houston, the sprinkles have landed.

Wow...I really am sick. Sick. In. The. Brain. It's 2am, and what am I doing? Baking, of course. I realized that I wanted to take over something delicious to Elizabeth's tomorrow, since a bunch of us will be crashing her place and pool. :) I blame this late-night baking thing on genetics. Thanks, Mom. ;) Seriously, though, when I was little, my mom watched "Dolores Claiborne" one night while I was asleep. I don't know how familiar you all are with this movie, but in the opening scene, Dolores Claiborne, played by Kathy Bates, murders this woman by hurling a rolling pin at her from the top of a stairway.

Rolling pin. Baking. Rolling pin. Pie crust. Rolling pin. APPLE PIE.

Needless to say, when I woke up the next morning, there were two beautiful, homemade pies gracing our kitchen. Oh, and my mom never did get past that rolling pin scene in the movie. True story.

So I decided to go all old school tonight and make these chocolate chip cookies by hand, as in not with a mixer. I am sure my housemates were pleased with this decision, since they all were fast asleep during this impromptu baking-frenzy. Creaming was an adventure, and thank goodness the butter was soft...or else I would've gotten myself into another carpal tunnel-baking situation. Never a good thing.

Also, is there anything more beautiful than a measuring cup packed evenly to the brim with brown sugar? That's perfection every time, folks. It's really hard to mess that up.

Side track, side track! I need to introduce Feets. And, yes, you've got that right...plural with an "s". :) Feets is my handy bowl who usually joins me in the morning, holding my cereal and milk. No, I do not usually name my kitchen utensils, but how is a bowl with feet just not screaming to be personified?

So I have to admit, there was an obscene amount of sprinkle-ing that went on tonight. I love love sprinkles, and, if I didn't get harassed for my deep love for them, I'd add them to everything I baked. My friend, Kevin, claims that sprinkles have no flavor and are virtually pointless. Well, isn't sugar a flavor? :) And if that isn't a suitable answer, then my explanation for tonight's intense sprinkle-age is that sprinkles lend a "happiness factor" to baking. That is, they can make even the ordinary baked good (i.e. chocolate chip cookie bar) so much more fun and desirable to eat! Also, sprinkles, much like peanut butter, are a Miracle Food. Basically, they are the salvation to many a traumatic episode in the kitchen. Cake looking blah with just icing on top? Add some sprinkles. Vanilla ice cream just not cutting it as a dessert for your guests? Add some sprinkles. Chocolate chip cookies need some cheering up??? You guessed it! Add some sprinkles! Let's take a look at some before and after pictures, shall we?

Look at that rainbow of color! And the best part about adding these sprinkles was that they sounded like jingle bells as they fell out of their glass demi-cup and onto the dough. :) See? There is a purpose for sprinkles!

Ohhh yeeeeah...and look at these beauties when they finally emerged from the oven...

In the words of my grandma...

hot damn.

I'm-All-Sprinkled-Out Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 sticks butter
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup rainbow sprinkles

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray.

In small bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. In large bowl, beat butter, sugars, and vanilla until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually mix in flour mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. Spread dough into prepared pan. Evenly sprinkle sprinkles over dough.

Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes until cookie is golden brown. Cool in pan on wire rack. Cut into squares, and serve.