Baked Goods

My morning coffee inspires me in an odd way. When I drink my morning coffee (often with cigarette in hand) it suddenly seems like a great idea to go for a run. Oh and I should probably take Gus, my 1.6lb. "morkie." In my morning coffee drugged mind we would run like the wind. I would be 5'10" running like a gazellle with Gus a valiant hunting dog running majestically, head high next to his beautiful and amazingly fast owner. In reality my smoker's lungs would get me half way around the block before I passed out and Gus would just sit next to me, licking my nose, laying. In reality, we are lazy and out of shape.

So today, I told my coffee crazed self that all my genius coffee aspirations are unrealistic. I decided to make realistic goals for my day off. I watched Pushing Daisies and finished crocheting a hat. I went shopping and saved over $10 in coupons. I have recently grown obsessed with coupons. And finally, I needed to bake. I am not a cook. I cook like my mom cooked, quick and easy homemade cooking. Nothing complicated and nothing like Trevor. I do not cook, I bake. And it had been far too long since I had. So I decided to bake a strange conglomeration of multiple recipes and lack of supplies. This is what I am calling these cookies. Coffee Oatmeal Chocolate Chip and m&m cookies. Clearly still working on the name. Here is the recipe if you'd like to give them a try, I found them quite tasty:

1 1/2 tsp. instant coffee granules (I used hazelnut, because I had that kind.)
1/4 cup boiling water
1 1/3 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup butter at room temperature
1 large egg
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
3 cups quick-cooking oats
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1-2 cups m&ms

1 cup sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Dissolve coffee granules or instant espresso in boiling water. Cool to room temperature. I feel like you could use just regular coffee and let it cool to room temperature if you don't want to buy instant coffee. I haven't tried it but I will on the next batch.

In large bowl mix brown sugar and butter, it'll form a paste kind of; Add egg and mix until well blended. Stir in coffee and vanilla.

In a medium bowl stir together oats, flour, salt and baking soda. Stir flour mixture into creamed mixture then stir in m&ms, chocolate chips and sugar.

Scoop up generous tablespoons of dough and place about 2 inches apart. Bake one sheet at a time on center rack for 10-14 minutes (less time makes a more gooey cookie - I went for the 10 min.) or until golden brown around edges. Cool 5 minutes on baking sheets then remove gently and transfer to racks to cool completely. (Cookies will firm up as they cool). Store lightly covered.

The cookies spread out a lot when in the oven, so if you want smaller cookies be sure to use less dough. I made one batch of huge flat cookies and 4 batches of smaller plumper and softer cookies. It depends on your cookie preference. So it will make right around 5 dozen cookies.

So there is my cookie recipe. I gave some to the Krulls for fixing the slow leak in my tire. They are my volvo kings! (More on that a different day!) And I brought some over to the new Reetz family to allow Emily some sustanance while nursing beautiful baby Maple. I also crocheted Maple a little purple and teal hat - because she is way to bad ass for pink! I then went to the cigar shop, hung out with some middle aged men and Phil (who arrived on a yellow ladies cruiser) while Trevor worked. All in all it was a pretty realistic and well used coffee inspired day. I'm pretty proud of myself!

Try the cookies... they're delicious

Amy