The Bestest Cookies in the Whole Wide World

Who wants cookies? I think we are kidding ourselves if we decide to never have junk food. So rather than being upset that the kids are eating junk, turn the junk into something nutritious. But make sure that it still has plenty of calories and fat, we want it to taste good! These are my favorite cookie recipe. One thing that makes me love this recipe is the versatility.

I just want to warn you to have several gallons of cold milk ready before you start making these, you will be wanting it.

Oh, and those of you looking for some witty dialogue and funny captions aren't gonna get it tonight. There is nothing funny about these cookies. You just need to bake some. I also don't feel funny. That is what the butter and sugar look like when you cream them together. I know that the first picture is supposed to be a nice still life of ingredients but I was in a BIG hurry the day I baked these. You are going to have to be grateful for any pics at all. So just be happy. BE HAPPY! Because I just feel tired and worn down, so I am going to have to live vicariously through all of my blog readers and pretend I am jovial. .... Hmmm... not working yet, but I will keep trying.
This is 5 cups of oats in the blender. i love my blender. It is so stinking handy. OHH I am smiling at the blender. OOOHHH I am gonna get happy writing this post, I can feel it.
This is what the oats look like after you have blended them up. It is extremely satisfying to watch the oats in the blender. They rise up the side and fall down the middle. I enjoy watching oats almost as much as I like to watch the washing machine wash the clothes. I could watch that all afternoon. Have I mentioned that we do not have television? You have to make your own fun when you live in the country.

I added the nuts and coconut in with the oats and blended them up. I would be happy with them just thrown in the batter but that would KILL my picky eaters. I wouldn't want to have to fuss at any of the children to finish their cookies, so I make sure to make them palatable to everyone.

And now I am using another kitchen gadget that puts a smile on my face... the metal scoopy thing from Pampered Chef. I have all three sizes. For these cookies I used Medium. But I could really care less what size you use. You could even doing that old fashioned way and use 2 spoons but I don't remember how to do it like that.
And now through the miracle of Lap top computer blogging I present: Finished cookie. warning, pour the milk now, or just grab the jug and chug like I do. The most amazing part is that in the pic above the cookies have chocolate chips and are on a stone and the picture above that one they have no chocolate chips and are on a metal pan.

Is something fishy going on? I am afraid that I have some secrets that I just cannot reveal to you because if I did then I would have to kill you! Remember, I am the spawn of the International Man of Mystery.

Okay, now the moment you have been begging me for. The recipe for the worlds tastiest cookies.

• 2 cups butter
• 4 cups brown sugar
• 4 eggs
• 5 cups oatmeal, blended
• 2 cups nuts
• 2 cups coconut
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 4 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 bag chocolate chips

Alrighty now. Here's what you gonna do. Did I mention the milk? Go ahead and pour yourself a glass right now, just because it is yummy. Now did you see the whole wheat flour? This recipe is really healthy so don't get you knickers in a twist about what to fix for dinner. Cynthia's got your back! Just serve these puppies hot from the oven. Your family will be kissing your feet.

Oh, back to the food...

Cream the butter and the sugar. Add the eggs and vanilla. Blend the oats and the nut s and coconut, if you want them blended also. (you have to blend the oats) Now mix all the dry stuff together, you know the drill. add the dry to the wet and mix it up. then add the chocolate chips. I make these with out the choc. chips a lot. Harrison DIES when he gets near choc. chips, so I make some minus the chips. these are also good with toffee chips. Now bake them in a 375 degree oven for 8 to 12 minutes. don't let them get too brown. You know you want them all soft and gooey.

Pass the milk...

Granola Topped Banana Bran Muffins

Here is a recipe that is going to make the mouths in your house beg for more, more, more! So give it to 'um. We love muffins at our house. They are nutritious and easy to have on hand. We make big batches and store in the freezer . Then we can grab them out to pack into lunches or eat at breakfast or eat at midnight when I get really hungry and need a meal. They are just yummy.

