Hi guys. Hope you are enjoying your Labor Day weekend! Seeing as it is a long family weekend and our last summer hurrah in Minnesota (yes I already spotted some orange leaves), my brain went straight to cookies. Classic Chewy Monster Cookies or as I like to call them “leftover M&M cookies.”
I have a lot of random thoughts in my head today, for no rhyme or reason. Here is what I’m thinking….
I’m excited for fall but am a bit sad summer is coming to an end. I love fall foods and layers. I mean pumpkin, squash, warm beverages, flannel, cute long-sleeve dresses, no humidity. Love it. But I’m not ready to give up swimming at the beach, long sweaty runs, backyard pool fun with baby, the summer farmers market, and popsicles. What a dilemma. Maybe we will just have to keep heading South to get some heat in the winter.
My travel bug is back. And it is back hard. I use to think about travel pretty much everyday. I was literally planning trips while I was on vacation. Now my travel bug comes and goes. Mostly because I have a kid and she keeps me plenty entertained. But after our fun trip to Austin recently (details to come), another baby-free trip coming up and reading some inspiring travel/parenting blogs, I caught the bug again.
Here is the deal with travel, I LOVE doing it and always think that it’s going to be fun even if we leave baby Poppy behind. And then reality hits and I miss her. Even though she is demanding and would make travel much different, I still want her there. Yes she is a baby and yes she will not remember any of it, but she is a part of our little family unit so she should be there. New life goal: Plan some upcoming baby friendly trips. New life motto: Just because we have a kid doesn’t mean we can’t travel.
Last night I discovered the most amazing blog. This mom used her maternity leave to travel with her husband and baby around the world. OBSESSED! Would I do it? Yes yes yes. Sad I didn’t think of this idea myself. Also this site is not helping my travel bug.
I need cute leather boots this winter. Last time I bought something was last April. A grey dress that has become my date night dress. Ha! But this winter I need boots. My tall boots are completely worn and I do not own short boots. So the search for short leather boots begins.
I have been oddly obsessed with my yard lately. Like I weed all the time, mow all the time and just crave time outside. Is that weird? Or am I just getting old? Either way it is a fun new hobby and it is even more fun with my little side kick that is always there with me. Her favorite activity so far: digging holes in the mulch and eating dirt.
On the baby note, my kid has gotten so much more adventurous and I am loving it. I made us some curried lentils but nothing spicy. I wasn’t sure she was going to like them, but I was wrong, she LOVES them. So lately I have been introducing lots of different spices to her little food world, as I want her little tastebuds to experience everything. Over the last 3 weeks, she has eaten Venezuelan food, Mexican food, Indian food, and Turkish food. She has been digging cardamon, curry, cumin, za’atar, briny olives, stinky cheese, and fresh summer basil. That’s my girl!
Also, SOOO excited! Last week I hit the jockpot with a killer garage sale! Woot woot! I normally have the worse luck at these. But not this time. Got baby some super fun toys including Lincoln logs, a sweet bike and a fun toy car that she is absolutely adoring. Fun hand-me-downs from a sweet neighborhood family at an incredible price. Best Day Ever!
Alright these cookies. Short story is we had leftover peanut butter and peanut M&M from our Austin trip. So I added peanut butter, oats, chocolate chips and Classic Chewy Monster Cookies were born.
If you read this far, thanks for reading my random list of thoughts. I am going to take advantage of nap time, make Poppy some butternut squash soup and listen to something other than Baby Einstein radio on Pandora. Happy Monday!
Classic Chewy Monster Cookies
Makes 24 medium size cookies. Feel free to make jumbo cookies or little ones. Also the recipe can be halved or doubled easily.
Notes: make sure to use regular no stir peanut butter, not the kid that separates. However almond butter, cashew butter and sun flower butter work great here too!
For the chocolate, regular chocolate chips and mini both work. And if you want to get crazy, add some toffee.
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened or microwaved
- 2/3 cup peanut butter (not the natural kind that separates)
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup M & M candies
Preheat the oven to 350.
In a medium bowl, stir together the softened butter and peanut butter. To make it easier, microwave the peanut butter for a few seconds. Once combined add sugar and stir well. Then, add egg and vanilla.
In another bowl, stir together all remaining ingredients. Add this to the peanut butter mixture and stir well. Try not to overmix.
Scoop cookies onto a prepared cookie sheet (with parchment or silicone mat) and bake for 10 minutes. Remove when cookies are still a little soft.
Recipe slightly adapted from Dessert For Two’s Monster cookies.
Originally posted 2016-09-05 13:38:01.
Leave a Reply