Calling All Cookie Pros!

Ok. I have a confession to make. Every single time I make cookies they end up looking like this:

Not like this: 

I unfortunately have an oven that's about twice my age (it's yellow...) and at first I wanted to blame it all on the oven and it's inability to heat properly. But...the thing is...I'm ALWAYS burning cookies. Always. I burn the bottom and then insides are all gooey and not cooked. 

So, my question is...

What is your secret to the perfect cookie? Is it the pan? The recipe? The temperature? 

TELL ME YOUR COOKIE MAKING SECRETS! 

PLEASE? :)

oopsie

Remember this post from a week-ish ago? About how amazing the discovery of baked bacon? 

Well, I have a little tip to add to that...

Make sure you watch the bacon closely in the last few minutes of cooking. Or else you'll burn it. And fill your apartment with bacon smoke. And freak your dog out, making him run around the house trying to find a non-burnt bacon smelling spot.

...Not that I've ever done that or anything...