One time I asked a friend for her delicious soup recipe and she said, “I’m sorry, that’s a secret recipe. I don’t give that one out.” I was speechless and think I may have uttered a squeak instead of any words forming. I come from the mindset that if you find something really good, you shout it from the rooftops! Kind of like when someone asks me where I got my cool shoes/purse/sweater/etc and I tell them how cheap it was and where to find it. My husband HATES when I do that but, again, a good deal is worth sharing!

I love old family recipes. The generations before us live on through their recipes and stories that are handed down with them. I love the penmanship, I love that they have stains from use, and I love that you can create something that will bring all your senses back to the past. I remember asking my Nana for her zuccini recipe several times and I got a different version of it each time. She never wrote anything down! One time she told me she had an amazing new recipe for chocolate brownies. “You take this box and add an egg and some water!”

For my wedding shower, each guest wrote out their favorite recipe, which I still cherish and use on a regular basis. One of my favorites was my aunt’s, that said, “Pick up the phone, order Chinese food, eat!” But really, to have 40 or so recipes that are my loved ones tried-and-true favorites is priceless.

I was beyond thrilled when I was asked to create these special gifts through my Etsy site. She wanted to have her grandmother’s “Forgotten Kisses” cookie recipe, in her grandmother’s handwriting,  painted on cutting boards to give to her loved ones. I chose these cutting boards for their rich wood grain and copper detail on the handle. Making these definitely made me want to 1) make cookies and 2) create something similar for myself with my own cherished recipes.  Since I don’t have time for either of those options at the moment (hello Christmas rush!), I figured I’d share my world famous chocolate chip cookie recipe:

Katie’s Chocolate Chip Cookies:

2 sticks butter (yes, real, salted butter, no substitutes!)

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup white sugar

1 tsp vanilla

Mix the above ingredients until well blended. Add the following:

3 cups flour

2 eggs

1 tsp baking soda

Mix until well blended. Add 1 1/2 – 2 cups chocolate chips. Drop by tablespoonful onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 12 minutes. Remove pans from oven and let cookies cool completely on the pan. They will continue cooking with out getting crispy.

Yields 2 1/2 dozen, unless your kids get to the cookie dough. Enjoy!