Cookie Recipes

Basic Chocolate Chip Cookies

Makes 48 cookies.

1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 (12-ounce) package or 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 375°F.

In a large mixing bowl cream together butter, sugar, brown sugar and vanilla. Stir in eggs; beating well.

In another bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture, stirring until thoroughly combined. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.

Drop by teaspoonfuls onto an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Cool slightly before removing from the baking sheet.

Wise a collector of antique cookie jars for approximately 40 years, loaned a portion of his collection to the Varnado Store Museum recently for its "Cookies and Cream" exhibit.

The exhibit was held each weekend in June to highlight achievements in the dairy industry.

Brannan said the exhibit was the museum's second to feature the dairy industry. The exhibit included a number of old and new dairy memorabilia, including old-time butter churns, ice cream makers, milking stools, milk bottles and crates, old dairy journals and milking machinery.

Since cookies make an appropriate accompaniment to milk, the exhibit also featured cookie recipes, cookie cutters, and antique cookie jars, including those from Wise's collection.

Wise began his interest in the jars while collecting other items. "He's a junk man," said Museum Board Member Genevieve Brannan, who organized the June exhibit. Wise said he used to sell walking sticks and other items and trinkets, and regularly had a booth at the Washington Parish Fair.

Wise said he traveled all over the region to find different cookie jars to add to his collection, and that he's up to over 50 jars.

Wise's jars range from a 1970's "Have a Happy Day" jar that sells for between $65-75 to a Dutch Girl that sells from about $145-$200.

Although Wise no longer actively seeks new jars for his collection, "once in a while, my son will bring some new ones," he said.