I'll Have Just One More...

It's been a long time since I posted. A very long time. Of course, I hate it when someone starts posting things and then just up and quits. ESPECIALLY when there's no warning. I'm just the worst, aren't I?

Well, let me just put an end to the speculation right here and now. I have not, contrary to reports, succumbed to allergic catatonia, or been the victim of a random pumpkin catapulting accident. Much as those sound like fun, the truth has been a little less glamorous. I have been, as some of my other blogs have suggested, the designer of my own demise. Too many irons in the fire, and a lot of time over the past months knee deep in a fiction novel. It still goes, but I thought I'd visit the old blogs for a minute, show you that I'm still alive if not prodigious. If all goes well, then my hope is to escape the great giant Humdrum, arms full of tattered parchments bearing recipes for all manner of good things by the single serving.

It was never my intent to stop at cookies, you know. Oh no, I'm all about branching out, seeing single people everywhere served by a variety of good things in smaller portions. No more will the four-person serving size be the only option. Mashed sweet potatoes for one? Check. Meatloaf for one? Check. Chocolate cake for one? You betcha.

It's coming. Working quietly in the background, but it's coming. Getchyer hackles raised, ladies and gentrymen, Just One More is on its way...

Oatmeal Cookie? Please?

Alright, you twisted my arm, here's another single cookie recipe sure to please those looking for the chummy goodness of an oatmeal cookie. It just sounds like home and comfort, doesn't it? Add some raisins, or chocolate, and wow, watch out, good just stepped over the line into irresistible.

I'll Just Have One...Oatmeal Cookie

1 tbsp butter

1 1/2 tbsp dark brown sugar

1 tsp beaten egg or egg product

1/8 to 1/16 tsp salt

1/16 tsp vanilla

1 tbsp + 1 tsp all-purpose flour

1/32 tsp baking powder (smidgeon, or half a pinch)

1/32 tsp baking soda

1 tbsp + 1 tsp oats

For Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies:

1 - 2 tbsp chocolate chips

For Oatmeal Raisin Cookies:

1/32 tsp nutmeg or cinnamon (add to flour mixture)

1 - 2 tbsp raisins

Preheat oven to 350.

Soften (or accidentally melt) butter in microwave.

Add brown sugar and mix, about 30 seconds.

Add egg, salt and vanilla. Mix again, until mixed. ;-)

In second mug, mix flour, baking powder and baking soda.

Pour flour mixture into first mug and stir, until ingredients are combined.

Finally, add oats and whatever other ingredients you’re putting in there.

Stir it up, place on the cookie sheet, and cook for around 11 minutes, or until golden brown. (This was tricky for me. One time, it took 11 minutes. Another time, it was several minutes longer before they were done. My guess is that my toaster oven needs allergy medicine.)

I'll Have Just One...Chocolate Chip Cookie

That's a regular-sized plate, and one really good-sized cookie!

The One, The Only, Chocolate Chip Cookie

This thing is the bomb. As in, chocolate bomb. Went heavy on the salt and the chocolate chips, because, let's face it, if we only get one cookie, those are the things we want in it, right? Salt and chocolate sweet. Gosh, my mouth is watering just writing the stupid thing down. Wait a second...okay, I made one for myself, you can go ahead now. (See how easy that was?)

1 tbsp butter

2 tsp dark brown sugar

2 tsp sugar

1/8 tsp vanilla

1 tsp beaten egg or egg product

1/16 - 1/8 tsp salt (remember, 1/8 is equal to two pinches)

2 tbsp all-purpose flour

1/32 tsp baking soda (half of a pinch)

2 tbsp chocolate chips

1 tbsp nuts (walnuts, or toasted pecans, mmm...)

Preheat your oven or toaster oven to 350.

Put the butter in a microwave safe mug or a bowl. Soften it, but don’t worry if you accidentally melt it, it’ll still work. I put my 1100 watt oven on 15-20 seconds, and that seems to work okay (with butter).

Add the sugars and stir it up with a spoon or a fork until you feel like it’s good and mixed up, about 30 seconds.

Add the vanilla, egg and salt, stir it up some more.

In another mug or bowl, add the flour and the baking soda and mix it up. Dump this unceremoniously, or ceremoniously, if you prefer, into the other mug, and stir it up until just moistened.

Add your chocolate chips (and your nuts, if you like), and mush them together all cozy like.

Drop this big conglomeration onto your cookie sheet and stick it in the oven for about 11 minutes, turning the pan halfway through. Keep an eye on it, of course, but that should do it. It’ll come out nice and big and golden brown. Might let it cool for a few minutes after that, but that’s up to you and your self-control.

Enjoy!

I'll Have Just One...Cookie

Hot Buttery Chips of Chocolate!

Ever get that craving? The one that only a hot, homemade cookie will satisfy? Store bought brands just won't do the trick, and while every cookie company tries to replicate the experience, none has ever quite caught the spirit of homemade. Even the break apart, pre-made cookie dough, while coming close, just isn't what you're looking for.

But the bag makes no mistake. Making a cookie from scratch requires more than 2 cups of flour, an entire bag of chocolate chips, and lots of time spent mixing and measuring and baking. All so that you can have just the one cookie. Which soon turns into eight. Or ten. Or twelve. What was once just a craving for a cookie turns into the misery of a bellyful and a spare tire that just won't go away.

Which is where I come in, and teach you the fine art of making a few of your favorite cookies, one at a time.

Now don't get me wrong, the cookies I'm talking about are big enough to satisfy, but they're also small enough that they don't take much time to make, or leave much mess for you to clean up. A couple of bowls or mugs, some measuring spoons, a way to bake it, and voila, you’re done. Makes it hard to do more than one, makes enough to satisfy that cruel craving.

So, are you ready? This isn’t rocket science, but at least it will help to keep you from wearing out those calculator keypads while you figure out how to do it.

Hope you enjoy. And maybe stick around for a few more recipes, or just click on the link to order the book and skip the waiting line here at the blog. Who knows, maybe we can kick the sugar habit together, one cookie at a time.

Next up: I'll Have Just One...Chocolate Chip Cookie