Vacation Cookies

     A perk of being a teacher is the school vacations.  I know many districts this year had to sacrifice a break because of hurricanes and snow storms.  I feel very fortunate that both our February and April breaks are still in tact and that I will have that uninterrupted time to just be a mom!  I'm loving my lazy mornings with Wren, running errands together, and just playing and interacting with her all day! 
     Another perk to school vacations is that so many of your friends are also on break!  I got together with a bunch of work friends Sunday evening and have plans for lunch tomorrow.  Cookies are my contribution for both events.  It was funny on Sunday, when we looked at the table covered in goodies, someone asked if everything had come from an idea or recipe on Pinterest.  Sure enough, almost everything had!  These cookie recipes are no exception.

Brown Butter Chocolate Chunk Oatmeal Cookies (how's that for a name?!)

Ingredients
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/4 cup flour
3/4 cup oats
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup chocolate chunks


Method
Preheat oven to 375 degrees
1. In a small saucepan, melt the butter, whisk continuously, until the butter is browned.  Then remove the pan from the heat and continue whisking for 30 seconds.  Set aside to cool.
2. In a large bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, chocolate and oats.  Set this aside.
3. After the butter has cooled, mix in the two sugars.  Next add the egg and vanilla.  Add the flour mixture and use your hands to form a dough.  Chill for 30 minutes.
4. Roll the dough into 1 1/2 inch balls and place them 2 inches apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.  Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges and bottoms are golden.

Almond Joy Cookies

 

Ingredients

 2 1/4 cups flour

3/4 cup cocoa powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup butter, softened

2/3 cup granulated sugar

2/3 cup brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 eggs

Whole Almonds

Sweetened flaked coconut

Method

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

1. In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.  

2. Using a mixer, beat the butter and sugars together.  Then beat in the eggs and vanilla.

3. Add the flour mixture and once a dough has been formed, chill in the freezer for about 20 minutes.

4. Once the dough is chilled, roll into 1-1 1/5 inch balls.  Press an almond into each cookie before rolling in coconut.  

5. Place cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 9 minutes.

Wren and Quinn hanging out at Kelly's house.

My birthday is coming...Ali made me this delicious cake because she knows I love coconut.  Ironically, I repinned the recipe from one of her boards earlier that day!  She knows me too well.  Here's a link to the recipe:  Chocolate Salted Caramel Pie