The Home Cook: Delicious Cookies

Is there a better way to spend a weekend...Saturday with friends, Sunday baking, sewing and watching Super Bowl XLI? Well, seeing the Bears win would have made it the the "perfect" weekend but I guess it wasn't meant to be. I am completely bummed on my dad's behalf...a Bear's fan since the 70's, I was really hoping it was finally going to be his year. I'd give the ol' "there's always next year" line, but since I reside in a devout Packer's household and da' man (Senior Favre) IS coming back for another season I can't actually wish for another team's success when it would clearly be dooming the Packs chance at another ring. Regardless of the outcome of today's game, there was some comfort in the form of my all time favorite cookie and the company of my sewing machine. (Sewing machine goodies forthcoming.)



I love these cookies. There isn't much else to say on the matter, they are delicate and crisp with each airy bite raining crumbs. The recipe blends together an unlikely quartet of flavors; chocolate chips, rice krispies, coconut and oatmeal; each adding to the subtle wonderfulness. Like I said I love these cookies.

A lot of that may have to do with the fact that the recipe was one that my mother only baked about once a year. My mom, a wonderful cook in her own right but rarely did much non-holiday / guest baking. In general it wasn't too often that we came home to the smell of cookies. But on those rare occasions when we did, which was usually on a cold frosty day; when we'd been at school or out playing in the snow, we'd come in to the smell of coconut and KNOW what our treat was going to be. Rows and rows of these cookies would be waiting in the kitchen with my mom seated at the counter, book and coffee nearby keeping vigil over the last batch in the oven. In her most indulgent she would simply mix up the batter, put it in the fridge and remind everyone to use their own spoon. (Yes, we ate raw cookie dough. No we never got sick and yes, I still do it. Problem with that? Didn't think so.)

Delicious Cookies

1 cup Brown Sugar, lightly packed

1 cup Granulated Sugar

1 cup Butter, softened (do not use margarine)

1 Egg

1 cup Oil

1 Tablespoon Coconut Flavoring

2 teaspoons Vanilla

1 Tablespoon Baking Soda

1 teaspoon Cream of Tartar

3 1/2 cups All Purpose Flour

1 cup Oatmeal

1 cup Rice Krispies

1 cup Flaked Coconut

1 12oz pkg. Chocolate Chips

Cream together sugars, butter, oil, egg and flavorings in a large bowl until fluffy. Sift together dry ingredients, slowly blend dry ingredients into sugar and butter mixture until thoroughly combined. Stir in oatmeal, rice krispies, coconut and chocolate chips. Chill batter in fridge for one hour or overnight.

When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll dough into small balls about 1" and lightly press on to a cookie sheet spacing them about 2" apart. Bake for 12 minutes or until edges are golden brown, do not over bake. Cool slightly on the cookie sheet and remove to rack to completely cool.