"Every Artist Was First an Amateur" - Ralph Waldo Emerson

I do like a challenge. But right now I'm realizing something I really didn't consider in the beginning. I am really just an amateur cook. You may not know this. Yet here I come, joining the masses of cooks, contributing my ideas to add to your own kitchen menu. Today I learned that I need to do more research on cooking. I didn't know what a Dutch oven was. My mother never used a Dutch oven. In fact, I haven't asked them all but I doubt anyone in my family used them. So as I look at others' recipes online, I realize that mine may not come from the most experienced chef. Like Emerson said Every good artist has their beginning and I'll keep sharing family recipes I've learned or ones that I use. For all you amateurs, I may be writing especially to you. I hope you'll learn something fresh and new!

Here is an idea for those who never make homemade cookies except from Pillsbury's ready to bake cookie dough. I'll start with a confession. I've used LOTS of already ready to bake cookie dough and cookie bag mixes to make chocolate chip cookies. I've made homemade chocolate chip cookies before but the dough & bag mixes were just easier. If you find yourself doing the same thing as I did, here is a way to add just one more step and make it more unique. Take your favorite Chocolate chip bag mix and add a handful of Reese's peanut butter baking chips to the ingredients and you'll have chocolate chip, peanut butter cookies that melt in your mouth. You can also try a handful of M&M's or a few dashes of Cinnamon. You can try any one of these options or a combo of M&M's and Peanut Butter chips.

For those of you who never cheat and use a mix. Just add any or a combo of these ingredients to your favorite homemade chocolate chip cookie recipe. Who knew chocolate chip cookies could get any better?

*And another tip for beginners. If you like really soft cookies, try baking them for less time than stated on the recipe, just about 2 mins less and check on them. Often times your oven will bake them to fast. Remember when you pull them out they will continue to bake a bit more on the sheet. If they aren't ready stick them back in for another minute or two.