Apple picking in Apple Hill

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How do you like your Chocolate Chip Cookies?

I prefer mine to be a little bit chewy, a little bit gooey, with a buttery-caramel undertone. I’d take spread over a too-thick, cakey dough. And I definitely think that the chocolate chips should be prominent.

Tessa from Handle the Heat made a fun guide to chocolate chip cookies. I’m sort of a test-kitchen nerd, so this is totally up my alley. I love that she makes a control batch (Nestle Tollhouse recipe) before she starts playing with variations.

Of course I also sort of love that it further validated my choice for best chocolate chip cookie recipe: the drop cookie from the ever-classic Joy of Cooking

(result pictured above). Not to brag or anything but they did pretty darn well at a chocolate-chip-cookie bake off back in the day…

Two tricks I generally use? If the dough seems a bit tacky, I add a tablespoon of flour to reduce spread. And no matter what the recipe says, I check-in on cookies the moment I smell them; if they are starting to brown at all, I pull them out. But that’s with the caveat that I’d choose an underbaked- over an over baked-cookie any day.

P.S. The cookie question is no joke. It’s apparently how you make friends. And Momofuku Compost cookies at home.

[Top two photos my own; third via Handle the Heat]

“Chicken dirty, daddy” (and links for Friday)

Hudson has started the silliest game. It began the other day, when Aron was teasing that he was a lion and was nibbling at Hudson’s ear. Hudson’s reply? “Hudsee chicken, daddy.” And then something like: “Oh! You’re a chicken? I’m coming to get you!” (Nibble, nibble.) Hudson then announced “Chicken dirty, daddy. Chicken dirty.”

Ha! We’re not exactly sure where he came up with that, but now when you go to kiss his neck and tickle his ears he giggles and says “chicken dirty.”
Guess he’s been reading too much Mark Bittman?

In any case, I think the day has arrived when I need to start writing down things Hudson is saying in a book like this one

. It’s so fun to have him talking now.

What are you up to this weekend? We’re starting to celebrate Aron’s birthday (which is next week) as well as his mom’s; and are also planning to wish one of Hudson’s best pals a happy third! I’m also hoping to make some more progress on clearing out the guest room and on planning how to decorate our little girl’s room! (I just started a new pinboard of kids’ and babies’ rooms.)

A few links for your Friday…
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