fresh from the oven // chocolate chip cookies

I love the aroma of freshly baked goodies. The smell of bread that just came out of the oven, or maybe some muffins or a coffee cake. But no matter how many things we bake, there's nothing quite the same as the scent of fresh chocolate chip cookies.

Awhile back a friend of ours gave us her chocolate chip cookie recipe and it's become a family favorite. I can't pinpoint exactly why we like them so much - maybe it's because they have chocolate in them. Wait a minute, that's kind of the point of a chocolate chip cookie, isn't it? Never mind, moving on...

A few days ago I decided to bake cookies for several reasons. First of all, we wanted to take them to some ladies in our church. Secondly, they sounded good. And last of all, I needed a photo subject and chocolate chip cookies just happen to be photogenic. They sit really still and they taste really good. Having more than enough reasons, I grabbed the recipe and got to work.

I must mention that I don't bake in the most organized fashion. By the time I was done there was flour all over, measuring cups and spoons scattered here and there, and bits of dough that had flown out of the mixer and landed on the counter. Despite the mess I made of the kitchen, the results of my effort were golden brown circles with warm centers packed full of gooey chocolate chips. Well worth it, I would say, as freshly baked chocolate chip cookies are simply delicious - especially with a glass of milk.

There is only one thing that I can't make up my mind about when it comes to chocolate chip cookies.

Is it the cookie dough or the baked cookies that are better?