My friend, Tom, sent me a very interesting e-mail regarding the age old question of butter vs. margarine. The note claims that margarine is but one molecule away from being plastic and challenged me to put a stick out in the garage for a few days and watch what happens. (more…)

Today is Thursday, May 15. It is the 136 day of the year with 230 remaining. Today is one of my favorite holidays. This is National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day!

I personally believe the best recipe is on the back of the Nestle Toll House morsels bag, but there are several ways you can tweak the recipe for a superior cookie. I learned from years of experience.

_ Always use real butter. I’ve made them with margarine, and butter is better. Plus it isn’t hydrogenated or contain those arterie clogging transfats.

_ Triple the amount of vanilla extract. I learned this the hard way when I got a case of the hickups while mixing the batter. I carefully measured the vanilla and had one of those honking painful hick-ups. I dumped about a jigger’s worth in. Everyone accused me of sipping on the vanilla, but they agreed the cookies were my best effort. (more…)