Chocolate Chip Cookies

I am planning for my daughter's six-year Hello Kitty kids' birthday party on this coming Saturday, so any spare time I can muster is spent planning for that. Thankfully, tonight is Wednesday. Every Wednesday night, Madelyn has church and I have about 1 1/2 hours of time to myself, which I desperately need right now. I decided to NOT finish sewing the Hello Kitty ears and bake some chocolate chip cookies instead. This is my no-fail, go-to chocolate chip cookie recipe. I wish I could remember where I got the recipe from so I could give credit where credit is due. I have used many, many different chocolate chip cookie recipes but these are the most perfect homemade chocolate chip cookies I have ever made. This recipe yields 48 cookies.

Ingredients:

• 1 c butter, softened
• 1 c white sugar
  
• 1 c packed brown sugar
  
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  
• 3 c all-purpose flour
  
• 1 tsp baking soda
  
• 2 tsp hot water
  
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 c semisweet chocolate chips (I used half milk chocolate and half white chocolate)

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  
• Cream together the butter, white sugar and brown sugar; until smooth.
  
• Beat in the eggs one at a time.  Stir in the vanilla.
• Dissolve the baking soda in hot water. Add it to the batter along with the salt.
  
• Gradually mix in the flour, 1/2 c at a time.
• Stir in the chocolate chips (sometimes I add chopped nuts at this point).
• Drop by large spoonfuls onto an ungreased baking sheet.
• Bake for 14 to 18 minutes (15 minutes in my old oven), or until bottom edges begin to brown.
  
• Allow to cool for 5 minutes on the pan before transferring to wire rack.
  
• Enjoy!