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Little Gram's Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

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The Greatest of all Cookies

I love cookies. I adore everything about them—their shapes, smells, and tastes. I've enjoyed a variety of cookies: store-bought, festive Christmas cookies, really BIG cookies, and ones I've baked myself. Yet, none compare to my Little Gram’s Chocolate Chip Cookies—the greatest of them all.

These cookies combine chocolate chips, crushed peanuts, brown sugar, shortening, flour, baking soda, and four eggs. Mixed together, they're shaped into about 60 raw cookies and baked at 400 degrees for thirteen minutes. This simple recipe yields the perfect chocolate chip cookie. They're so good, they could practically be their own food group.

To enjoy these circular blobs of perfection, I follow the “Ritual of the Perfect Cookie.” First, I grab a large glass of milk. Then, I take the red, slightly dented tin filled with cookies and gently remove the lid to reveal the treasures inside. I search for the perfect cookie to start with—one about an inch in diameter, dotted with chocolate chips and peanut chunks. Smiling, I dip it in the milk and then enjoy it whole. I continue this ritual, savoring as many cookies as I can.

Eating these cookies, I encounter sensations beyond my wildest dreams. Delicious waves sweep through me, igniting a burst of energy unlike any other. After just one cookie, I feel invincible, with perfect health, vision, and even spelling. I am mentally and physically enhanced, in harmony with the world.

It may sound like I'm exaggerating, and perhaps I am, just a tad. But truly, my Little Gram's cookies are the best I’ve ever had. One crucial ingredient I hadn't mentioned yet, which is the most important, is love. My great grandma’s love shapes the cookies, infusing them with taste, character, and making Little Gram’s Chocolate Chip Cookies the unparalleled champion of all cookies.

Little Gram’s Chocolate Chip Cookies

4 eggs

1 lb of pre-sifted flour (3 1/3 cups)

½ lb of light brown sugar (3½ cups when loose and 2¼ cups when packed)

1 cup of chopped salted cocktail peanuts

6 oz. of chocolate chips

½ lb of shortening

¼ tsp of baking soda

½ tsp of baking powder

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  1. Begin by creaming the shortening in a large mixing bowl.

  2. Slowly incorporate the sugar until the mixture is creamy.

  3. Add the eggs two at a time, mixing well after each addition until the mixture is light and fluffy.

  4. Gradually mix in the flour along with the baking soda and baking powder. If the dough becomes too thick for the electric beaters, continue to add and mix the ingredients by hand.

  5. Once all the flour is incorporated, fold in the peanuts and chocolate chips.

  6. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for a few minutes to firm up.

  7. Preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C).

  8. Form the dough into teaspoon-sized balls and place them on a cookie sheet, either by rolling them in your hands or dropping them with a spoon.

  9. Bake for 12 minutes, or until the cookies are golden brown.

  10. This recipe will make approximately 60 cookies.

"There is a story in our family that says when my mother first made these she used peanuts in place of walnuts as called for in the typical chocolate chip cookies because peanuts were cheaper. I don't know if that is a true story but it does give these cookies a unique taste. My sister Anna and I have made them for years. But I've made changes to the original recipe so you can really say this is my own recipe. Even though I have problems with my hands, try to make them for my grandson Stephen whenever he comes home from New York. His brother Paul loves them, too."

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Beloved Matriarch Mary Ferrante, 105

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Little Gram's obituary

Mary (Taormina) Ferrante, a beloved matriarch whose perseverance, piety, generosity and sheer goodness inspired all who met her, died on Monday, July 14, at the home of her granddaughter, surrounded by her family. She was 105.

Maria Concetta Ferrante was born on December 8, 1902, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, in Sicily, the fifth of six children of Francesco and Giuseppa Taormina. The family lived in Sicily until she was seven years old, when they sailed from Palermo to Ellis Island, New York.

The Taormina’s settled in Youngstown, OH, where Mary enjoyed an idyllic childhood. At her brother Andrew’s wedding in Philadelphia, 16 year-old Mary traded youthful bliss for joy of another kind when she met a handsome soldier named Frank Ferrante – the bride’s brother. Soon, the bride’s brother and the groom’s sister became husband and wife themselves. Their first child, Angelina Nora (Angie), was born in 1920, followed quickly by Josephine Ann (Jo Ann); Rose, who tragically only lived 2 years; James William (Jimmy) who passed away in 2007; and her fifth child, Frank Joseph, born when Mary was just 23 years old.

