Well, I had hoped to get this onto "yesterday's" notes, but, thankfully, I "copy-ed" before I hit Post... Or else, I truly would have been in a frenzy!
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Oh, since I've talked about them, I might as well post the recipe:
Oatmeal-Chocolate-Chip-Pecan-Toffee Cookies
Combine in a medium bowl:
1 cup flour
2 cups oatmeal (regular, not quick cooking)
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup pecans, coarsely chopped (I usually a little bit more than 1/2 cup)
In a mixing bowl, cream the following:
1 stick of butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
Beat until light and fluffy. Then add:
1 egg
1/2 tsp. of vanilla extract
1/4 cup maple syrup (Grade B has better flavor)
Beat until well combined.
Add flour/pecan mixture to butter mixture, and mix on lowest speed until just combined - does not take long at all.
Add:
1 cup chocolate chips (I prefer milk chocolate in these cookies)
1/3-1/2 cup toffee chips (I use Skor bits, but Heath bits are good too - or even Bits O' Brickle)
Blend until just combined.
Drop dough onto prepared cookie sheets - parchment or Silpats make clean up a breeze! - in walnut-sized balls. Bake in a 350 oven for about 12-14 minutes, rotating sheets about half-way through cooking time. Cool cookies on baking sheets/parchment for at least 10 minutes, then remove cookies from parchment and place on cooling rack. Makes about 3 1/2 dozen cookies.
OH, then EAT!!!
"Arglraglgraralgrlgargalrglarlaalalgghh"
The original recipe called for just pecans and chocolate chips... I just experimented one day adding the toffee bits... and liked the results! Chocolate chunks, or even chopped up Skor or Heath bars would work also.
-And the dough is also very easy to mix by hand too, but I've gotten used to doing it in my Kitchenaid.
*I was amazed the first time I made this recipe that I got so many cookies from just one stick of butter and one cup of flour. And with two cups of oatmeal, and the half cup of pecans... it's actually a semi-healthy cookie.
And for that "special touch", you can press pecan halves (one or two) into the top of each dough ball before baking.