Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Search - #3

Taste Test # 3 - Toll House Wins Again!!

Contenders (recipes are linked):

Double Tree Cookie Recipe (or best rendition of it) (#7)

Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie (#8)

Jacques Torres' Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (#9)

Results (13 Reviewers - 4 children, 9 adults)

Double Tree Hotel chocolate chip cookie (best rendition) - 3 votes (all adult)

Nestle Toll House chocolate chip cookie - 6 votes (3 children, 3 adults)

Jacques Torres' chocolate chip cookie - 4 votes (1 child, 3 adults)

Review

Double Tree recipe: Chewier than Nestle Toll House cookies, this recipe gets props for staying power. I felt that the cookies tasted fresh, longer. With rolled oatmeal added to the recipe, the texture may not be for everyone. Though I can't be sure if the recipe is the exact one that the Double Tree Hotel actually uses, the cookie hits the spot when you are hanker'in for something sweet. Keep in mind the cookie is served warm at the hotel. During the taste test, all cookies were delivered within 24 hours of baking, but never warm. I'm not sure if that would sway the results. - 3 stars

Nestle Toll House recipe: Still the majority favorite. Though I love the taste, I don't think that the recipe does well staying fresh. In order to keep the integrity of the cookie from faltering, my suggestion is to make the cookie dough ahead, roll into golf-sized balls, place them in a air tight container and keep in the refrigerator. Just pop each ball on a baking sheet and bake them when you want a "fix". You get fresh cookies from a favorite recipe. Pop them in the oven before company comes over and look like a hero....Martha Stewart, move over!

Jacques Torres recipe: A little more complicated than the typical recipe, I personally think it is worth the effort. Cake and bread flour is used in place of all-purpose flour. Pillsbury makes cake flour (in a box down the baking aisle at your local grocery store, but not by the regular flour). The bread flour can be found next to the all-purpose flour. I think the cake flour gives the cookie the consistency that is lacking in Nestle's Toll House recipe. The cookie remains moist, not crunchy and the 60% cacao morsel just put me over the top....YUMMY. Ghirardelli makes a morsel to accommodate the recipe, though you can find the morsels used in the recipe at Whole Foods Markets (the information is included at the end). 3 1/2 stars. I loved it and may combine parts to use with Toll House. Hmmm, I wonder...

Taste Test #4 will add a "spa" and "shopping" experience into the mix. Can you guess what recipes are next?

Behind the scenes at the Martha Stewart Show

Martha is one cool cucumber!

Upon arriving at the Martha Stewart Show (and after waiting in the line outside the door...brrr!), every audience member is asked to see ID, given a seat number, and go through a metal detector. Your bags are also checked.

Next is the "holding area", where the last call for bathrooms are made and seat number is announced. We happened to be the very last seat numbers assigned. Tip: arrive earlier than what the email or letter indicates.

As you take your seat, each of the sets (kitchen, craft, and green house) are cheerfully decorated and pristine. The "warm up" guy, Joey Kola came at the audience with a burst of energy. A possible comedian in a past life, Mr. Kola was entertaining. I almost liked him better than, prim and proper, Martha.

Blah, blah, blah...Do you want to hear the down and dirty?

Here it goes: Martha's daughter happened to be a guest on the show. Poor Martha! Her daughter was such a little snot to her. I'm pretty sure Martha usually doesn't take a lot of "BS". It was crazy how disrespectful her daughter, Alexis, was. She has some major mother/daughter issues going on! The slightest bit of inaccuracy(on Martha's part), Alexis would pummel Martha with a snide remark. I was speechless to watch Martha promote her daughter's blog, then hear her daughter diss her on national television! I would hope that Martha spoke to her after, but I have a feeling that this is just the dynamic of the relationship. That girl needs a reality check and gives off a feeling of entitlement. Boy, I hope Alexis doesn't find out that the "house" she created is simply made of sticks. It would be smart for her to appreciate (and run to) the brick "house" where Martha lives. What a naive girl.