Frank, Sr., was an underemployed carpenter; so Mary found work as a seamstress, sometimes holding two jobs. It wasn’t until their four surviving children had grown up and moved out that they bought a bungalow in Pennsauken, and began fixing up their dream home. But their empty-nest happiness was short-lived. In 1946, Frank died of a broken neck after a fall, leaving Mary a widow at 44. Left with almost no money, Mary went to work again, this time in the alteration departments of Philadelphia clothing stores. Later, she found work closer to home at Strawbridge and Clothier in Cherry Hill and continued to work until she finally retired at age 80. By then, she had moved from Pennsauken to Sicklerville, where she lived by herself, proudly making and washing her clothes, cooking, baking homemade bread and cleaning, until she was well past 100.

In addition to her indefatigable work ethic, Mary was known for her deep faith in God and in the Catholic Church. Until she was no longer physically able, she attended Mass regularly but was neither maudlin nor zealous in her beliefs. She simply believed.

Mary Ferrante is survived by three of her five children: Angelina Lorren, Jo Ann Endner, and Frank Ferrante, six of her eight grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and 23 great-great-grandchildren. She will be greatly missed.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her viewing Thursday eve 7:00 – 9:00pm at the Egizi Funeral Home, 119 Ganttown Rd., Washington Twp. Funeral Mass Friday 10:00am at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 642 Market Street, Camden. Interment Holy Cross Cemetery, Yeadon, PA.

Mary's 8th Grade Graduation Class.
Mary is sitting next to the teacher on the left.

Brother Andrew's wedding.
Mary is sitting next to the bride.
Her husband to be is standing her.

Mary with her husband Frank.

Mama with her four children - Angie, Jo Ann, Frankie, and Jimmy.

Grandma with five of her grandchildren,
Claudia, Pauline, Stanley, Johnny, and baby Janis.

Little Gram with one of her 22 great-grandchildren, Leah.

View / Print Frank and Mary's decedent chart - La Familiga Ferrante
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Rest in Peace Little Gram

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My Last Conversation with Little Gram

Little Gram died today. A few days ago she fell and broke her hip. We all agreed that surgery was out of the question so she left the hospital and went to my mother's home to die. Today, while sleeping and resting comfortably, she simply stopped breathing. She was surrounded by her daughters and my mother and some of her other grand children. In what may be the first of a many posts about a remarkable woman I'd like to share a story about my last conversation with Little Gram.

The last time I spent any real time with Little Gram was two weeks ago. My boys and I went to my mother's home for lunch. As soon as we arrived I made my way out to the deck to sit with Little Gram and Big Gram.

Whenever I saw Little she'd always ask about Lisa and my family. Then she'd ask about my job and what I did for a living. I told her about my recent trips to India and Seattle and she asked about how I liked to travel.

After talking about the ups and downs of business travel I told Little about some recent family tree research I uncovered. I told her that I discovered that at one time she and her family lived in New York City. She immediately recalled that her older brother Felix was living with a friend named Lawrence Maletta and his wealthy family. This family lived in Brooklyn and "their house was beautiful." Even more impressive was the fact that this house had indoor bathrooms. Little Gram told us that this was the first time she ever saw a toilet in a home. The year was 1909 and Little Gram was 7.

I asked what led to her arrival to the States. Little told us about her father, Francesco (Frank). I learned her father was a tree surgeon in Sicily and that he worked for a Prince. Frank took care of all the trees in the olive grove. The prince became ill and died and Little's father took care of a lot of the estate chores for the Princess including cooking. She said that many of the recipes handed down over the years were learned during the time her father worked for the princess. Now, the princess was a gambler and one day she lost the estate and Little's father was out of a job. It was soon after this that Little and her father made their way to the United States to meet up with her older brothers Felix and Andrew.

It was at this time that we went into the kitchen to have lunch. On the menu that lovely Sunday was one of my all time favorite Little Gram meals - potatoes and eggs. When I was in college I had a few semesters when I would visit Little Gram in between classes. She'd always make me potatoes and eggs. It's a simple dish - potatoes and eggs fried together with olive oil. Just typing about it is making my mouth water. I'm so glad that my last meal with Little was this dish.

When it was time to go I noticed that Little asked my mother to fetch her purse. Little pulled out some money and handed Michael and Joey $5 each. "Go and buy yourselves a funny book." With that I thanked her and gave her a big hug and told her I loved her. She kissed me and said I love you too.

That was my last conversation with Little Gram.

1967 - Celebrating birthdays 65 and 2.

1989 - Celebrating birthdays 87 and 24.

2005 - Celebrating birthdays 103 and 40 and Joey's birth.