The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

It took me a little while to find a recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookies that I loved. I did have one by Giada de Laurentis that had almond extract in it, and that one was pretty good as well. But once I found this recipe in one of my favorite cookbooks, I have stuck with it ever since!! It makes the best cookies, and you just can't resist them! They don't stick around my house too long! And I have found that when I make extra cookies and freeze them so I can have some for "later" or "longer," that I realized I love frozen cookies, and they definitely don't make it any longer!! In fact, they probably go faster because I love them so much!! Enjoy!!

Chocolate Chip Cookies
The All New Good Housekeeping Cook Book

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter or margarine (1 stick), softened
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 package (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips (1 cup)
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In small bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt.
2. In large bowl, with mixer at medium speed, beat butter and brown and granulated sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla until well combined. Reduce speed to low; beat in flour mixture just until blended. With wooden spoon, stir in chocolate chips and walnuts, if using.
3. Drop dough by rounded tablespoons, 2 inches apart, on two ungreased cookie sheets. Bake until golden around edges, 10 to 12 minutes, rotating cookie sheets between upper and lower oven racks halfway through baking.

Remember to adjust the cooking time based on your oven. My oven is really fast so it only takes about 8-9 minutes or else I burn these!! And they always say to use room temperature ingredients, like the eggs and butter, to make the best cookies!! Happy Baking!!