Let's get started. Please don't be cross with me because of all these ingredients. You don't have to make these very often, remember the freezer? It is your friend. Just grab some gallon size freezer bags and you can bake dozens of luscious muffins and enjoy them for weeks, or even months, if you are not a little food piggy like me.

RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
1 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup wheat bran
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup mashed bananas (about 2 medium)
1 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup canola oil
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (optional)
1 cup granola

Do you see our friend whole wheat in there? He will make you feel strong and healthy. And regular. First grab a big bowl and put all of the dry ingredients in. Give it a good mix with a whisk. Using a whisk is very fun, I always feel cooler when I use a whisk. Using the whisk will probably make your children want to help you because whisks are kid magnets. Just thought I would warn you.
Now take all the wet stuff and put it in another bowl and whisk it up. It is even more cool if you hold the bowl under one arm at an angle and whisk away. Speak in French as you do it. Now clean up the batter you slopped on the floor. You are probably neater than me. My kitchen floor always has batter, etc, on it. Oh, IGNORE that I used a spatula instead of a whisk in the picture, I was not very cool when I was making this.

Oops, are you fresh out of buttermilk? No worries matey, just put a couple of Tablespoons of white vinegar into the measuring cup then fill it up to the 1 cup line. Now empty the dishwasher like you meant to do before you started making the muffin batter. And just like that you have a cup of lumpy, thick, gross buttermilk. I don't like buttermilk just in my measuring cup. I am funny that way. But I LOVE buttermilk in my recipes!
I am afraid it is time to put the whisk in the sink. Pour the wet into the dry and stir until just combined. The recipe says the chocolate chips are optional. I never use them. For one thing I like it better without them and second I have son who HATES chocolate chips. In anything.
It is all combined and ready to be baked. Either put it in muffin tins that have been greased on the bottom (they pop out really easily) or lined with those paper muffin thingies. I prefer spraying them with canola oil spray. Sprinkle the granola evenly over the tops before you bake them. Yes, my granola had raisins in it. I picked them all out before sprinklin' otherwise I would have KILLED my children. I don't have time for funeral, jail time, and all the rest, so I just went ahead and picked the raisins out. Hey kids, don't say I've never done anything for you!

Bake for about 12 to 15 minutes at 400 degrees.

Enjoy!

I Love to Cook!!

Welcome to my new blog. I am dedicating this to all of the cooking and eating that I love to do. I will post recipes and ideas for a fun, healthy, yummy life. I feel like I am an expert on cooking yummy food. I have 6 very different children (read into that... they all want something different for dinner) and a wonderful husband. His food preferences run a little to the caveman side. His suggestion for the name of this blog was "How 'bout some bacon"?!?!? Yes, welcome to my life with the carnivorous caveman!

But onto the GOOD food...

Let me share one of my favorite hints...WHEAT. I like to grind my own. This is what a bucket of wheat looks like . As you can see, this one was ordered in 1999! It keeps a long time down in your basement or under your house. We are actually putting a wheat order together, so if you are wanting to order some buckets from Wheat Montana, just let me know. I think we can get it cheaper if we get a BIG order, so let everyone know! They offer lots of things besides wheat. Anyway, here is wheat:


Here is my grinder. It is a Whisper Mill. I have been pleased with it, and have a friend that uses hers way more than me and she loves hers, also. This is easy, just be sure and turn it on before you pour the wheat in.
I am adding some Flax. Your body can't process flax whole (so you can quit trying to eat that Uncle Sam Cereal!) I add about 1 part flax to 10 or 12 parts wheat. Mix it in a little at a time, if you try to just grind flax you will gum up your machine, it has too much oil in it.I just swirl it around with my hands once it is in the hopper.

Stay tuned...next time we will turn this wonderful wheat into some hearty and satisfying fall foods. Your family we be smiling and asking for seconds!!