Chocolate Chip Cookies

For the last month, hubby has been away at the J.A.G. school in Charlottesville, VA, getting trained in military paralegal stuff. He's been a paralegal for a decade, but this is an advanced course for E5s and E6s, and he said he's been learning a lot. He was able to get a weekend pass once so far, but that's it. He's invited me to go down there for the weekend twice now, and both times I've had to decline because of having too much schoolwork to do. I felt horrible about it, too, because I'd so much rather go and see him and support him than do my homework, but putting anything off just makes it build up so fast and next thing I know, I'm drowning in it. So I didn't go.

Racking my brain trying to think of ways to make it up to him, I had a flash of brilliance.



I'm not going to lie, my chocolate chip cookies are to die for. I bring them to holiday gatherings, and they're gone before the holiday cookies are. I bring them to a bridal shower, and the maid of honor sets aside her own little stash before the guests snap them up. I make them for my family and try to hide half in the freezer, and they get found and eaten. I make a batch to share with fellow grad students, and they wonder when they can expect their supply to be replenished.

Hubby is no exception to the rule and absolutely loves these cookies. Why not make a batch and ship them off to Charlottesville? I didn't really have time to be baking, but I made time. This seemed very important for me to do. Imagining his surprise when the hotel informs him that he has a package and opening it to find the cookies inside made a late night of homework totally worth it.



My KitchenAid mixer is ancient and ugly, but it is solid and reliable. I can't imagine making cookies without it.



I remember baking as a kid, and my brothers and I always fought over the BEST part:



I used to watch my mom prepare the dough and *hope*hope*hope* she forgot to scrape dough off the beater before giving it to me. She always remembered, though.



Before long, I had cookies. And I got to use one of my favorite wedding presents, stackable wire cooling racks.



I packed a shoebox with the cookies and a million plastic shopping bags as padding, and took it off to be shipped the next day.



I sure hope hubby likes them :)

Recipe has already been printed, so I'm not putting it in the tastebook. Send me a message if you'd like the recipe.