Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Thomas Keller's Chocolate Chip Cookies... #BloggerCLUE

Thomas Keller's Chocolate Chip Cookies

When someone mentions the word "picnic", what food comes to mind?  What's your go-to dish or treat?  But for that matter... do you actually go on picnics?

Defining the word, pictures of tree shaded grass covered with checkered cloths topped with lovely wicker baskets flash across my mind.  Opening the basket I see sandwiches, apples, pesto pasta salad, sparkling waters, and of course cookies.

However, I've never actually experienced this vision.  And frankly, I don't know that I've ever actually been on a real "picnic" per se.  Now, I have been to the park when the kids were little, and we sat on a towel in the sand and had goldfish, juice boxes and of course those cookies.  I've been to dance competitions where we sit in crowded dressing rooms and try to fuel the girls with healthy options between dance number.  And of course, those cookies are there to provide a quick burst of energy.  And I've been to Jazz in the Park.  This one had that grassy field, but we went more of a wine and appetizer direction with of course... the cookies.

Hence, this month's Blogger Clue theme of "Picnic" obviously needs to be cookies.  And the amazing Azmina, of Lawyer Loves Lunch, brought a number of options.


Hailing from my old stomping grounds, the Bay Area (the San Francisco Bay, that is), Azmina is a true gem.  Not only does she manage a lawyer job in addition to raising a family (she has the most adorable wee-ones, a boy and a girl) and writing a food blog, but she does it all with love and compassion, and her humor has us laughing with her along the way.

Seriously, finding a recipe on her blog took me days simply because I kept getting caught up in stories and identifying with most everything she said (Mom Glasses.... LOL!).

I have to admit I've actually made three of her recipes in the past few weeks.  The Coffeehouse Blueberry Lemon Bars made use of some of the fresh, organic berries we found last week and proved to be equally as good for dinner as they did for breakfast or lunch.  However my friend Christiane, The Mom Chef from Taking on Magazines, made these last month (read about Azmina's stint as a Master Chef contestant on that post) and I figured I'd better move on.


Recipe to follow for these guys...  Let just say that when you turn you back only to find one left when you return,  you know you have a hit on your hands.
The Crispy Tandoori Smashed Potatoes singlehandedly drew Liv and my husband from their activities straight to the kitchen as the scent of garlic wafted through our house.  We've actually had this recipe twice in the last week, once Azmina's Tandoori version and once simply brushed with butter and garlic.  Let me just put it this way... when getting interrupted from a photo shoot and return to find only one smashed potato left (I swear I was only gone for 15 minutes!) one knows we have a hit.


Thomas Keller's Chocolate Chip Cookies
And lastly, those cookies.  The epitome of picnic food, Thomas Keller's Chocolate Chip Cookies proved to be another keeper chocolate chip recipe to add to my repertoire.

Slightly crispy on the bottom, but soft on the top, they also passed Liv's ever so stringent "cookie dough test" with flying colors.  Personally, I love the chopped chocolates in place of chips as we get big chunks of gooey chocolate in every bite.

And now for the picnic.  With California's drought pushing our water limits to the max, green grass is sometimes hard to find (I hear "brown is the new green"...).  And with kids schedules taking me all over the state (the time eases up a bit as they get older Azmina, but they do keep stretching you - just in new directions!) in the next few days, the pure "time" requirement for a picnic is not to be found.

But... if you are reading this on posting day you will find me in the car heading for Santa Barbara to bring my baby home from his first year in college.  My heart swells just knowing my whole family will be under the same roof by bedtime tonight, and my boy will be all mine again if only for a few weeks.

And our drive simply calls for cookies!  Thanks Azmina for providing the perfect welcome home recipe for our picnic in the car.  And perhaps we'll spot some green grass along the way...


Thomas Keller's Chocolate Chip Cookies

Thomas Keller's Chocolate Chip Cookies
Tender yet slightly crispy on the bottom, these cookies are the perfect picnic fare.  Note Liv also gave them glowing remarks in the cookie dough category!

Usually I post a recipe in full when I write about it... but I made these cookies exactly as written on Azmina's blog.  And while the cookies are one you need in your repertoire, it's her story that really touched my heart and let me see into hers.  Head on over to Lawer Loves Lunch and take just a moment to restore your faith in humanity.  And then have a cookie.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe  ⬅ (Click for recipe!)

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Now let's see what everyone else brought to the picnic!! 

20 comments:

  1. Love me some chocolate chip cookies....always the perfect treat.

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  2. Your nest will be full again! Wonderful! And great pick with these chocolate chip cookies---you cannot beat a Thomas Keller recipe (or an Azmina recipe!).

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    1. I'm out the door in about an hour!! So excited. And you are totally correct, an Azmina recipe is a winner!

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  3. As far as I'm concerned, one cannot have a picnic without Chocolate Chip cookies. And with Thomas Keller's name in front, guaranteed to be good.

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  4. These aptly named cookies look delicious - I can't believe you've never been on a picnic before! Gosh, when I was a kid and we traveled picnic was the only way we ate - no fast food places back then. I hated it then, but I really wish I had those picnics back! :)

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    1. Isn't it funny how what we didn't really enjoy as a kid we long for now? My goal is a picnic before summer is over!

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  5. Yumm!! Those look like the perfect chocolate chip cookies!

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  6. Love chocolate chip cookies...and, I do agree, chunks of chocolate beat chips of chocolate! Enjoy your drive to SB...your summer will be wonderful!

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  7. Oh Kim, this was the nicest post, thank you! It made me sound so put together and clearly glossed over the part where I've been wearing the same pants for three days in a row and how our house is covered in piles of clean laundry that we haven't had a chance to put away (ironic given my pants situation). I'm glad your family enjoyed the cookies and the smashed potatoes! They remain some of our most favorite recipes (well those and cereal but I'm sure you know what that's like having raised two gorgeous babies/adults) :)

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  8. For me, picnic is a very broad term and I do say you've enjoyed a few of them. These cookies look amazing and I can see having a hard time deciding what to make from Azmina's blog. It would be soooo nice to have you at one of our blogger get togethers one day, Kim. :)

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  9. I wonder how many people have ever been on the "red checkered blanket and basket" type picnic??? Romantic ideal? All I would need would be these cookies.

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  10. I agree with you - cookies are the epitome of picnic food! Azmina is a great gal and I feel lucky to call her my friend and get to see her in person, but not often enough. We would love for you to join us when you are in the Bay Area. Great choice!

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  11. Nothing like some delicious chocolate chip cookies to cap off a good meal - picnic or otherwise. These sound great!

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  12. Aww, shucks, my friend. Thank you for mentioning me (the blueberry bars were amazing). I was laughing at the potatoes disappearing. That speak volumes about how fantastic they were since, like with my family, hubby and daughter know better than to eat before the photos are taken. :) The cookies, now, they look absoutely fantastic.

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  13. A good chocolate chip cookie is just about the best! You are so right that Azmina's blog is funny. I read it as much for the stories as the recipes...

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  14. I know just how you feel about having your babies under one roof again! Such a great feeling. And these cookies look wonderful too. Perfect for a picnic or road trip!

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  15. I haven't had that romantic picnic image experience either. But that doesn't mean I don't want to! I'll take some cookies, though. :)

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