German Chocolate Cookies

     This year Arnauld joined a softball league with some guys from high school.  It's been really good for him.  He's reunited with some pals and actually left work in time to do something fun that he enjoys.  I couldn't be happier for him.  Arnauld is constantly bragging about how great he is at softball.  In fact, after each game he tells me how he's the best player on the team.  He's so good that the team makes him supply things like beer and hot dogs for after the games.  Kind of weird if you ask me.  Well, after his stellar skills last week, he's in charge of food.  I thought I'd be a supportive wife and bake cookies for the team.  The sneaky part is, these cookies aren't that bad for you.  This recipe was one I had pulled and filed in my recipe binder.  It is from the September 2009 issue of Better Homes and Gardens.

German Chocolate Cookies

Ingredients
1/4 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
2/3 cup flour
2/3 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/3 semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/3 cup flaked coconut
1/3 cup chopped pecans

Method
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
1. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on high speed for 30 seconds.  Add the brown sugar, baking soda, and salt.  Beat until combined. 
2. Beat in the egg and vanilla.  Next beat in the flour.
3. Stir in the rolled oats, cocoa powder, coconut, chocolate, and nuts.  The dough will be very thick.
4. Drop dough by rounded teaspoons 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.  You can sprinkle additional pecans and coconut on top if you want.
5. Bake 8-10 minutes, just until the edges are firm.
6. Transfer to a wire cooling rack after 1 minute.

The Taste Test
If you use a teaspoon to make these cookies, they come out fairly small.  This recipe made about 35 cookies.  These little treats can help to satisfy a chocolate craving without getting out of control.  Hopefully Arnauld's softball team likes them.  Good luck guys!