From Florence Shultz of Chesterfield: I have always had a passion for cooking and baking. When I was growing up, I always helped my grandmother and mother cook. I have many great memories of baking with my two daughters, Charlotte and Melissa, when they were little. My favorite and most well-known recipe is undoubtedly my chocolate chip cookie recipe, which I originally found in the Post-Dispatch many years ago. I have many fond memories of experimenting with this recipe over the years with my family. You can change the chips or nuts to whatever you would like to use. I believe that eating a chocolate chip cookie always makes life better!

Recipe: Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

1cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

¾ cup granulated sugar

¾ cup packed brown sugar

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. vanilla

2 eggs, beaten

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tbsp. warm water

2¾ cups all-purpose flour

1 cup pecans, chopped

1(12-ounce) bag 

semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Combine butter, sugars, salt, vanilla and eggs in large mixing bowl. 

Beat well.

Mix baking soda in warm water. Beat into sugar/butter mixture. Gradually beat in flour, mixing thoroughly. Stir in nuts and chocolate chips.

Drop by rounded tablespoon onto greased cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes. I usually bake for 10 minutes.  

Makes 3 dozen cookies.