I thought these cookies were fantastic! They came out perfectly soft and chewy. Some people might not have sifted the flour and that could be the reason for complaints about texture. You also have to make sure you really cream the butter and sugars together well. I took review advice and added another teaspoon of vanilla and some salt and it worked out great. I would suggest chilling the cookie sheets before using and if you have a dark cookie sheet, use that instead of a shiny one. The cookies I baked on my dark sheet didn't spread at all and were perfect. The ones from the shiny sheet were still great, but they spread out some and as a result, the cookies were thinner. I also halved the recipe because there was no need for me to have 6 dozen cookies in my house!

Reviewed On: Aug. 31, 2009

This was a fantastic dish! Of course, I didn't follow the recipe to the letter, but it was a great jumping off point for me. I tossed the beef in flour, garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt and fresh black pepper before browning. Instead of simmering it in water, I used 2 cups beef broth. I also threw in some balsamic vinegar to give it some tang. When it was time to cook the vegetables, I added extra beef broth to the leftover broth from the meat. I also mixed the gravy with the shredded beef and vegetables instead of pouring it on top. It was fabulous, and my husband said it's going to replace beef stew in my catalog of meals. I can't wait to eat it again!

Reviewed On: Apr. 18, 2009