My favorite basic chocolate chip cookies

• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup packed brown sugar 
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 whole egg 
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 tbsp. vanilla extract
• 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 2 cups milk or semi-sweet chocolate chips (or 1 cup milk chocolate chips, 1 cup m&m's)

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together butter and sugars until combined (about 2 minute). Add in vanilla and egg + yolk. Whisk until smooth (about 30 seconds).
3. Add flour, salt, and baking soda to the bowl- stir together with a spatula or wooden spoon until there are no streaks of flour. Fold in the chocolate until evenly distributed.
4. Using a 1 1/2 T cookie scoop (or two spoons), drop dough 2 inches apart onto prepared cookie sheets. 
5. Bake for 11-13 minutes (cookies will look underdone, and bottoms will be barely golden). Cool on cookie sheet for 5 minutes.

Makes 3 dozen cookies.

Easy Cheese Danishes

• 2 packages crescent rolls

Filling:

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1 tsp. lemon juice
• 2 T. sugar
• 2 T. sour cream

Icing:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 T. softened butter
• 1 T. milk

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Remove crescent roll dough from can- pinch at seams to create one sheet. Pick a shape for your danish.
• Round danish:
• Cut each package into 8 strips. Repeat with second container.
• With each strip of dough, twist it loosely then wrap around itself. Use thumbs to create an indent in the center for the filling.

• Square danish:
• Cut each sheet into 8 squares. Fold corners towards the center, use thumb to create an indent. 

      3.  Filling: Combine all ingredients in stand mixer or with hand mixer until smooth.
      4. Put a dollop of filling in the center of each danish.
      5. Bake for 12-15 minutes until lightly golden.
      6. While danishes are cooling, combine all icing ingredients in a bowl until smooth. When cool, drizzle with icing.