Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

On the slightly crispier side, here is my favorite chocolate chip oatmeal cookie recipe:

Quick & Easy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup butter
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups oatmeal
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (or a combination of butterscotch, peanut butter and chocolate)

Mix flour and baking soda and set aside. Cream butter and sugars on medium high speed until well blended, 2-3 minutes. Add egg and vanilla and mix thoroughly. Add flour a little bit at a time, mixing well. Stir in oatmeal and chocolate. Bake for 11 minutes at 350 degrees.

Cookie Week: Mom's No Bakes

I feel like every other recipe I post has oatmeal in it. That's because it's good and good for you. Especially when it is combined with chocolate. This is the easiest recipe ever and takes about the same time as whipping up a batch of oatmeal. Lisa, Tricia and I all use it. It came from Mom. What's not to love about that?

Mom's No Bakes

2 cups sugar
4 tablespoons cocoa
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk

Cook this mixture until it boils. Turn heat down, then cook two minutes (this is important). Remove from heat and add 4 tablespoons butter, 2 cups oats, 1 cup peanut butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla. Mix well and drop on wax paper. Eat when cool.

Cookie Week: Soft Chocolate Chip Oatmeal

A few years ago, I went on a search for a soft chocolate chip cookie recipe. It was very important for me to find one because my trademark recipe is for a crispier version (which I like), but I discovered some of my kids like the soft kind. I never did latch on to the perfect soft recipe and had given up my search........until now!

This was sent to me by Sandie, one of my mom's dearest friends and one of the best cooks I know. This recipe is very quick to put together. It makes a huge batch, great for busy moms, because you can shape and freeze them individually for people to bake at will. Enjoy!

Sandie's Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cream together:

2 cups butter
2 cups sugar
2 cups brown sugar

Add:

4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla

Mix in:

4 cups flour
5 cups oatmeal-blended to make powder (be sure to measure before putting in blender or food processor)
1 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda

Add any of the following:  chocolate chips; Hershey bar cut in pieces, raisins, M & Ms, white chocolate chips, chopped nuts.

Bake at 350 for 10 minutes

These are great frozen in cookie size portions before baking.  Take out as needed.  Thaw on cookie sheet and bake.

Come back later this week for my Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies, Mom's No Bakes and just in time for Valentine's Day, The Best Cutout Cookies Ever.

Caramel Oatmeal Cookie Bars

Grandma's English Toffee was a promise that did not deliver. It may have been a user error and I plan to re-try; however, my initial test drive was a flop. I can't tell you the description my daughter had for the end result, but she was right. Nonetheless, I have redeemed myself with this one.

Many years ago, I adapted this recipe from three others to provide something sweet and rich for the people in my home that did not like chocolate. I think it's really good and 3/4 of my kids do too. (The other one says it's growing on her, but then, she likes chocolate.)

This isn't my simplest recipe, in fact, it's kind of a production as far as I'm concerned. It's also insanely fattening, so it's a rare treat. Best served warm with a cup of coffee and maybe some vanilla ice cream.

Caramel Oatmeal Cookie Bars

Bar/Topping:
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup butter, soft
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 cups oatmeal

Mix brown sugar, butter, vanilla and eggs with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Combine flour, salt and soda and beat into butter mixture. Stir in oatmeal and mix well. Pat 2/3 of this mixture into a greased 9x13 pan, reserving 1/3 for topping.

Caramel filling:
2 tablespoons butter
1-15 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1/4 cup brown sugar

In a small sauce pan, heat butter over medium heat until melted. Stir in sweetened condensed milk and brown sugar. Stir constantly until mixture begins to boil.

Remove caramel filling from heat and pour over oatmeal mixture. Drop remaining oatmeal mixture over caramel filling, spreading evenly.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until lightly brown.

Let cool, then cut into (small) squares.

If you live in the Chicago area, I'd love to hear about your favorite grocery store for my upcoming feature: Grocery Store Wars. Leave comments below to cast your vote. (And if you live in Kansas, you can also vote between Big Dillons and Super Wal-Mart...I really want to know!)

And also...my Facebook page is growing with extra material including tips and ideas from busy moms around the country. We'd love to have you join us!

Have a great weekend and see you Monday with Potato Soup in a Bread Bowl.