Happy New Year and Hershey's Chocolate Chip Cookies

Wish you all a very very Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Hope everyone had a good start for the year 2014. We welcomed the New year in company of  very good friends and great food. I am really thankful for the wonderful year that passed by with lots and lots of good memories. My in-laws visited us and stayed with us for 4 months. The days when they were here passed in a jiffy with lots of travelling, visiting relatives ,friends and lots of fun. The little boy started his first school, the heart break of seeing him cry and hug me so that he does not have to go to school, our first beach visit in US, making sand castles and mud pies... Overall a wonderful year. Hope the year 2014 too brings in lot of happiness, prosperity and peace.

2013 saw me baking a lot. I utilized the huge oven to its fullest by baking for most of the occasions. I signed up for my son's class parties so that I could get a chance to try out different recipes that I had bookmarked. I love baking and the aroma that fills the entire house.  The house reminds me of the bakeries that I used to visit regularly during childhood.
I made this Chocolate chip cookie for my son's Christmas party and it was well received. This recipe was printed on the cover of Hershey's Chocolate Chips. I made a trail version before the actual party and my friends loved it. I followed the same recipe again and it was a hit - With crisp edges and soft and chewy center. I used milk chocolate as kids love the cookie sweet. Feel free to substitute with semi sweet chocolate chips or throw in few nuts and it will be a hit.

Here is what's needed:
1 cup or 2 sticks butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup Light brown sugar
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
2 Eggs
2-1/4 cups All purpose flour
1 tsp Baking soda
1/2 tsp Salt
2 cups Milk Chocolate chips
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Procedure:
1) Heat oven to 375 deg F.
2) Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla in a large bowl until creamy. Add eggs, beat well.
3) Stir together flour, baking soda and salt. Gradually add to butter mixture, beating well until blended. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts in using.
4) Drop using an ice cream scoop or teaspoon onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 8-10 mins until lightly browned. cool slightly and transfer onto a cooling rack.

Tastes delicious when warm and served with cold milk. Enjoy