xo

[melissa@yummygoods]

mmmm, i want some of those cookies!

[Debra]

Trees trees beautiful trees!! I love those pictures!! It awakens the soul.
Uh those choc chip cookie look so delicious and I can almost taste them, I think I will have to pop back for the recipe one day, thanks!

[sk]

i can't believe it - my school's having a chocolate chip cookie baking contest amongst the teachers this friday and I wasn't going to join because I try to cook wholesome but just in time, i see this recipe for WHOLESOME choc chip cookies! I'm going to win - thanks Debra!
p.s. the tree pics are beautiful.