whiting family cookies

growing up, my family rarely made cookies. 

if we did, they were break-n-bake, cause we seriously suck at kitchen type things.

my husband's family however, does not suck.

the whitings have the most amazing cookie recipe in the history of america. also the rest of humanity.

these puppies never go stale, and you literally can't screw them up.

at least that's what my husband said when he convinced me to bake them myself for the first time. and somehow, i did. they looked like hard, puffy maggot balls-- evidence of my genetic kitchen suck.

any way, here is my favorite cookie recipe and the only one that i actually care enough about to memorize.

the whiting family cookies

1 c white sugar

1 c brown sugar

1 c shortening 

3 eggs

1 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp baking soda

2 c choco chips

2 1/2 c flour, added gradually

preheat oven to 350. in a super huge bowl, get your beaters out and completely mix together white sugar, brown sugar, eggs and shortening. next add salt, vanilla and baking soda--mix. third, dump in the chocolate chips {2 cups is enough for awesomeness but if you want ultra-awesomeness, go for the whole bag} and blend the mixture completely. Lastly you'll add the flour, mixing in one cup at a time. 

bake on a lightly greased pan for 9-10 minutes, or when the bottom edges look golden {sorta like a pancake, when it's ready to be flipped}. the cookies will continue to bake as they sit out of the oven on the hot pan and will turn out hea.ven.ly. i promise {smile}

happy cookies!

Biscuits & Gravy

biscuits & gravy are a Whiting Family classic. i am sad to say that i had never heard the term before. when i relayed that fact to my new in-laws, once the appalled gasping ended, they cooked up a batch just for me. i was heartily in heaven.

the best country home meal, and so simple!

Biscuits:

4cups flour

2 tbs sugar

2 tbs baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 cup shortening

2 eggs

1 1/3cup milk

preheat oven to 425. mix in a large bowl: flour, sugar, baking powder & salt.

next grab your pastry cutter (a potato masher will do) and add shortening, eggs and milk.

 drop tablespoon-sized biscuits onto sprayed pan, and bake for 11-12 mins (or until golden brown. but i think you knew that). 

while the biscuits are baking it's time to start the gravy!

Gravy:

1 package bacon or sausage 

(it's your choice, trav prefers bacon but i prefer sausage, try both!)

1 cup flour

milk (lots. of. milk.)

Lawry's seasoning salt

First, cook bacon. You can make it as soft or crunchy as you like! Once cooked, drain all the fat (add the appropriate "ewwww" when prompted). Then return pan to stove on medium heat and add one cup of flour. Be sure to mix and don't stop! The flour burns easily. Mix and cook until flour becomes a light goldy color (maybe more off-white. haa i'm so profesh, right?). Next add the milk, pour into the pan until it reaches halfway up the pan. It's a lot of trial and error, so keeping mixing and adding milk until it's the consistency you want. less milk = thick, more milk = less thick.

once it's all done & done crumble the biscuits and coat with gravy! 

bon appetite (or whatever!)