Randy and I will have been married for 18 years in June. Some days that feels like an eternity, that I cannot really imagine a life before him. Other days feel like our big day was yesterday, perhaps with a slightly cooled honeymoon stage. During our years together, we’ve moved a time or two. Or 13. We started in Utah, moving to Texas weeks after our wedding, then back to Utah, next to Wyoming, finally settling in Washington State. I have learned a couple invaluable tips for cleaning, organizing, packing, downsizing, and buying and selling homes. I am done moving!
The first three homes we ever sold actually sold in one day. One home didn’t even have enough time to get pictures taken before we had a cash offer on the table. We were feeling invincible in our home selling abilities, I tell you! And then we got even more lucky, if that is even possible. The fourth home didn’t even need to go on the market– someone knocked on our door asking to buy. Just over a year ago, weeks after moving into our new, larger home, Randy decided to put our home on Zillow in the “make me move” section of their website. He set a price that I thought was so ridiculous, I literally forgot all about it seconds after he said he’d done it. On a cold Friday morning in January 2017, a knock came at our door. “I’ve got some clients that saw your make me move, could we come tomorrow?” We had signed contracts two days later. We moved our family of seven (and our dog) twice, into two new-to-us homes, in 8 months!! While our son was going through cancer care…
If I have anything to say about it, we are going to live out the rest of our days in our current home. Randy doesn’t even know that we almost didn’t make it to our 17th wedding anniversary when he joked that he was going to put our current home on Zillow just moments after we moved the last of the boxes into our cram-packed garage.
One of the tips that I have always used when staging my home for showings is making a fresh batch of cookies about an hour before the showing. An inviting smell instantly makes them feel at ease, an enticing smell will make them feel right at home. Cleaning smells and other scents have the potential to be a prospective buyers’ least favorite smell in the world, but fresh baked Chocolate Chip Cookies…. is there anything more wonderful?! When I know that we’re going to be selling, I make up a batch of dough, freezing individual balls for quick baking, allowing me to bake 6-12 cookies to have sitting on the counter for the showing. “Come on in! Make yourself at HOME.”
DOUBLE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
This recipe uses two different sizes of chips– ooh, lah lah. But my other Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe uses Caramel. Try them!
INGREDIENTS
- 1 1/4 firmly packed Light Brown Sugar
- 3/4 cup Butter flavored Shortening
- 2 Tbsp. Milk
- 1 Tbsp. Vanilla Extract
- 1 large Egg
- 1 3/4 cup All- Purpose Flour
- 1 tsp. Salt
- 3/4 tsp. Baking Soda
- 3/4 cup semi-sweet Chocolate Chips
- 3/4 cup semi-sweet Mini Chocolate Chips
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Combine light brown sugar, shortening, milk, and vanilla extract in large mixing bowl. Beat at medium speed, whether in a stand mixer or with a hand mixer, until light and fluffy. I personally set a timer for two minutes after everything is incorporated, making the mixture a very subtle, light yellow. Beat egg into creamed mixture.
In a separate bowl, combine all-purpose flour, salt and baking soda. Slowly mix into creamed mixture until blended. Stir in chocolate chips.
Drop rounded tablespoons of dough 3-inches apart onto greased or parchment lined baking sheet.
Bake at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes for chewy cookies, or 11 to 13 minutes for crisp cookies. Cool for approximately 2 minutes on baking sheet. Remove cookies to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.
Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
A soft, chewy, chocolatey chip cookie that will melt in your mouth whether straight from the oven, or cooled and stored days past.
- 1 1/4 cup firmly packed Light Brown Sugar
- 3/4 cup Butter flavored Shortening
- 2 Tbsp. Milk
- 1 Tbsp. Vanilla Extract
- 1 large Egg
- 1 3/4 cup All-purpose Flour
- 1 tsp. Salt
- 3/4 tsp. Baking Soda
- 3/4 cup semi-sweet Chocolate Chips
- 3/4 cup Mini semi-sweet Chocolate Chips
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Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Combine light brown sugar, shortening, milk, and vanilla extract in large mixing bowl. Beat at medium speed until light and fluffy.
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In a separate bowl, combine all-purpose flour, salt, and baking soda. Slow mix into creamed mixture until blended. Stir in chocolate chips.
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Drop rounded tablespoons of dough 3-inches apart onto greased or parchment lined baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes for chewy cookies, or 11-13 minutes for crisp cookies.
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Cool on baking sheet for approximately 2 minutes. Remove to wire cooling rack, allowing to cool completely before storing in an airtight container.
Whether you are selling a home and want quick access to a smaller batch in minutes, or you simply want to have frozen cookie dough on hand, the baking instructions work just as well for fresh or frozen. I may need to add a minute when frozen, depending on how long they’ve been in the freezer, but I have always had chewy cookies (I don’t care too much for crisp Chocolate Chip Cookies) within the allotted time, fresh or frozen.
OTHER COOKIES I RECOMMEND
- Bon Bons
- Lemon or Peanut Butter Oreo Truffles
- M & M Cookies
- Lofthouse Copycat Cookies
- Mermaid Theme Cookies
- Firecracker Sugar Cookies
Does the smell of Chocolate Chip Cookies make you reminisce happy childhood memories? Does it make your home feel more cozy? Do you have visions of welcoming your kids home after school with a fresh, warm batch of gooey homemade cookies? I recommend this recipe for anyone buying, or selling, or enjoying their current home! Click {here} for a quick and easy paper craft gift bag for a cute presentation of these delicious cookies! Happy Baking, my friends!
~Steph