Uncle Jeff's Cookies

Recently, my family passed the anniversary of my uncle Jeff's death. It's
     always been a hard day for me, and though this marks eleven years,
     it hasn't gotten any easier over time. Jeff was always an inspiration to
     me, even before I was born. I often have to explain my middle name
     (it's Macklin. Weird, I know, but it's important), and while it's not
     something I mind tremendously, it gets a bit annoying over time. So no
     one else has to ask, it was my uncle's last name.

He was an amazing man. Jeff Macklin was in the military. Jeff Macklin
     had a beautiful wife and an amazing son. Jeff Macklin was an amazing
     younger brother to my father. And Jeff Macklin would not in a million
     years let someone have the last cookie when my mother made them.
     Those are the things I want him to be remembered for, not what I have
     to give usually as my main description: he died of brain cancer. Something
     many people are surprised at is that he didn't die before I was born. Why
     was I named after him if he was alive? Because my parents loved and
     cared about him enough to name their dang child after him, and because
     Jeffery didn't seem like a great name for their baby girl. Can I blame them
     for that? Nope.

In Jeff's final year or so, he lived with us. Daniella, his wife, is Italian (they
     met while he was stationed in Naples, how romantic is that?). She had
     remained in Italy for some time while he continued to work in the military,
     however, she hastily moved to America upon learning that Jeff had been
     honorably discharged on account that he'd grown a brain tumor. Daniella,
     at the time,was also pregnant, so it was fair to say that it wasn't the best of
     timing. They lived with us for a while out of necessity, but we enjoyed them
     immensely.

Now, I won't bore you with all of the ins and outs of everything I as a three (and
     briefly four) year old remembered about their time with us, but I will let you
     in on some of the happier moments.

First: I remember Christmas. Christmas is without a doubt one of my favorite times
     of the year for plenty of reasons. For one, who doesn't like presents, Christmas
     trees, lights, stockings and all of the other festivities? Even as a teenager, there is
     not much that I enjoy more than riding around with my parents to look at Christmas
     lights, and that's one thing I shared with Jeff. Three year olds don't remember much,
     but I remember that.

Second: I remember his smile. It seems like such a cheesy, minute thing to say, but his
     smile was quite possibly one of my favorite sights. I realize now that I'm older just
     how terrified he must have been, knowing that he would die and that his wife and
     child would be left without him, and it shocks me so much more knowing how often
     he smiled. He smiled when he was sad and in pain just to make me happy, because
     he hated seeing other people sad. His smile was so full of joy that it inspires me to
     this day, and I've had countless nights where I've just wished that I could see it one
     more time.

Third: I remember cookies. I know, an odd transition, but trust me, I'm finally getting
     to the good stuff. Let me say right off the bat that my mother has the very best
     chocolate chip cookie recipe. This isn't me speaking from a bias, it really is the best.
     I'll make sure to bring some, actually. You'll see. Jeff, however, loved them more than
     anyone else, I'm pretty sure. It seems like such a derisory story I realize as I write it
     down, but whatever, I like getting it down so that I can finally let it go. Nearly every
     Saturday night while he lived with us, Jeff would leave my mother and I to our own
     devices to make them (I was likely not much of a help, but little kids love "helping"
     out), and he'd watch television with his wife, their son, and my Dad.

I always, thinking I got away with something special, snuck the first cookie. My mother
     knew I did this, of course, but she promised it was our secret, so I had something to
     giggle about when Jeff happily took the highest cookie on the plate. I never told him
     that I always took that cookie. Not to this day. Just as that was my tradition, it was his
     tradition to always take the very last cookie on the plate. None of us ever argued it. In
     fact, if we did, I'm sure he might have bit our hands off. What do they say— an eye for
     an eye and a tooth for a tooth?

To this day, we make the cookies on occasion, but always on his birthday and on the
     anniversary of his death. Because really, how can you be sad when you have cookies
     and fond memories?

Here's to Jeffery Macklin, the best uncle to ever live. I hope you enjoy these cookies.

UNCLE JEFF'S COOKIES

INGREDIENTS: 

• 2 sticks of softened butter
• 3/4c white sugar
• 3/4c brown sugar
• 2 1/4c flour // tip: this is three of a 3/4c measurement. Just use the one measuring cup!
• 2 eggs
• 1tbs vanilla extract
• 1tsp baking soda

PROCESS:

• In a stand mixer (or normal, but a stand mixer will make it loads easier), cream the butter and both sugars together, add the vanilla and eggs as you go. Also, preheat your oven to 350F.
• Using a sifter (very important), slowly sift in your flour and baking soda, being careful to pause and mix in what you've got occasionally so that flour doesn't end up going everywhere, which is a nightmare. 
• Once you've got that all in, let it mix for a while. There is NO SUCH THING as over mixing when it comes to this, trust me. Here's where the stand mixer comes in. You want to let it mix and mix and mix, this makes for a chewy cookie. 
• Later, once it's mixed for a while, pour in your chocolate chips. If you don't have a five year old helper like us, you may end up with more chips in the end result, but we meant to use one bag. Mix those in by hand with a spatula to give your mixer a break and to let your little helper think she's doing more.
• Scoop them out onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. They WILL spread, take that into consideration while placing them. Wax paper will work too, but not as well in my humble opinion.
• Place them into the oven for ten (10) minutes, but keep a close eye on them, it'll change a bit depending on your oven. A bit before you think they're done (two minutes or so before you'd take them out), take the pan and hit it against the corner of the oven a few times before setting them back in and letting them finish baking. 

An example for spacing purposes: we did three
across, which is a good go-to for most pans

And there we have it: a family recipe! Now, feel free to enjoy some photos I have of my sweet, sweet sister while making them, she really is one of my absolute favorite people. 

On a final note, those last two were her making fun of me, the first being that I was taking a selfie, and the second was her mocking me for calling out on it. 

xoxo, Gossip Girl