Dave's Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cookies are my least favorite thing to bake. And honestly, I can think of a hundred desserts I'd rather eat. I wasn't always like this. It's all Dave's fault. It really is. He ruined me. You see, many years ago, during the beginning of our marriage we made a deal. I wanted to go home for Thanksgiving and he wanted to go somewhere else. I really, really wanted to go home because I like to cook with my mom and sisters and because my mom knows how to make Thanksgiving the best holiday ever. I must have been pretty desperate because I agreed to bake Dave cookies every Sunday for one full year -- cookies of his choice -- if we could go where I wanted for Thanksgiving. It was a done deal. Thanksgiving was enjoyed and the year long baking was tolerated -- at best. The worst part was that he insisted on me making only about three different kinds of cookies all year. I don't like to cook the same thing over and over again. And so I got all cookied out. And now I never, hardly ever, make cookies. And the girls know I won't do it and they love the time they get to spend with their Dad in the kitchen cooking one of their favorite treats.

That being said, cookies in Texas are not that great. They just aren't the same as when you make them in the West. Let's blame it on the humidity and altitude. Dave finally perfected a recipe from an old friend's old girlfriend, Natalie. We call it Dave's Chocolate Chip Cookies. They have the perfect crunchiness on the outside and are chewy in the inside. I've had my fair share today.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup butter flavored shortening

3/4 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup white sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 1/3 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking soda

12 ounces chocolate chips

Directions:

Beat butter, shortening, sugars, eggs, and vanilla for 3 minutes with an electric mixer. Add flour, salt, and baking soda; mix well. Stir in chocolate chips. Bake at 350 degrees on an ungreased cookie sheet for 11 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

Oatmeal Creme Pies

These cookies knock the socks off of Oatmeal Creme Pies by Little Debbie. And I LOVE her cookies! In fact, I love them so much, that when Dave and I were poor newly wed college students we spent our last dollar and some change on a box of them to hold us over until pay day. Well, these will hold you over too until you crave them again and have to make another batch!

Adapted from Yummy Fun

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups butter, softened

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 1/3 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

3 cups uncooked quick-cooking oats

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Beat butter and sugars at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Add egg and vanilla, beating well. Combine remaining ingredients in a bowl and stir well. Add to the butter mixture; stir until well blended --mixture will be drier. Drop by rounded tablespoons 2 inches apart onto a greased baking sheet. Bake at 375 for 8 - 10 minutes. Don't over cook. Cool on pan 1 to 2 minutes. Remove cookies from pan; cool on wire racks.

When cool spread 1 tablespoon Cream Filling over each bottom side of half of a cookies. Top with remaining cookies, right side up to make a cookie sandwich.

Cream Filling

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, softened

2 cups powdered sugar

1 to 2 tablespoons whipping cream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 oz cream cheese, softened

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl. Beat with a electric mixer on low speed until combined, scraping bowl. Beat on high until light and fluffy.