Martha: Please parent your daughter on the fine art of appreciation and respect! It is somewhat comforting to know that you don't do everything perfect, and that parenting may not be your strong suit, but you need to do something about her. Alexis' attitude is toxic. As a mother, it was hard to watch.

The only other beefy detail I have to offer is on Martha Stewart's wardrobe. No doubt, the chartreuse color was vibrant and showy, but Martha looked a little frumpy. I'm not sure if it was the sweater or not, but I saw rolls around her tummy. It was not very flattering. I have to commend Martha on the courageous move to wear stilettos. I am NOT kidding! I couldn't believe Martha could walk in these 4" heels. After the show, a comment was made from the audience. Martha, who I believe is in her 60's, kicked up her leg across one of the tables to show off her shoes. For that move, hat's off to you, Martha!

Even though the show was about blogging, it really was about bloggers dedicated to Martha Stewart. I was disappointed by the notion that there was very little reason for actual bloggers to be audience members. I was hoping to increase traffic to my blogs with either an announcement or listing of my URL's. No such luck. The only real tip I learned was in cutting a cake: Cut two slices, then take out the 2nd slice first. That helps keep the slices in tact.

....And there you have it. My morning with Martha.

Martha Stewart Show

Press Dough is going to the Martha Stewart (blogging) show on Thursday, January 14, 2010! As an audience member, I will be sending out twitter (@pressdough) updates. Make sure you are following. Join me to hear about "Martha" news, what it is like to be in the studio, and how often Martha actually blogs. I'll be sure to post a complete recap of the show. Stay tuned.

Got any questions for Martha? Beginning at 6:30am (EST), I'll be taking the train into the city and checking my twitter account. Show starts at 10 a.m.!

Fun Cookie Facts

Happy New Year!

2010

Get motivated for some baking! January is the perfect month to nestle yourself in the kitchen, try out some new cookie recipes and have fun. Here are some cookie facts from faqfood.com to get you started:

1. Testing out cake batter and oven temperatures, ancient bakers created the cookie by placing a small amount of batter on a sheet and baking that first.
2. Chocolate chip cookies are the most popular kind of cookie in the United States (tip: good to keep this in mind when baking for others).
3. Cookies are best either fresh out of the oven (warm) or the day after they are baked. Waiting a day lets the flavors absorb with each other.
4. If you seal up freshly baked cookies, they will retain too much moisture and fall apart.

2010 Cookie Talk Blog Resolutions:

• Post more often
• Share new cookie recipes
• Increase participation and information exchange (please leave a comment with an inquiry, suggestion, or recipe exchange)
• Talk about baking experiences and old wives tales (that actually work).
• Review gadgets for baking (Have a gadget for me to review, send me an email?)

Happy Homemade Cookies Day

Happy Homemade Cookies Day!

Celebrate by baking up some traditions, straight from family recipe books:

Polish Cookie Cutouts (flakier and tangier)

Ingredients:
1 lb. butter ( I never promised low-fat)
3 cups Flour
3 Tablespoons vinegar (white)
5 Tablespoons water

Mix together butter and flour. Add the vinegar and water. Separate batter into 2 sections and refridgerate overnite for at least a few hours. Roll out each section to 1/8 inch. Cut into squares or cute cutout shapes. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until the cookie stops bubbling and is light brown. Frost with smooth/cookie icing is best. Makes about 5 dozen.

New spin on cookie cutouts: stick on cookie tattoos to your finished product. Just cut around the edible picture, freeze, peel and stick onto any frosted cookie to create a one-of-kind cookie design.

Not enough time for cookie cutouts?

Try these easy Peanut Butter Squares

Ingredients:
1 - 28 oz jar crunchy peanut butter
2 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Topping:

12 ounces of chocolate morsels
1/2 cup of butter
1 1/2 teaspoon of water

Mix with hands (great for kids to help with). Press into a small cookie sheets (13x9). Melt the chocolate morsels and butter in a double broiler (sauce pan filled 1/4 of the way with water and glass bowl placed over top of water - place on stove on high, water will begin boiling under glass bowl). Add water and spread on top of peanut butter mixture. Chill in refrigerator and cut into squares.

