Basic Chocolate Chip Cookies

Basic Chocolate Chip Cookies

I'm back!  As you may notice by looking at the dates of my posts, it's been almost three months since my last entry.  In other words, I basically took the summer off to spend a lot of quality time with my kids, my husband, my extended family, and friends.  I still spent a lot of time in my kitchen baking, cooking, trying out new recipes and perfecting old ones, but I chose to go to the beach, or the pool, or a neighbor's house afterwards instead of sitting at my computer organizing recipes and photos.  But now that my kids are back in school (6th and 2nd grade!), I don't have any great excuses as to why I am not writing up new and exciting recipes for the world to enjoy.

This is a very basic chocolate chip cookie recipe, with the healthy twist of using mostly whole wheat flour.  It is basically the same recipe you will find on the back of most bags of chocolate chips, but I felt that a food blog is not complete without the most standard American cookie recipe, and my family's favorite.  And since it is back to school time, what better way to send your kids off with a little love than a homemade chocolate chip cookie as a snack. 

I hope everyone reading this has a great school year, and I promise to keep posting new and exciting recipes that will be perfect for quick weeknight dinners, fun weekend get togethers and of course, school lunches.

Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

If you've just read my recipe for Dark Chocolate Peppermint Brownies, and wanted something equally tasty, but with a wealth of nutrition, you've come to the right place.  These cookies are my absolute favorite.  I eat them for breakfast, as a snack, or a dessert, and they are always in my freezer. I had read about using dates as the main sweetener in baked goods, and had already created recipes using beans and oats instead of flour, so I decided to combine those two approaches, use a freshly ground walnut butter as my fat and protein source, add in the amazing twist of fresh mint leaves, and (as my daughter would say) "BOOM!" I had a winner. And my daughter is probably my biggest fan of these cookies, so long as I grind the walnuts up completely.  I give them to her at least a couple of times a week, because even though at the age of 7 she knows what goes into them, and that they are one of "mommy's healthy desserts", they still taste, and look like a cookie.  A cookie she can have as the main part of a meal, and I know she's eating something her body needs.  Sure it would be better if I could get her to eat a plate of beans and rice, or turkey and mashed potatoes, with some broccoli or sliced avocado on the side, but she isn't that type of kid.  She is a girl who likes to wear suits and bow ties, cut her hair short, talk and ask questions incessantly, about anything and everything, so who am I to make her "normal", and eat what "normal" kids do.  She doesn't even eat chicken fingers, or grilled cheese sandwiches, only "not grilled" ones which is why if I ever have time, I will start working with her on her very own website, www.grilledcheesenotgrilled.com. But I digress.  These cookies are a sweet treat, but they are packed full of vitamins and nutrients, so if you have a picky eater like me, or are a health nut like me, you need to make these a part of your baking routine.  You won't regret it!