1. Farm Journal Homemade Cookies, by the Editors of Farm Journal, edited by Nell B. Nichols, Farm Journal Field Food Editor, ©1971
There was no hesitation, no doubts in my mind when Michael asked me what my top ten favorite cookbooks were — this one is my number one favorite. I love this cookie cookbook! I’ve had it ever since it came out in 1971 — that's 40 years ago! — and I use it as my main reference for all my cookie making ideas. The very first thing that I liked about this cookbook was the eight color photos/illustrations because they gave me immediate inspiration.
The next thing I liked was the incredible amount of recipes it contains — for hundreds of dozens of different kinds of cookies. Every recipe that I’ve ever tried over the years has been a success — and I think that’s because they were tested before being included in the book and because the written instructions are very clear and easy to follow.
I was greatly inspired by the chapter for making cookies from a mix that you've made yourself. It includes how to make three different kinds of basic cookie mixes (including one for high altitude baking called the "Colorado Basic Cookie Mix") that you can make up ahead of time to use later for lots of different recipes. When you want to bake a "hurry-up batch of cookies," you can pull out your basic mix and add eggs, water, chocolate and nuts, for example, to make brownies.
This idea lets you make your own cookies from scratch while still having the convenience of a ready-made mix that's fresher and better than what you could buy off a store shelf. And even if you don't always make the cookie mix ahead of time, you'll always know it in your head, and will be able to whip it up in a hurry, that is, as long as you have the ingredients on hand!
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