In our birthing class we were told, when you go into labour, usually the doctor wants you to hang at home until your contractions are a certain amount apart and other criteria that I have blocked out at this point.  They said, pack your final items, rest, and bake cookies for the nurses.  I thought that sounded crazy.  Well, my water broke around 3pm, and the only thing I could think to do, while Doug was running around figuring out the important stuff, was to bake.  I love to bake, I bake instead of doing anything I am supposed to be doing.  I could be neck deep in things I have to get done, and if I just make some cookies, it relaxes me and clears my mind, so I can get the important stuff done.  Here is the recipe for the most amazing cookies, which we brought to the nurses at the hospital on that crazy day in April, 2015.

1/2 cup softened butter (I always use unsalted for baking)

1/2 cup packed (obviously) brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1 T brandy.  That is pretty much the only booze we don’t have in our liquor cabinet, so I just buy mini’s at the store.  One mini makes about 3 batches

1 1/2 cups + 1T of flour.  I don’t really get it, but it’s what my recipe says, and it’s what I do, and it works, so, just for luck add that Tablespoon.

1/2 t baking soda

1/2 t salt

3/4 cup white chocolate chips.  I bet you could use other chocolate, and it would be great

1 cup dried cranberries.  Again, I bet you could try other fruit, and it would be good.  I think I’ll try chocolate cherry sometime.

Preheat over to 375°F.  Place parchment paper on baking sheets, or grease, if you prefer.

In a large bowl, or mixer, cream together the butter, and both of the sugars, until smooth.

Beat in the egg and brandy.

Whisk the flour, salt and baking soda in a bowl, and then stir into sugar mixture.

Mix in the chocolate, and cranberries.

Drop by Tablespoons onto the prepared baking sheets.

Bake for 8-10 min in the preheated oven.  For best results, take out while they are still doughy, and just barely brown on the edges.

Allow cookies to cool for a minute on the cookie sheets, before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

Try not to eat them all in one go, or you might get fat…like us…