Hide and Seek

My blog might self destruct with all the posting I have been doing lately, but for the sake of my audience I shall persevere without a second thought to my safety.

For most of my life, I have been a sneaky hider of food. Much like a pirate burying their treasure across the Caribbean, I would hide tasty morsels throughout the house. When I was little, this was not because I was afraid the food would disappear but more because I was not supposed to have it. Of course, I would always hide the food in my clothes and then laundry day went very badly for me.

In my teenage years, my food hiding turned into Coca Cola hiding because my father decreed that I could not consume sugary caffeinated soft drinks under his roof and I had already become addicted. Unlike the cynical chef of younger years, I now had my own money and my own bedroom, which had the ultimate insurance of privacy: a keep out sign. Turns out, the sign doesn’t really keep people out and I would be subjected to watching my father pour my beloved and self-purchased soda down the drain. My sister used to like to tell people her sister had a coke problem. My mother was not so amused.

Then, I got one of those live in boyfriends who later turned in my beloved husband and I realized my food hiding skill was the only way I could enjoy baked goods in this house. My first attempt went awry when I hid my famous chocolate chip cookies in the cookie jar. I thought I was cunning. I thought I was sneaky. I thought surely a boy would not assume there are cookies in the jar when there is a plate of fresh cookies available. I was wrong and I was also a sad little girl without a cookie.

But, do not feel sorry for me, I have since mastered this art of food hiding. I learned that things kept in the vegetable drawer have no interest to Alex. And even though they might be a little chilly, they are all mine.

On a semi- unrelated note: My favorite food pirate joke

What’s a pirate’s favorite fast food restaurant?

ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRby’s

My Famous Chocolate Chip Cookies (They taste just like the Double Tree Ones)

Original Recipe can be found here

1/2 cup rolled oats
2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1-1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. lemon juice
2 eggs
3 cups semi-sweet, chocolate chips
1-1/2 cups chopped walnuts

Directions:

Oats All Ground Up

Grind oats in a food processor or blender until fine. Combine the ground oats with the flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in a medium bowl.

Cream together the butter, sugars, vanilla, and lemon juice in another medium bowl with an electric mixer. Add the eggs and mix until smooth. Stir the dry mixture into the wet mixture and blend well. Add the chocolate chips and nuts to the dough and mix by hand until ingredients are well blended.

For the best results, chill the dough overnight in the refrigerator before baking the cookies.

Spoon rounded 1/4 cup portions onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Place the scoops about 2 inches apart. Bake in a 350°F oven for 16-18 minutes or until cookies are light brown and soft in the middle. Store in a sealed container when cool to keep soft. Makes 20 cookies

Note: There are occasions I have to cook the dough longer than 16-18 minutes. But, you want to err on the side of caution. I take these cookies out when they are not done and let them finish on the pan. The cookies are golden but the insides still a little gooey. This will create a dense cookie with a soft, chocolatey center. It took a few years to get the timing right.

Chill the dough. It makes a world of difference and be prepared to make this cookies all the time. I wouldn’t make any substitutions or leave anything out; it changes the whole cookie. Trust me.

I have also scooped the balls of dough and frozen them for up to a month. We made 6 batches for our wedding as their favor. They got bakery bags and a little carton of milk. Huge Hit!!

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