A chip off the old block

There is certainly no shortage of vegan chocolate chip cookie recipes in the world, most of them very delicious. An advantage of vegan chocolate chip cookies is that many of the recipes are a lot healthier than the traditional one -- made with quality oil (such as coconut), whole grain flour, and so on. I will add, it's with no detriment to taste. HOWEVER! There are times when I need to go back to my childhood...to those gooey, soft, chewy morsels of love that are completely and utterly non-nutritive. My mom made the best ones. I remember coming home from a dance class or school soooo hungry I could eat 10 or 12. (Teenagers have such amazing appetites!) While I am no longer able to down them with such abandon, I am very happy that after a year of trying, I am finally able to replicate them to my exact memory with vegan ingredients.

Here is my delicious, vegan junk food, Mrs. Bartausky-style:

Mom's Chocolate Chip Cookies

Preheat oven to 350. (My oven thermometer said 375, but I don't know how accurate it is)

Prepare two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Cream together very well:

1 c earth balance non-dairy stick "butter"

3/4 c brown sugar

3/4 c unbleached sugar (Fair trade organic sugar if at all possible!)

Whip together in a food processor, blender, or cup with immersion blender til creamy:

1 1/2 T (4 1/2 t) egg replacer (tested with EnerG egg replacer)

6 T water

Whip the egg replacer mixture and 2 t vanilla into the "butter" and sugar until everything is very light and fluffy.

Sift together:

2 1/2 c. all purpose flour

1 t baking soda

1 scant t salt

mix into the sugar mixture until a nice dough forms, and then stir in:

1 1/2 (or 2 if you want) chocolate chips (fair trade and organic again, if possible)

1 c chopped toasted nuts, optional

Drop dough by tablespoonfuls onto prepared baking sheets and bake for 10-12 minutes, until barely, just golden. Let sit on sheets for a minute and remove to racks to cool. Enjoy with your favorite non-dairy milk. Makes about 45, depending on how much dough you eat while you're baking. Oh, you don't do that? Must be just me....