Here it is: our family’s favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe, courtesy of Michaela and her kitchen and my cowboy apron (I like to take all the credit for whatever culinary masterpieces happen while the apron is being worn).
These cookies are the perfect combination of chewy and fluffy, with dense, moist centers and perfect flavor. Mmmm.
There is a weird ingredient in these cookies (cornstarch) that might make you a bit skeptical.
So just to make sure we weren’t alone in our regard for this recipe, we employed a very critical taste taster.
She approves.
So here you go! The best cookies ever.
Our Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies
slightly adapted from Kelsey, Apple a Day
Ingredients:
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 egg + 1 egg yolk
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cup all purpose flour
3 tsp cornstarch
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 bar bittersweet baking chocolate (finely chopped)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy in a stand mixer with paddle attachment. Blend in eggs and vanilla.
Mix in flour, cornstarch, baking soda and salt.
Stir in chopped chocolate.
Scoop dough onto a prepared baking sheet with a tablespoon or cookie scoop. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until lightly golden brown around the edges. Let cool.
I walked across a stage last Friday, and everything changed. I am a grad.
Well, almost. I have a D.S. class to finish. Always something.
But, let me tell you, that D.S. was the last thing on my mind as I walked across the stage last Friday night. Actually, the main thing I thought about was not tripping in my heels in front of a football stadium full of people. But somewhere amid my thoughts was the realization that four years of semi-stability have come to a close, and now the whole great big world is wide open to me. There are no classes and no professors who will give me a grade on how well I do. Those kind of “micro-accomplishments” aren’t good enough. Every step I take now is a step into uncharted territory.
And yes…I took the first fifteen or so without tripping. I’m so thankful for everyone who came to support me! My whole family, including my Avô and Avó and my Grandma, made the long trip, and several friends came to support me as well. I am not one to make a big deal about ceremonies like this, so I didn’t really tell or invite anyone, but the fact that people came warmed my heart.
So here I am, on the other side of the stage. I am home for two weeks, but after that I’ll be moving back down to Southern California for work. I’m really excited about this next stage of life and thankful for the doors God has opened for me so far. I’ll be blogging more faithfully now, with more time on my hands for creative writing, so check back often! There have been a lot of articles floating around in my thoughts waiting for an opportunity to get out. I’m excited to dive headfirst into creative writing again. I have so much to say and share! And I appreciate all of you who are faithful to keep checking this blog after weeks of zero updates. Seeing the visitor count still high stabs me with guilt! You deserve better! So I’ll be writing more. I have lots of ideas that I can’t wait to implement. In the meantime, please write to me, because I prefer this blog to be a two-way street and I love hearing from readers.
You may be wondering about the title of this blog post. Last Thursday, one of my best friends got married (still can’t believe Raqel is now a Mrs. — talk about life changes!). The wedding, and the week the bridal party got to spend with her and her parents beforehand, deserves a post of its own, so I’ll write that soon. But the song Raqel and Maddy played for their first dance has been stuck in my head ever since their wedding (“Box of Stones” by Benjamin Francis Leftwich), and it basically sums up how I feel as a fresh-off-the-football-field college graduate. I am young, I am yours, I am free, but I am flawed. Praise God that, despite my youth and all my flaws, I belong to Him. Anyone who knows me can tell you that change is very hard and intimidating for me to face. I don’t do well when I feel that things are coming to an end. Knowing this, I spent the last week of college trying to focus on the Lord and His plans for me instead of on my own fears about the uncertainties of the future, and He has been gracious to quiet those fears and to give me confidence and excitement as I look ahead.
My fellow grads: graduating from college is one of the biggest and scariest life changes, and it’s also one of the ones we are least prepared for. There are lots of books on marriage, choosing a college, dating, retirement, finding a career, etc. but very few on that yawning “What now?” emotion that hits you on the other side of the graduation stage. But the fact is, the same faithful God who has led you all these years guides you still. Don’t be afraid: take heart and stand firm, and know that He who has begun a good work in you will be faithful to see it finished! I am excited for you, because I know that the God who owns you is greater than all your fears. Press on, college grad! God does some of His best work in uncharted territory.
For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies
For the love which from our birth over and around us lies
Lord of all to Thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.
We used to sing “For the Beauty of the Earth” in my little church growing up. It is probably not the most theologically rich song in the hymnal, but the simple words are full of gratitude for the beauty of this world we live in.
Yesterday was Earth Day, and usually Christians ignore this holiday, but I hope you didn’t. I hope you took time to enjoy the splendor of the world around you, to breath in the scents and sights and sounds of a world handcrafted by your Heavenly Father, because I don’t think we appreciate that enough. There is beauty everywhere, in so many different varieties and landscapes. Creation truly proclaims the greatness of its Maker.
I am reminded of this most in my home mountains. I grew up feeling like I was eternally cradled by them, and when I moved away for college, the bare skies of Southern California seemed strange and naked. I love the wildflowers that bloom reckless and wonderful all over those mountains every spring, and I love the rich green meadows and thousands of shades of the trees. I love cold early mornings when the fog rolls in like thick cloud banks. I love nighttime in my mountains because I can see so many stars. I feel blessed that this is where my memories are.
Where did you grow up and what makes it beautiful?
These days, we read the news with dread and sadness.
These days, it is hard to remember that God has overcome the world.
The situations in Boston and West Texas are truly heartbreaking. In all this pain and loss, in all the madness, we can be so quick to lose sight of the promises that are ours in Christ. Before His crucifixion, He comforted His disciples (what incredible love our Savior has, and how sweet is His knowledge of our frailty!). He told them, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God: believe also in me.” (John 14:1) And He reassured them, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.” (John 14:18-19) Again He said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)
And hours before His brutal murder, He told the followers who would forsake Him: “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
These are the latter days–the time between His ascension and Him impending return. These are the days those promises were made for.
Years later, the disciple John wrote a letter to the churches. Many of the believers who would read this epistle were facing persecution for their faith. I John was one of the last books written (probably about A.D. 90-95). By this time, John had seen many of his friends and fellow disciples killed for their affiliation with Jesus Christ. Yet after decades of danger and persecution, he was confident in Christ. He wrote in 1 John 4:4, echoing the promise made to Him by His Lord the night of His death, “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
And because of this, we who have seen the goodness and faithfulness of our Savior can take heart in times like these.
waiting for – The Great Gatsby movie. What do you guys think? Promising?
excited about – My best friend’s wedding in May!!!
She’s gonna be a Mrs.!
trying to – Hold my senioritis at bay.
working on – Job applications (real liiiife).
enjoying -
wearing – I’d tell you, but it’s yoga clothes.
planning – A bridal shower!
singing – Yesterday another dorm had a karaoke night. Laura and I went for the food and somehow she roped me into singing “Leave the Pieces” by the Wreckers. So that happened.
needing – Oh, you know. The usual things:
loving -
Psalm 103:1-17a
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all who are oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses,
his acts to the people of Israel.
The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He will not always chide,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
For he knows our frame;
he remembers that we are dust.
As for man, his days are like grass;
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.
But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him…
