Birthday 2012

Yes, I'm thinking ahead.  But this is just absolutely the coolest idea ever!  For my... um... (can I pass for 25 still?) birthday I'm going to throw my own birthday party.  A Cookies and Cocktails party.  I got the idea from here:

http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/cookies-cocktails/cookies-cocktails/index.html

I was up at 3 a.m. for Ethan's late night feeding and I happened to catch the show and was like, totally cool!  Ironically... or Coincidentally, I checked my email that day and had an invite to a cookie exchange which is basically the same idea without the adult festive beverages.  I'm thinking about having the beverages and making this a couples party so my friends and their significant others can come, but also have some kid friendly cookies and beverages so that everyone can bring their children.

I'm especially excited to try some of these recipes, especially the Momofuku Compost Cookies and Cereal Milk Cocktail.  Of course, let's hope none of my invitees are on major New Year's diets.

While I'm on the topic of things I think are cool... this show has a lot of fun stuff that I'd like to find the recipes for to try at home since it's unlikely I will get to many of the places on it:

http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/unique-sweets/index.html

For Denise and in referenve to this post I am posting my grandma's chocolate chip cookie recipe.  These cookies are so much yummier than what you find on the back of the Nestle Toll House chocolate chip bag.  Maybe it's the crisco that makes them over the top yummy.  They're not too sweet, just the right mix of sweet and salty.  The recipe doesn't make that many cookies, maybe a dozen or a baker's dozen or so...  But then again, if the recipe made more than that I'd be tempted to eat more than that and I don't need more.

Nana's Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup crisco
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoons water
1 6oz bag of chocolate chips
1/2 cups nuts (optional)

Cream crisco and sugars
Add egg, blend well
Add vanilla and water
Sift flour, salt and soda together
Add flour mixture to cookie mixture
Stir in chips and nuts

Bake 375
9 minutes
ungreased cookie sheet