I have spent 30 years trying to get my mother to understand that most of my "secret ingredients" are actually secret *processes.* So here are my secrets, for all your cooking needs.

1. Best chocolate chip cookie texture: Beat the wet ingredients on high till they turn a lighter shade of beige and start to form peaks.

2. Crispier pecan pie cookie and sugar cookie texture: Room temperature butter that got that way BY SITTING AT ROOM TEMP. Don't try to microwave it. 1/