Habits...How's it Going?

Two weeks ago for Eat. Live. Be. we talked about what habit we wanted to get rid of.  My habit was responding in a negative way when on call, not honoring my God in how I responded to others. 

Well, I have definitely done much better this month. In fact, there have been several times when I had to consciously respond instead of just reflexively responding.  I think I've been successful...except for one time on my last call.  Based on what I was told, we were admitting a child for something that we don't normally admit...but after seeing all the information later, I felt better about admitting him...but badly about how I had responded to the other person.  Hopefully, I'll get to talk to him and apologize!  Check out how others are doing:
Sarah Caron - http://www.sarahscucinabella.com/
•Cate O’Malley - http://www.sweetnicks.com/
•Chris Arpante - http://www.melecotte.com/
•Patsy - http://familyfriendsandfood.blogspot.com/
Joanne - http://www.joanne-eatswellwithothers.com/
Tri-Fit Mom - http://trifitmom.blogspot.com/
•Allison - http://sweetflours.blogspot.com/
Jen - http://njepicurean.blogspot.com/
•Leslie - http://www.thehungryhousewife.com/
•Rivki Locker - http://www.healthyeatingforordinarypeople.com/
•Jennifer Schulz - http://lick-a-plate.blogspot.com/
•Sarah Rogers - http://sarahssweetcreations.blogspot.com/
Denise and Lenny - http://www.chezus.com/


As to the habit that I've decided to continue, I have another delicious cookie recipe to share from my Southern Living Cookie book (I LOVE this book!).  It is a Jumbo chocolate chip cookie recipe.  The recipe calls for making a cookie from 1/4 cup of dough.  That's a lot!

 I normally make my cookies about 1 tablespoon sized...they are the perfect size to eat without feeling badly.  However, I've always tried to figure out how bakeries make their cookies so good.  Well, I honestly think it has to do with the size!  Increasing the size without increasing the baking time much makes the texture that wonderful bakery texture.  You would think that the increased size would greatly increase the baking time, but it doesn't; it just changes the texture.  Yum!!!  I also made some "normal" sized cookies and they were great as well.

Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookies
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350.  Cream butter and shortening until creamy; add sugars and beat well.  Add eggs and vanilla, beating well again.  Add in dry ingredients and stir well.  Add chocolate chips and pecans.  Now, if making the "Jumbo" cookies, place 1/4 cupfuls of dough onto baking sheets and flatten slightly into 3.5 inch cookies.  Bake for 12-13 minutes.  If making "normal" cookies, place 1 tablespoon sized dough scoops onto pan and cook for 11-12 minutes.  Remove when golden (cookies may be slightly soft in the middle).  Cool 2-3 minutes on baking sheet.  Remove to cooling rack.  Enjoy!