My first Operation Baking Gals!

Friday, February 20, 2009

My first Operation Baking Gals!

Hubby and I have been wanting to get more into community service. When we lived in Ohio, we used to do community service on a very regular basis. We both feel it’s important to give back. Since moving to Beantown, we’ve fallen off that wagon and we recently got the itch to get back on. I’m looking into multiple ways to give back, including participating in Operation Baking Gals.

If you don’t know what OBP is all about, definitely go check out the website. Basically, a team of bakers send packages to one service member who is currently out of the country. Since that service member will be getting TONS of stuff, he/she can share it with others.

Now I’m not going to get all political here. After all, this is a food blog. But, I will say that no matter what you views on the wars we’re in right now, there’s no reason not to support the troops fighting in those wars. So consider joining a team for OBP and do like I am – using my love of baking for the good of someone else.

I joined team Ugly Angel. Our soldier is Captain “Doober” Turner, the husband of our team captain Kim! (Check out her blog here.) They have 3 small children and another on the way. And, one of the reasons I chose this team is because he’s a CH-53D pilot. I won’t go into details here, but the engines on that helicopter have something to do with my day job…

And now on to the package. I had a super baking day while Hubby was off snowboarding with friends. It was a blast. I got all of my cookie dough made, and baked about 18 dozen cookies. The last 8 dozen were baked the next day.

I made double batches of 3 kinds of cookies. I followed the instructions on the OBG website about how to package them and how to fill out the post office forms.

For the package, I made Alton Brown’s “The Chewy” (double batch yielded 8 dozen cookies)…

some Oatmeal Raisin cookies – Captain Turners’s favorite (double batch yielded 8 dozen cookies)…

and Lumberjacks – Hubby’s favorite (double batch yielded 9.5 dozen cookies).

I didn’t end up shipping 26 dozen cookies because Hubby and I ate quite a few and I saved some Lumberjacks for him. But I think I shipped about 20 dozen cookies! I really hope the recipients enjoy them.

If you are interested in participating in the next round of OBG, check out the website and sign up. I will definitely be doing this again. Also, be sure to check out Kim’s blog for a round up of the Ugly Angel’s Team.

Cookies, Dessert

13 comments »

13 Responses to “Alton Brown’s “The Chewy””

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Bridget — March 5, 2009 at 6:02 pm

Aren’t they the best? They’re so addicting. I’ve actually starting using the same ingredients, but mixing them like a more traditional chocolate chip cookie (i.e., softened butter instead of melted), because I like the dough better with softened butter. The baked cookies were just as good. Best of both worlds!
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Laure — March 5, 2009 at 9:45 pm

These look gorgeous. Don’t you just love AB??? 🙂
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Julie — March 6, 2009 at 4:06 am

The cookies look great. I love AB too..he’s such a dork (in a good way).
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CoCo — March 6, 2009 at 5:50 am

I love the ATK/CI Thick and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies. I will have to try these to see what I think. I remember seeing that the recipes looked similar so I am sure I will love them.
Another AB lover here. My husband gives me a hard time about my DVR list with him but loves it when I give him a fun tidbit or cook him something from AB.
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Jen — March 6, 2009 at 1:34 pm

I completely agree CoCo. Hubby does the same thing. I sometimes even watch episodes I’ve seen before! Hubby doesn’t like to admit it, but he loves AB too. Sometimes he’ll be the one saying “AB says to do this…”
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foodess — March 9, 2009 at 3:38 am

They look SO good!! I am a sucker for a chewy chocolate chip cookie. Although, I must side with your hubby – I prefer mine with just a bit of chocolate.
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Naomi — March 9, 2009 at 6:46 am

How much is a stick of butter? I’m not in the US and have never come across this measurement before.
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Jen — March 9, 2009 at 11:08 am

Sorry about that Naomi – 1 stick of butter = 8 Tbsp. Does that help?
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Dani — March 9, 2009 at 11:46 am

this is very similar to the ccc recipe i use, but anything that makes it chewier is good in my books! i will have to keep this one in mind 🙂
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Naomi — March 13, 2009 at 10:05 am

Yes Jen, thank you!
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Allie — June 2, 2010 at 8:43 pm

Yum! I will definitely be trying these. I always chill my cookie dough too usually because I’m too busy with 3 little ones but I also read that article in the NY times awhile ago and I felt like I deserved a nice big pat on the back for always doing the 24hour chill 🙂 Great post and beautiful cookies!
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Susan — June 23, 2015 at 4:41 pm

I love Alton Brown because of his scientific approach to cooking and baking. I’ve been baking “The Chewy” for years. One thing I do differently: Before chilling the dough, I scoop it into balls. This makes the process much easier. Sometimes I freeze the balls for baking later. After I place the balls on parchment, I carefully place a few extra chocolate morsels on top, pointy side up. This extra step produces picture-perfect cookies every time.
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Desiree — July 2, 2016 at 1:56 am

The Chewy is my go to recipe for cookies. I make a few alterations, occasionally, such as substituting 1/4 of the brown sugar with dark brown sugar. I bake small portions in mini muffin tins; one batch makes 48 cookie bites that are super chewy and the perfect size bite. I’ve made them every year for Christmas gifts for a few years now.