Could There Be a Better Reason to Bake?

It's National Chocolate Chip Day! I mean, really, how fun is that? Great excuse for chocolate eating, sharing, and baking. I love to bake. It's a great activity with kids to help them with learning measurement, reading skills, and sequencing. Generally, chocolate chip recipes are pretty forgiving too. I'll share my current favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe below, but if you're not a from scratch kinda person, there are lots of other options:

• Use a mix (I love Haley's Quick Mix because the ingredients are all natural and you need only add water! I got mine at Costco.)
• Get some refrigerated dough (In a tube, pre-formed, whatever floats your boat. I prefer the Pillsbury Simply... cookies because they are made with more natural ingredients.)
• Open the box of Chips Ahoy or whatever your favorite brand is! 
• Of course, you could use chocolate chips another way as well: sprinkle them in pancakes, over ice cream, in some trail mix... is there really anything chocolate doesn't go with? Maybe not on our asparagus at dinner?

 To keep you busy while your cookies are baking (or as a celebration alternative if the oven just isn't going to happen) check out a fun cookie themed book (my choice today is If You Give a Mouse a Cookie). If you don't know this book, go and request it from your library RIGHT NOW. So fun. Laura Numeroff narrates the chain of events set in motion by simply sharing a cookie: and they include not only milk, but crayons, a broom, and a haircut! Kids think it's hilarious and I think parents enjoy it because it is so reminiscent of  kid behavior. I picked a few other cookie related books out on Amazon too if your're really going whole-hog.

For some more fun, sing Who Stole the Cookie from the Cookie Jar? Put your qualms about accusations and tattling aside and enjoy the rhythm and giggles. It's especially fun in a large group, because it keeps the song going, but you can create a larger group if you include Teddy, Dino, Puppy, Barbie, or whatever other toys might be at hand. Making up voices for them is fun too.



Yummy Chocolate Chip Cookies


(Actually a recipe adapted from Weight Watchers for my husband that I ended up loving - they're only 1 point if you're counting!)


1 and 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 c whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup salted butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1 cup granulated sugar
4 large egg whites
2/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips (mini are best)


Preheat oven to 350 F.


Beat butter and sugars until fluffy. Add egg whites and beat well. Gradually add dry ingredients and beat until blended, then stir in chocolate chips. 


Drop by rounded teaspoon onto cookie sheets sprayed with cooking spray or lined with parchment (I love parchment). Bake 10 minutes until lightly golden. Makes 80 small cookies. Make them bigger or halve the recipe if 80 cookies seems preposterous to you. They go quickly around here. You can also freeze some of the dough in an airtight container before or after you scoop the cookies. 


Have a Happy National Chocolate Chip Day! How will you celebrate?

Image courtesy =-.0= on flickr