Chocolate Earl Grey Ice Cream Sandwiches & The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies Ever

I had the pleasure of meeting Debbie earlier this summer, and she shared with me the best homemade chocolate chip cookies ever.  Now, I don't say that lightly because I've explored the "perfect" chocolate chip cookie before.  Debbie & I agreed that chocolate chip to dough ratio had to be balanced - not having too many chips, which allows one to taste the caramelized goodness of the brown sugar in the cookie.  I know there are probably many of you that would disagree and are wondering how there could be such a thing as "too many chocolate chips"?  

If you've been following my blog for some time, you know that I don't like my sweets too sweet.  I enjoy being able to taste all the different elements of a cookie rather than the overbearing sweetness of all that chocolate.  Debbie shared how she likes to bake with bittersweet chocolate chips rather than semi-sweet, to down play that overall sweet factor.  I don't know why I never thought of that but when I had a hankering for chocolate chip cookies recently, I knew her recipe would be my go-to as I had personally tasted just how good they were.  

Because I had plans to pair these cookies with ice cream, I cut down on the chocolate chips - in fact, I only used 3 ounces of chocolate (unsweetened, at that), chopped finely so the cookie would bake up flatter, and less "bumpy".  The result was a chocolate-speckled cookie - perfect for me.  And with a scoop of chocolate earl grey ice cream in between? Even better.  

{Recipe(s) after the jump}

Summer Reflections

Things have been quiet around here for the past couple weeks... I had taken on a new job on top of a part-time job I already had, accepted a dessert project for a family friend, and traveled to Utah all in the same week.  Park City, Utah was a welcome sight, even just for a weekend.

A few months ago, Maggy asked me to join the Blogger Without Borders team.  As someone that's sought to do good through baking/blogging these past two years, it really was an easy decision for me.  Having the opportunity to work with fellow bloggers with the same heart and passion to do good is exactly what I've been seeking. 

So, we met.  We cooked/baked. We ate.  We talked.  We brainstormed.  We laughed.  We may have danced. Did I mention that we ate? The amazing staff at Deer Valley Resort took care of us so well... I may have to take a trip back just for the food!

The weekend away was just what I needed to collect my thoughts and focus on the important things.  Without going into details, my personal life has been a struggle the past 6 months or so - thoughts, ideas, and mostly worries have plagued my mind and led to countless sleepless nights.  Constant worrying and wondering about what my purpose is in life.  It's only within these last few weeks that I've started to get some clarity.  Clarity and a new-found purpose.  My new friends and colleagues have stirred up something that makes me want to do better, and be better.  To stop waiting, and to start doing. 

I know it all sounds so cliche and kind of vague, but I promise that good things are coming.  Please be patient with me as I embark on this new venture...with the changes I'm making in my personal life, may come changes in my blogging and social networking world. I'm excited for these next few months and I look forward to sharing more with you soon!