Chocolate Chip Cookies
makes 32-36

After 3 hours of travel I arrived at my Uncle’s front door. A batch of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies in my purse, I was nervous and somewhat anxious for the visit.

I walked into the house, removed my boots and, then, my coat. The house was just as I’d remembered. I hugged my aunt and listened to her breathe heavily on my shoulder as she cried. Together, we walked into the living room, the buzz of Sunday football audible in the background. I leaned over the hospital bed and kissed my uncle on his forehead. I whispered “Hi Uncle John, it’s Tina. I brought you chocolate chip cookies.” I opened the tupperware and he took a big inhale “Are they from Evelyn?” Evelyn is my mother, and she always baked for him. “No, Uncle John, I made them, so I hope they’re as good.” He looked up into my eyes, mumbling a polite and soft “Well, ok.” We held hands. I laughed “They’re probably not as good as my mother’s, but I hope you try them” I felt his hand grip mine even tighter.

I sat in a folded chair next to his bed and didn’t let go of his hand until he wanted to do so. A white sheet covered his thin body. When I touched his shoulder and knees I could feel his bones. He turned his head and looked over at me “I like this shirt, it’s soft.” He closed his eyes again. I agreed, “That is a very soft shirt, and I love the color on you.” He looked handsome in navy blue; peaceful and warm. I studied his face and the angle of his body on the bed. He shifted his legs up and down. I recorded every single detail of that afternoon, including the sound of his voice and how many times he said “I love you.” Six. I tried to count how many times we ate cookies, together, at a cafe, restuaurant or at his kitchen table. A kaelidoscope of memories played on fast forward in my mind. And, as my aunt and I spoke, he softly said “I think it’s time for you to go.” He was right.

The last time we had cookies and tea, we sat at the kitchen table and I watched the light filter through the blinds and catch his face, I took in his smile. I recorded a picture in my mind of his cookie selection process, the slow tempo with which he dunked and ate. He even went for seconds. I watched his every move, a lasting memory in my mind. We would never do that again.

The longer I stayed, the more I thought I could will him to wake up, walk to the kitchen table and eat the chocolate chip cookies. I imagined he would eat them and be healed. I prayed for his peace, recorded a final mental photo, and said I love you one last time.

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Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups of all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 sticks of butter
3/4 cup of dark brown sugar
3/4 cup of white sugar
3 large eggs
1 T vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup of chopped walnuts

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with a silpat or parchment paper
Place all dry ingredients in a medium mixing bowl and whisk together, set aside
Place butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes
Add eggs and vanilla to the butter and sugar, lightly beating until incorporated - about two minutes
Little by little, add dry ingredients to the wet batter and beat on low speed until flour is mixed in, repeat until all flour has been added
Mix in chocolate chips and walnuts by hand
Eyeball 1 T of batter and spoon onto prepared tray, baking for 9 minutes until cookies have spread out and are just light golden in color
Let cool on a baking rack
Repeat this process until all cookie batter has been used
Makes 32-36 cookies
Store in an airtight container and share with people you love

Chocolate Chip Cookies for Uncle John