Tuesday, July 1, 2008

cookie of the week

It is my hope that July will be the month that some of my hopes see light of day. They're not huge resolutions I'm tackling, just things that I wish I did on a regular basis. I sit down at the end of the day and think, "Oh, I would have liked to bake today," or, "It would have been nice to dust the blinds today." You know, things that get pushed to the bottom of my list because more important things come up. Or things that only get done once they're right in my face, screaming for attention.

Last school year, it was my hope to bake a cookie a week, like Leslie and others do. I don't even think there were two consecutive weeks in the entire year that my children enjoyed home baked cookies...

I know it's summer, but with Annika going to her first day of pre-Kindergarten yesterday, I decided it was now or never. The cookie baking began. Pre-K is only a month long. She'll start Kinder in August; Laurel will be in fourth grade. Maybe once August rolls around, I'll have a routine in place for the Cookie of the Week.

Oatmeal Toffee Cookies

1 c butter or margarine, softened :: 2 eggs :: 2 c packed light brown sugar :: 2 tsp vanilla extract :: 1-3/4 c all-purpose flour :: 1 tsp baking soda :: 1 tsp ground cinnamon :: 1/2 tsp salt :: 3 c quick-cooking oats :: 8 oz. pkg. Heath Toffee Bits :: 1 c Sweetened Coconut Flakes (optional)

Heat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease cookie sheet. Beat butter, eggs, brown sugar and vanilla until well blended. Add flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; beat until blended. Stir in oats, toffee bits and coconut, if desired, with spoon. Drop dough by rounded teaspoons about 2 inches apart onto prepared sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool 1 minute; remove to wire rack. About 4 dozen cookies.
Everyone who's sampled has given a thumbs-up. For those of you who aren't coconut fans, you can certainly omit the coconut, but I have to say that it's not an overwhelming flavor, is pretty tasty and gives it a little moisture. The cookies are chewy, mostly from the toffee bits melting during baking. And they're fabulous with coffee.

12 comments:

heather smith jones said...

mmm, i will need to try that recipe. having a weekly cookie baking session is a good rule of thumb, in my book. :)

Anonymous said...

I saw these over at Flickr first, but now that I read the recipe, I have GOT to make them. Yummy!

Jane said...

Good luck! I tried doing this with my boys, but all they want is chocolate chip. I end up eating anything different! All of them!

Sarah said...

I think it's a smashing idea!!! Thanks for sharing the recipe too.

: )

peaknits said...

Yummy - thank you for sharing!

Anonymous said...

can i come live at your house??

Ally Jay said...

I wish I could bake a batch of cookies that didn't burn. Every holidays I do a day of baking with the kids and it is always lots of fun but we can never produce anything edible. Love the knitting pieces especially the flower washcloth.

Sandy said...

I bow to toffee!!! These look phenomenal.

katie lore said...

These sound so good! I think the last time I baked cookies was at Christmas! Maybe later today......? Thanks for the inspiration.

a friend to knit with said...

i am SO making these!
and really. yay for cookie of the week!!!

Anonymous said...

Yummy to the cookies and yummy to the jam! Happy 4th!

IrishGirlieKnits said...

Oh goodness! Yummy!! And I think I'm going to love all your future cookie posts!!