For Mother's Day at Ronald McDonald House

Is a chocolate chip cookie just a cookie?

According to "I'm just here for the food" chocolate chip cookies fall under the muffin method.  I don't think there has been a more anticipated week of baking in my kitchen from my family.  It is actually the humble chocolate chip cookie that began my baking journey.  Well, perhaps I should say it is my husband Craig's addiction to the chocolate chip cookie that made it all begin!  Several years ago I began having joint trouble and it continued to get worse until the fateful day that I could no longer stir the dough by hand.  I had made mention several times that a Kitchen Aid mixer would be a great help to me and as soon as the prospect of a life without those chocolate morsels came to be - a mixer showed up for me.  The story of why any kitchen appliance is not a great gift - even when it is wanted - can wait for another day :)

The Muffin Method in action

I did it!  I made real muffins!  Not cupcakes - but muffins; and I understand what the difference is!  I studied all the reasons that make all the ingredients do what they do in a recipe and then dived on in to the first baking section on "The Muffin Method".  It is so satisfying to "get it" and then see it take shape in reality.  In fact I was so enamoured by it all that I ended up making three different varieties just to see if it would really turn out right every time, and it did! 

The 2 things that I learned outside of the ingredients and the wet/dry method