Cookie Love

My youngest daughter is in college, and in the process of writing papers, completing projects and preparing for finals next week. Her head isn't hitting her pillow much at night. Instead, I'm likely to find her on the floor, asleep on a textbook, where she left off studying. Of course as moms do, I look for ways to help her get through this busy and stressful time. 

I can't study for her, can't write her papers, and sure can't create her PowerPoints! So what's a mom to do? My first instinct is to head to the kitchen and bake. From the time my children were young, chocolate chip cookies have been their favorite. And although I've tried many different recipes over the years, the good old Toll House recipe on the back of the chocolate chips bag reigns in our house. Years ago they were an after-school snack waiting at the end of the day. Now I make them whenever I think someone in my family might need a little lift.

I add my own little touches to the recipe. I always use unsalted butter and my favorite Nielson-Massey vanilla. I add an extra dash of salt and heap the brown sugar for more flavor. And because I don't like flat cookies, I add an extra 1/4 cup of flour.

It's going to be another week before Sarah is done with finals, so I'm stocked up on ingredients, and my faithful KitchenAid will be getting a workout.

Of course there are other ways to help her as she finishes the semester: words of encouragement, healthy meals,and rides to campus to save her some time. But sometimes there's just nothing like a chocolate chip cookie (or two, or three!) warm from the oven and a glass of cold milk to get you through the tough times.