Warmth of the Season's Cookies

The holidays have descended quickly this year. I've been taking stock of a lot of things lately. It's hard to believe that a year ago our family moved into this house with only a couple of sleeping bags, a borrowed air mattress, and a few suitcases of clothes. Looking around the house now, it's a huge difference to see the house furnished and hung with the comforts of the holiday season. 

I wanted to start this month reflecting on the wonderful gifts that we've been blessed with this year and revisit some of the traditions that have been a part of my family since I was a kid. So, for the first cookie recipe of the month, I decided to go with an oldie (but a goodie), Original NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Chocolate Chip Cookies.

I'm a bit of a freak, in that I hate nuts in chocolate chip cookies, so I didn't add the nuts that the recipe calls for. I'm sure you'll forgive me.

Original NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 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.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels

Preheat oven to 375° F.

Combine flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. 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 morsels and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets. 

Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.