Marie's Famous Chocolate Chip Cookies

My friend Marie makes the best chocolate chip cookies that I have ever had. They are big, tall cookies that are crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. Everyone raves about them. I have tried to duplicate them many, many times over the years. But they would never come out just right.

Finally, one day Marie came to my house and made the cookies in my kitchen. I thought for sure they wouldn't come out since I had followed the exact same recipe using my oven with no luck, but lo and behold they were perfect!

It turns out Marie's secret is to place one rack very low in the oven and one rack very high in the oven. She bakes each pan for 6 minutes on the top rack and then the bottom rack. Who knew that the rack positions could make such a huge difference? Not me!

Marie's Famous Chocolate Chip Cookies

(adapted from the Tollhouse Cookie recipe)

3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375° F.

Combine flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Set aside.

Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in chocolate chips.

Divide batter into 24 balls. A large cookie scoop works great for this. Roll the balls in your hand until they are round. Place on a baking sheet.

Position one rack very low in your oven. Position one rack very high in your oven. Place the cookie sheet on the top rack and bake for 6 minutes. Move the cookie sheet to the bottom rack and bake for 6 additional minutes.

Let cool and enjoy!

Outrageous Oreo Crunch Brownies

I've been away because I've just been too sick to bake. Nothing too serious... just morning sickness! We are so excited!

Many thanks to eat me, delicious for this delicious brownie recipe. She halved the original recipe to make it fit in a 9x13 pan.

Outrageous Oreo Crunch Brownies

From eat me, delicious

2 sticks (1 cup) butter

1/2 pound semisweet chocolate chips

3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped

3 eggs

1 1/2 tablespoons instant coffee granules

1 tablespoons vanilla

1 cup + 2 tbsp sugar

1/2 cup + 2 tbsp flour

1/2 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups chopped Oreo cookies (25 cookies)

Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350°F. Butter and flour a 9"x13" baking pan.In a heatproof medium bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water, heat butter, chocolate chips and unsweetened chocolate until melted and smooth. Allow to cool slightly.

In a large bowl, whisk eggs, coffee, vanilla and sugar. Blend chocolate mixture into egg mixture; cool to room temperature.In a medium bowl, sift together 1/2 cup flour, baking powder and salt. Add flour mixture to chocolate mixture.

In a small bowl, stir Oreos and remaining 2 tablespoons flour. Add Oreo mixture to chocolate mixture. Pour batter into baking pan and smooth top with a rubber spatula.

Bake 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted 3 inches from center comes out clean; do not overbake. Allow to cool. Refrigerate, tightly wrapped, until cold; cut into squares.