Wednesday night was a really bad night. A really, really bad night. My darling husband had taken Pia out on a “date”, and I was home alone with my little Coco bean, 16 months old.
We had dinner, played games, and then went upstairs to take a shower. We happily sang songs and washed hair, but when it was mommy’s turn to close her eyes while rinsing her hair, my little Coco managed to grab a leg razor and cut her hand open. AAAHHHHHH !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Trust me it was really, really bad. Any parent would have understood my hysteria and panic. And when the firemen from up the street came to see if indeed my child had cut her finger off as I had screamed wildly in the 911 call- they declared it to be just a cut- no need for stitches. They did however recommend a straightjacket for the crazy mother…
Again, everyone gave me the sympathetic, “I’m sorry you are crazy” look at the ER where the nice firemen suggested we go. And my husband asked if would like to wait outside while they bandaged her up. I guess everyone noticed that I am a bit of a crier…
Anyways, my little Coco is one tough cookie, and today she is up to her same old tricks. My eyes have almost emerged from their swollen cry holes, and we are pretty much back to normal. I did however think that it might be nice to bring the firemen some cookies to say thank you. Alright, I was also hoping that the chocolate might fuzz out some of their memories of their hysterical neighbor. My girls and my niece Madison helped me bake them, Coco taste tested and then we took them up to the firehouse.
It was a little tricycle caravan all the way there…
We were lucky enough that the firehouse was open, and a very sweet, uh, I mean tough, firefighter named Todd was there to greet us.
He was so thankful for the cookies, and he welcomed us right in. He let the kids sit in the fire truck, and we got an education about everything from the differences between fire trucks and fire engines, to the jaws of life and smoke and fire safety.
We also met “Andy” the training dummy made out of hoses and duck tape.
He was awesome and generous and spent about 45 minutes with us. The kids were so excited and asked about a million questions, like “do you ever fall down that pole?” “what happens if the fire alarm rings and you are on the toilet?” Very important questions like that….
Ok, I will stop rambling and leave you with three thoughts
1) “Safety First!” as my mom always says. Whether that be baby proofing (I’m on it!) or making sure your family has a fire plan…
2) Brown butter makes for very good cookies. It leaves them with a crispy crust on top and with a very gooey, melty inside. My favorite kind. Here are two different varieties because I just felt like these guys deserved a selection at the very least.
3) In the three years since I have lived here I have brought those firemen cookies twice. That is not nearly enough. When you really think about what these people are sacrificing to keep us all safe, they deserve cookies every day. Well maybe not just cookies, that just happens to be something I am good at- but the point is that they deserve some recognition and some kindness from their community. It is so easy to do, and letting your kids be a part of it is even better. Mine learned a lot today, and so did I. Food for thought…
Brown Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies
1 cup butter, browned
1 ½ cups brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 ½ cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
12 oz dark chocolate chunks
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare sheet pans with silpats or parchment.
In a small pan, melt the butter and simmer it until the butter turns a dark golden brown.
Add it to the sugar in the bowl of a standing mixer.
When the sugar and butter is well combined, slowly beat in the eggs one at a time.
Add the vanilla.
In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients.
Add the dry ingredients to the mixer and combine well.
Add in the chocolate chunks and mix until barely combined.
Scoop batter onto the sheet pans, you can fit 10 cookies on a pan.
Bake the cookies at 350 degrees for 11 minutes and then transfer them to cooling racks.
Chocolate Brown Butter-White Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 cup butter, browned
1 ½ cups brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 3/4 cup AP flour
¾ cup cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup mini chocolate chips
12 oz bag white chocolate chips
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare sheet pans with silpats or parchment.
In a small pan, melt the butter and simmer it until the butter turns a dark golden brown.
Add it to the sugar in the bowl of a standing mixer.
When the sugar and butter is well combined, slowly beat in the eggs one at a time.
Add the vanilla.
In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients.
Add the dry ingredients to the mixer and combine well.
Add in the white chocolate and mini chocolate chips and mix until barely combined.
Scoop batter onto the sheet pans, you can fit 10 cookies on a pan.
Bake the cookies at 350 degrees for 11 minutes and then transfer them to cooling racks.
Enjoy!
A few more shots of the spring day…
Heather, sorry to hear about your little Coco bean. Isn’t it always the way when they do stuff like this? You’re always in the shower or in your pyjamas when you have to call Emergency. Glad she’s on the mend. Nothing like a good choc chip cookie to make everything better!
Heather! Thank goodness it wasn’t worse than it was. Her finger is so little that it wouldn’t take much to do some serious damage. Honestly, my favorite parenting line is from All Creatures Great and Small:
“It takes nerves of steel to be a parent.”
That said, these cookies look divine.
Oh, my dear, I’d be screaming and crying, too. I’m glad your little darling was not seriously cut. CoCo looks like she is on the mend quicker than Mommy!
Love the photos of the girls. Who is the darling older girl in the school uniform? Very pretty.
Cookies – fabulous, of course.
XXOO
Thanks Vicki! yeah- I’m still traumatized!
That is my lovely niece Madison, the best mothers helper on earth.
Both of these cookies look amazing! I don’t know which one to make first!!
glad she is better now and great cookies too I love the last photo pretty girls , and I tell me why i can’t find the SEND in this email you put in the end of these pages? heeeelp please
I found your blog on Tasty Kitchen, and your recipes look amazing! Definitely going to try your recipe for Snickerdoodle Muffins!
I made these cookies for a small dinner party and they were an absolute hit. Everyone agreed, these are the best chocolate chip cookies they have EVER had!! I loved them also, and I am actually not a chocolate chip cookie fan. Amazing Recipe. I loved the browned butter, it made all the difference. Thank you
thanks Nicola!! So happy that everyone enjoyed them!