Baking Adventure #8

First off, I am so sorry for not delivering your eyes with scrumptious baked goods the past couple of weeks. Life has been beyond busy and amazing and up and down. Here's a little update for ya:

My best friend and her husband came to visit for a long weekend this past weekend, and I couldn't have asked for a better time with them. I got to show her where I live (this was the 3rd time we had seen each other in 10 years mind you) and introduce her to some of my dearest friends/the loves of my life... (in addition to going to a GREAT concert put on by Phil Vassar and opened by an up-and-coming artist named Jason Jones) My heart was beyond full this past weekend. It was a little (insert: A LOT) tough when they headed home on Sunday, and feels like a piece of me is missing. However, I thank the Lord for the time we got to spend together.

[Pay no attention to Mimi Bobeck in the background.]

This week has been interesting to say the least, and it has included the possibility of my sister's attack case finally coming to a close after 2.5 years. Unfortunately, it did not come to a close just yet... To be continued on December 17th. (Check out her blog for more information on the attack and her perspective on things. She is one of the most amazingly strong people I know)

Anyways, so is life. It has its UPS and its downs, but at the end of the day we are left with God's love and our family and friends.... it's quite comforting to know those will always be there. So, in light of the comfort of love, I have decided to make this week's baking adventure be one of the most comforting things to me. It's a recipe I took 2 years to develop and perfect. I don't quite have a name yet; however, there was a suggestion for "Sweet Ashley's Choco Chip Cookies"... any thoughts?

and without further ado, this week's baking adventure is...

Sweet Ashley's Choco Chip Cookies!!!

Let me preface this adventure by saying that the recipe will not be linked to or given out on this blog as it is TOP secret and these cookies will be sold to many one day! :-)

So, first things first! PREP!

[Na na na boo boo! My secret ingredients are missing from the above picture... so sad, too bad! hehe]

Next it's time to separate dry and wet ingredients in their bowls and then combine in one big bowl.

[This is the only picture of the middle part of the process you get to see. hehe.]

This recipe itself wasn't much of an adventure since I had all of the ingredients already and have made them close to 50 times already. The adventurous part is going to be allowing new people to try them who haven't in the past. Even though, I already am pretty confident in their deliciousness, it makes me nervous each time someone new tries them. I think "Are they going to like the taste? Will my secret ingredients agree with their taste buds? Are they just saying they like them or are they just trying not to hurt my feelings?" Call it paranoia or what have you, but I love baking for people and if they don't enjoy something, I feel bad, almost guilty, for asking them to try it.

That being said though, I can pretty much guarantee that if you enjoy chocolate chip cookies, you will thoroughly enjoy these. In fact, people from North Carolina back in college still request them on occasion. :-)

Sorry to go off on that tangent... behold the final product of two years of experimenting to get them "just right"...

Hope everyone has had a great past couple of weeks! Until next time folks!...

P.S. Any suggestions on what to bake for Thanksgiving? Pumpkin pie? Apple pie? Pumpkin Cheesecake? I can't decide! Help!