It’s so cold and snowy in my neck of the woods that I just want oatmeal. And coffee. And a heating blanket. And a quilted bag of warm corn kernels. . .no I’m not crazy.
But I am cold. My aunt makes these quilted cloth bags filled with dried corn kernels and you stick them in the microwave to heat them and then put them on your freezing feet! They are probably also useful on sore muscles but I wouldn’t know because my feet are too cold to waste the warm corn on muscles. (side note-when I heat the corn my house smells of popcorn, which in turn makes me want to eat popcorn.)
Oatmeal cookies are not summer food. (Even though I do make them in the summer, too.) They are hearty and cozy. A snuggly winter treat.
Add cherries and chocolate and you’ve got. . well, near perfection, actually.
This is just a variation on the salted caramel cookie I made a few weeks ago. Once you nail a cookie base you can modify it into just about any flavor. Plus the dried cherries in my cabinet have been begging to be used.
When it is very cold out, as it has been, I like to hole up in the kitchen and fire up the oven and bake. It warms the whole house. Plus, it’s just fun. Plus, I like to eat. I’m thinking of trying to make some Nutella oatmeal cookies soon. Yummy!
It would be nice to do some winter sports while we actually have snow. Snow shoeing is something I’ve been wanting to try, but, when I have time to actually try it, the snow is no good.
Of course, I’ve also been thinking how nice it would be to lay out in the hot, hot summer sun right now. Drinking a mojito. Ahhhh. . .
I guess I’ll have to patient for the summer sun. Anyone tried snowshoeing? Thoughts? Recommendations?
Chocolate Cherry Oatmeal Cookies
1 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1/2 tsp almond extract
2 cups flour
2 1/2 cups oatmeal (I used rolled but old fashioned would be great, too)
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup dried cherries
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a large mixing bowl beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and almond extract. Mix well to combine.
Add the flour, oatmeal, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Mix well. Stir in the chocolate chips and cherries.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and scoop the dough by heaping tablespoonful (or 1 oz. disher) onto the baking sheet. I got 1 dozen to a baking sheet.
Bake for 10-12 minutes. Makes 31/2-4 dozen cookies.
Sugar Coated Sarah 