Chip, Chip Hooray! for Chocolate Chip Day

Chocolate Chip Pie
Original Chocolate Chip Cookies

(Family Features) - Can you imagine life without chocolate chips? Neither can I! The inspiration of so many dreamy desserts, these semi-sweet morsels are sweetly commemorated on May 15, Chocolate Chip Day.

Take a sweet page from history and celebrate the all-American chocolate baking classic and the creative baker behind the chip. When Ruth Wakefield, an accomplished home baker and Toll House Inn owner, added chopped Nestle chocolate bars to her butter cookies, a classic cookie-and the Nestle Toll House morsel-were born. In the 1930s, when Ruth agreed to let Nestle print her Toll House Cookie recipe on its bars of chocolate, Nestle offered to supply Ruth with all the chocolate she wanted for baking for the rest of her life.

How's that for a sweet deal: a supply of chocolate for life! That's one of the whimsical bits of the history of the chocolate morsels which are used daily in kitchens across America and around the globe.

While I bake a batch of perfect, classic chocolate chip cookies to fill the cookie jar for May 15, I'll be inspired to make a chocolate chip dessert suitable for Mother's Day.

Enjoy the fascinating history of the birth of the chocolate chip, the Toll House Inn, and tips and delectable recipes for using this all-American chip off the chocolate block at www.VeryBestBaking.com.

Chocolate Chip Pie
(Makes 8 servings)

1 unbaked 9-inch (4-cup volume) deep-dish pie shell *
2 large eggs
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
1 cup (6 ounces) NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
1 cup chopped nuts
Sweetened whipped cream or ice cream (optional)

PREHEAT oven to 325° F.

BEAT eggs in large mixer bowl on high speed until foamy. Beat in flour, granulated sugar and brown sugar. Beat in butter. Stir in morsels and nuts. Spoon into pie shell.

BAKE for 55 to 60 minutes or until knife inserted halfway between edge and center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack. Serve warm with whipped cream, if desired.

* NOTE: If using frozen pie shell, use deep-dish style, thawed completely. Bake on baking sheet; increase baking time slightly.

Nutrition Information per serving: 580 calories; 330 calories from fat; 38 g total fat; 18 g saturated fat; 100 mg cholesterol; 230 mg sodium; 57 g carbohydrate; 2 g fiber; 36 g sugars; 7 g protein

Original Chocolate Chip Cookies
(Makes 5 dozen cookies)

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 cups (12-ounce package) NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
1 cup chopped nuts

PREHEAT oven to 375° F.

COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.

BAKE for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

PAN COOKIE VARIATION: Grease 15 x 10-inch jelly-roll pan. Prepare dough as above. Spread into prepared pan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in pan on wire rack. Makes 4 dozen bars.

Fast Tip: To save time and still keep the delicious flavor, use NESTLÉ Toll House Tub Cookie Dough, or chocolate chip pre-scored cookie dough - simply break apart and bake.

Nutrition Information per serving: 110 calories; 50 calories from fat; 6 g total fat; 3 g saturated fat; 15 mg cholesterol; 85 mg sodium; 13 g carbohydrate; 1 g fiber; 8 g sugars; 1 g protein

Jenny Harper is Senior Culinary Specialist for the Nestlé Test Kitchens and VeryBestBaking.com

Source: VeryBestBaking.com