Thursday, April 14, 2011

For The Cookie Monsters

There was a time when I kept two cookie jars on my kitchen counter. And they were almost always full. (Well, at least half full.) The jars were clear glass so you could see the cookies inside and they both sat in a special rack made especially to hold them. (I still have the set packed away somewhere. Uh . . . wonder where?) The jars and wooden holder sat on a counter right inside the back door and I swear they were like magnets that drew hungry hands to them as soon as anyone stepped in the door. Hubby and daughter both took cookies in their packed lunches everyday, and we had a lot of people in and out of the house who knew they could always help themselves to a cookie or two. Or three.

Because I wanted to make sure there was always a kind of cookie available that everyone liked, I usually had one jar filled with a non-nut cookie (I've never understood people not liking nuts in their cookies but each to his own, I guess) and almost always a cookie containing chocolate.

When looking for a cookie recipe to bake recently so I'd have some on hand in the freezer, I pulled out this recipe for Orange Oatmeals that I haven't made in an age. I've gotta be truthful here and admit I sampled one before packing them away. Oh gosh, they were sooo good! Then something bad happened. On two different occasions, I've also taken a couple out of the freezer that have found their way straight into my mouth without even having time to thaw.

ORANGE OATMEALS

3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon grated orange peel (or more)
2 eggs
2 cups unbleached white flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Cream butter and sugar.

Add the grated orange peel. (Before I've never measured this ingredient because I just grate the whole orange and add whatever I get. I did measure this time so I could tell you it was a bit over 2 tablespoons. I threw it all in.)

Add two eggs and beat well. Next add the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg and stir until smooth.

Then mix in the oats, raisins and nuts, if desired. (I always soak my raisins in boiling water to cover and then drain thoroughly before adding to cookies.)

Drop onto a greased cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

Remove to cooling racks. Makes about 40 cookies.

The cookies are yummy to serve just as they are above but I like to spread a little orange juice/powdered sugar frosting on each one to make them special.

I mixed about 1-1/2 cups powdered sugar with the juice from the orange I grated and that frosted all 40 cookies with just a smidge left over.

These cookies are much like a good oatmeal cookie but the added orange flavoring is wonderful. Trust me. Try 'em.

14 comments:

Jennifer Jo said...

I like the name of the cookie. And I bet I'd like the cookie, too!

2 Tramps said...

Oh, Mama Pea, what a wonderful recipe! Thanks so much - will make them this weekend. I personally LOVE frozen cookies!

Mama Pea said...

JJ - Thank you! I'm sure you have plenty of Cookie Monsters in your house for taste-testing.

2 Tramps - I love frozen scones, too! My hubby just shakes his head when he sees me gnawing on frozen things. :o}

Susan said...

Oh.my.goodness. These are barn crew cookies, no question about it. I'm with 2 Tramps - I love frozen cookies. Frozen anything, actually. I will be making these this weekend. You are such a bad/good influence.

Mama Pea said...

Susan - I think your barn crew will like them. They are substantial; something you can sink your teeth into. (Especially when frozen.)

Being a bad/good influence has been one of my life's goals. Now I can cross that off my list. ;o}

Sparkless said...

Oh those do look yummy. I love orange too so that recipe is going in my book to try.

We have a clear glass cookie jar too that is filled with chocolate chip cookies.

Jane said...

I don't often bake cookies,but i am going to try some soon.These look yummy! Blessings jane

Dirt Lover said...

Sounds yummy! I've never thought of putting orange in oatmeal cookies. I'll have to try these. Mmmm, and take them to work, so I don't eat too many! Thanks for sharing.
~~Lori

judy said...

my grand kids are gonna love these,but as far as the freezer goes, he will lose out again,too many cookie monsters about. i will tell them momma pea send them from the north pole, sort of,by way of the internet-that ,they WILL understand

Jane @ Hard Work Homestead said...

One time when I was dieting for a competition and was barely eating anything, I was visiting my Mother. She had a frozen piece of apple pie in the freezer.I ate the whole thing in one second -frozen. That was no easy feat. It was rock hard! See when you dont have anything to please the taste buds for a long time, bad things happen.

Erin said...

They look good! I made my hippie cookies yesterday, too, and they are almost gone thanks to my clear cookie jar LOL. They weren't even out in the open, but they found them anyways :)

Mama Pea said...

Sparkless - I think the orange flavoring in these cookies really hits the spot this time of year. Kind of a spring tonic!

Jane2 - Hope you like them!

Lori - Methinks you will be a very popular lady at work. Most people appreciate anything homemade!

judy - Sounds like you are a popular grandma!

Jane - And I'll bet that piece of frozen pie didn't even show on you!!

Erin - With your three "boys" you'll be lucky to keep a cookie jar filled for the next 12-15 years!

Karen L. said...

Hi my name is Karen and I am a cookieaholic!!!! Hey, at least I can drive after eating cookies! I should send you my Mom's Oatmeal Macaroon cookie recipe (although I am not sure where the macaroon part comes from). Everyone who eats them asks for the recipe. They are my husband's favorite and my second ... cannot beat chocolate chip in my opinion. Thanks for this recipe.

Mama Pea said...

Karen L. - My hubby is another cookieaholic. There are lots of people who think good, ol' Chocolate Chip Cookies can't be beat. You're very welcome for the recipe.