Happy Father's Day

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Cookies For a Cause

Press Dough bakes up over 200 cookies for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute at

Brentapalooza 2009!

Using our own "Ultimate Cookie Cutout Recipe", over 200 B-shaped cookie cutouts will be handed out at a fundraising event for childhood cancer research. Wrapped up individually with our recipe card, these tasty treats are a great thank-you.

Shoppe For Tradition

73 More Days Until Christmas! New Look! New Features!

I want to help you create some great traditions this year! You will find an opportunity to pick and choose the traditions you hold most dear, all the while saving you time.

Join me each week as I feature products, many that help our special needs children (motor skills, visual/pretend play), post a countdown planning calendar, activity tips or suggestions, and holiday links to events. If you know of any major events (holiday extravaganza's) happening in your town, please leave me a comment and I will add it to our calendar.

For additional fun, great new Press Dough products are developing for the season.

Don't forget to sign up for our Press Dough Cookie Cutter weekly giveaway!

MQT: Do you have a plan/to-do list for the holiday season?

High School + Heart Cookies = Yummy Fun

Well, I think I just found the most famous cookie cutouts ever:

http://justjared.buzznet.com/2008/10/05/zac-vanessa-are-cookie-cutter/comment-page-6/#comments

If you are looking for something to do during a fun night of sleepovers, a night of movies or friendly gathering, try baking up some cookie cutouts. Recipes for either sugar cookie cutouts or chocolate chip cutouts can be found at: http://www.pressdough.com/resources.html#recipes

Bake up some fun using the Press Dough Heart Multi-Cookie Cutter:
http://www.pressdough.com/store/product.php?productid=2&cat=8&page=1

Your tween and her friends can create fun "cookie" messages while chatting about the latest and greatest styles or celebrity gossip.
Yummy, hip, and fun! You are sure to be voted "Most Popular Party".

Don't forget, holidays are coming.

MQT: What name or message would you write on your own heart cookies? Who would you give it to?

I would give a cookie heart to my daughter with her name printed, mini m&m's lining the edge, and pink icing dotted throughout. For my son, I would bake a chocolate chip heart - knowing he would never eat such a sweet indulgence - print a big letter R in the center (for his name) in Red (favorite color), line the edge with a thin layer of red, swirly icing and stick a candle in the center (since choc. chip cookies can be cooked softer) and sing a melody of "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow". Keep in mind, my kids are still very young.

Cookie cutter that makes multiple cuts?

Have you heard of such a device? Neither have I until I had the task of cutting out Valentine's Day cookies for my son's class last year. After positioning my, one and only, heart cookie cutter every which way on the dough, I was wondering if there was a better way. I scoured the internet looking, but found nothing. With cheers from family and friends, I embarked on submitting this idea of a multiple cookie cutter to a contest. Though I didn't get the benefits of winning this contest, I pursued this "idea" that everyone thought was so great. Again, I went to the internet and researched to make sure that a product, like the one I pictured in my head, was not already out in the market. I still couldn't find anything.
I took a leap and began my own "product development" on this cookie cutter that could cut multiple shapes at one time. I really was questioning why no one else thought or did this. My answer is...there were others but for some reason their ideas/products didn't work. I am now still forging forward in hopes of just touching a super itty bitty piece of the pie and began another search yesterday only to find that I am in good company. Yes, there are others who either had the same idea as me (at the same time), or possibly saw what I was doing off of my site. I am a little disappointed, but I am choosing to look at the positive. What are they:
1. I know that others thought the multi cutter was good enough to create themselves.
2. I know that my motivation is really to help bring families together and encourage young, ripe, innocent eyes of children.
3. By providing a solution for moms with limited time (which basically means all of us) I want to give these moms an opportunity to spend a moment doing a special activity, they might not otherwise do because of such time constraints.
4. Business wise: I have low overhead and a great technique to manufacture all types of cookie cutter shapes. I am simply cheaper!
5. Competition is good. It keeps us on our toes and will either push us out or get us in the game....bring it on!