Cowboy Cookies

I recently received an email from my eldest who is serving a two-year LDS mission. He is only a few weeks out of the Missionary Training Center where he spent nine weeks learning Spanish. He is serving in Salt Lake City, Utah and has been entrusted with the responsibility to teach and minister to several communities there. There are rewarding times, and some hard times. He wrote, “Sister McPherson came to the rescue! I love her to death! She brought me some cookies!”
I believe without a doubt angels are among us. They help bear us up when times are tough, when we struggle a bit, or when loneliness or heart ache sets in and tries to stay for awhile. Sometimes these angels are our neighbors, our friends, a family member, or even a perfect stranger.
Sometimes our kind smile, warm greeting, loaf of bread, or plate of cookies offers much more than we realize.
Sometimes… we are someone else’s angel.
We took a family trip to Portland, Oregon to get the clothes B needed to prepare for a mission. We also stopped in at the Nike Factory Outlet- because we always do…A few blocks away is a fabulous corner bakery. I can’t remember the name of it, but I remember how tasty their Cowboy Cookies are. This recipe is close… sort of.
Have a little extra time? Mix up some of these cookies and just maybe you’ll be an angel- just like Sister McPherson.

Cowboy Cookies

Cream:
1 cup shortening (Butter flavored Crisco)
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
Stir in:
2 eggs
2 tsp. Vanilla
Add at once and stir:
1 2/3 cups flour
1 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Soda
2 cups quick oats
Stir in:
2/3 cup shredded coconut
2/3 cup chopped nuts
1 ½ cups chocolate chips
Bake cookies at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.

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Monster Cookies

Today, the outside temps have raised enough to make sledding more fun. The frigid arctic cold system has left the area, and now it’s just cold enough for the snow to not melt, but be pleasant. From my warm, protected perch inside, I can look out my kitchen window and watch the group that has gathered today to sled.
A snow fight has now ensued meaning they will no doubt soon be in cold and wet. My Cocomotion is ready to brew some hot chocolate, and I’ve just taken the last batch of monster cookies out of the oven. The first time I made this recipe, I made it as directed. This time, I replaced some of the oats with flour. The finished product is a heartier cookie that I prefer- especially to help satisfy seven cold teenagers.

Monster Cookies

½ cup soft butter
1 ½ cups peanut butter
1 ½ cups brown sugar
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. corn syrup
1 cup flour
3 ½ cups oats
2 tsp. baking soda
2 ½ cups combined of -chocolate, butterscotch, vanilla, or peanut butter chips and M&M’s.
Cream butters and sugars. Stir in eggs, vanilla and corn syrup. Add dry ingredients. Mix together. Fold in chips and M&M’s. Bake at 350 degrees for 7-10 minutes, depending on size.

To be honest, I’m not a fan of the cold. I suffered from frost bite as a kid and can’t tolerate the cold, but I enjoy watching those who seem invincible to it. Somehow this group outside today just keeps on playing. I’ll gladly keep my perch inside, and enjoy the view from here! When they are done, I’m ready with warm cookies and steamy hot cocoa.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies are the very reason I am here today- “here” meaning being married to W and living where we live.
I met W in college. One night my roommates and I crashed the Elder’s Quorum activity: a basketball game. W was undercut as he went up for a lay-up and suffered a gash over his left eye. His girlfriend rushed to his side. His not-so-secret and terribly awkward crusher (that’s me) was whisked away by a couple of wise roommates back to our apartment. We made chocolate chip cookies and delivered them that evening.
W may remember the details of our relationship a little different (hopefully with me being less awkward), but the truth is- the girl with the plate of cookies eventually got the guy.

Chocolate Chip Cookies
½ cup buttered flavored Crisco
½ cup soft butter
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
2 2/3 – 2 ¾ cups flour (2 7/8 cups for high elevation)
1 tsp. baking soda
1 scant tsp. salt
2 ½- 3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Cream Crisco, butter and sugars by hand, or on the lowest Kitchenaid setting. Stir in eggs and vanilla. Add flour, soda and salt all at once, stirring until well mixed. Stir in the chocolate chips. Bake at 400 degrees for 8-12 minutes. For a richer flavor and smoother texture, I form cookie dough balls and refrigerate or freeze until ready to bake.

I have made this recipe countless times over the years. It’s used to celebrate, console, and cheer on. It’s one of the very first things I learned to bake. A special thanks to two fabulous college roommates- Laura and Andrea for introducing me to world of baking cookies!
Today, we celebrate the first snowfall of the season and the hours of great sledding that are sure to follow.