Cookie #1 - Nestle Tollhouse Chocolate Chip Cookies

These were the very first cookies I ever learned how to make. 
These were the very first cookies I ever taught someone how to make.  (I remember helping everyone in my junior hight Home-Ec class)
They are the type of cookie that just envokes this feeling of home and comfort.  There's something about eating one right out of the oven or dunking them in a cold glass of milk. 
ANYONE can make these - and no, I don't mean just opening up a tube and plopping them on a cookie sheet (though this was my preferred method when I was pregnant with my first daughter).  I mean honest to goodness make them from scratch.  No expensive, hard to get ingredients.  Chances are, if you cook at all, you already have the ingredients in your pantry and fridge. 
The best part is you can bake this one recipe a few different ways:  as cookies, as a cookie cake or as a bar cookie.  All you do is vary the pan and cooking time. 

So, I thought this classic cookie would be the ideal first cookie for this project.  With a little help from Sydney, I mixed together the ingredients and soon my kitchen was filled with the smell of fresh baked cookies.  They were as good as I remember.

Tollhouse Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 (12 ounce) package NESTLE® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
1 cup chopped nuts (these are optional and I chose to omit them)

PREHEAT oven to 375 degrees 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.