Well... It's official

You can stop looking! I found the perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe. Janelle and I have been looking for it ever since we learned how to crack an egg. I've come close a couple times but I always had a complaint or two about it. It's hard to get the fat right. Some recipes use butter, some margarine and some shortening. This one struck a perfect balance with half butter flavored crisco and half butter. Margarine is not welcome in any of my cookies, EVER! I bake cookies every Wednesday and have learned a lot about making them perfect. Some of you may already know this but if you don't... well... it may change your cookie baking life.

• In my experience, cookies mixed in an electric mixer never turn out as good as when you mix it by hand with a wooden spoon. I'm pretty sure it has something to do with over mixing. It will work your muscles but for some reason they are always better.

• I always set the timer for 8 minutes no matter how long the recipe says. Check them and if they need more time set the timer for one minute intervals until you find the perfect "done-ness" and then set every batch for that same time. I always take them out when the edges are a little golden and the tops are just starting to turn golden. This recipe is perfect in my oven at 9 minutes 45 seconds.

• If you take them out when the edges are just starting to turn brown, the middles will be pretty soft. I take them out and drop the pan on the stove, kinda hard. Then let them continue to bake on the pan for 2 minutes. Take them right off and let them cool on a rack.

• Use good vanilla, it makes such a difference. Go to mexico and buy the good stuff. I thought my mom was crazy when she filled her suitcase with Mexican vanilla on our cruise but now that I've been spoiled with it, imitation crap vanilla is no bueno.

• When I refrigerate unused dough, it never bakes as well. It is still pretty good but not quite the same. I always try and bake them all fresh.

Okay, I think that is all. Here is the recipe. I hope you guys make them, and I hope you like them.

Chrissy's Chocolate Chip Cookies

350 Degress

10 minutes

3-4 dozen

2/3 cup Butter

2/3 cup Butter Flavored Crisco

2 eggs

2 tsp. Vanilla

1 cup Brown Sugar (packed)

1 cup White Sugar

3 cups Flour

1 tsp. Salt

1 tsp. Baking Soda

8-12 oz. Chocolate Chips

Instructions:

In a large mixing bowl, cream together the margarine, shortening, eggs, vanilla and sugars.

Add dry ingredients and stir. Add chocolate chips.