Baking cookies

Eliana didn't want to take a nap this afternoon, so we baked some Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Oatmeal cookies instead.  She did a pretty good job stirring the flour and oatmeal together and not dumping too much on the counter.  She really wanted to eat one when we were done, but in the midst of eating it, remembered that she doesn't like chocolate.  I personally thought the cookies were delicious (I picked this recipe because it contains just about all of my favorite ingredient), and I would highly recommend it to anyone wanting to do a little baking.  And if you are like Eliana or my sister Abby and don't like chocolate, I think they would taste pretty good without the chocolate chips too. 

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

recipe from www.bakeorbreak.com

Ingredients:

• 2 & 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup peanut butter, smooth or crunchy
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

 Preheat oven to 350*F.
Mix together the flour, oats, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.  Set aside.
On medium speed, beat the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together until light and creamy.  Add peanut butter, and mix until combined.  Add eggs and vanilla, and mix until combined.
Reduce mixer speed to low, and gradually add in dry ingredients, mixing until just combined.
Stir in chocolate chips. 
Drop by tablespoons onto a cookie sheet.  Bake 10 to 12 min until lightly brown.  Let cool on cookie sheet for 5 min, then transfer to a wire rack to finish. 
Makes 6 dozen cookies. 

I actually cut the recipe in half because I didn't want to eat 6 dozen cookies myself.  I used old fashioned oats instead of quick oats (because that's what I had on hand) and butter flavored Crisco instead of real butter (because I have found using real butter in cookies makes them too melted and crispy).  Also, if I was to make this again, I would cut back on the chocolate chips a little because they overwhelm the cookies just a little bit.   Yum yum!

Cookies and milk

What happens when you realize that you don't like chocolate.

And on another note, I caught Eliana doing this later in the day.  She was taking her little baby doll and stuffing it under her shirt.  We talk about the baby in mommy's belly a lot, and Eliana insists there is one in her belly too.  Actually she thinks the baby lives in my belly button, specifically.  I guess she wanted to have a big belly like mommy too!

Look what's there!