Who doesn't love cookies?  Adults, kids, everybody loves cookies especially if they are home made.  Is there anyone who loves cookies more than Cookie Monster?  I think maybe our grandsons do, and Dan, and maybe even me - especially if it's a good home made cookie like these oatmeal cookies in the picture.  The really spectacular thing about these cookies is they stay soft, they don't get hard like oatmeal cookies often do.  

Summertime is upon us and it is the season of cookouts, picnics and children home from school who are always hungry.  If you want to give them a special treat, let them help you bake the cookies they can have for their treat.  Not only does letting them help give them life skills, baking can be a math lesson and it lets them enjoy the fruits of their labor.  Baking is one of the easiest ways to start kids in the kitchen.   Kids may not eat broccoli, even if they cook it, but they will almost always eat a cookie.

For our recent May Faire picnic at our grandsons' school, I knew I would take cookies for dessert.  They are easy to put in a zip lock bag, you don't need a plate or utensils for cookies and they are just plain good.  The kids certainly thought so!   

Our kindergarden aged grandson had a friend who joined us for our picnic because his mom had a meeting to attend.  His name was Ted and he was adorable.  Ted loved these cookies.  He just kept asking if he could have another and I certainly didn't mind.  After cookie number 8, I asked him if his mom cared if he ate that many cookies.  Guess what?  According to Ted, she didn't care one bit.   I lost count of how many cookies Ted finally consumed, but it was quite a few.   I am quite sure mom would have frowned on that many cookies, but Ted gave me her permission.  

Here is what you need for this easy recipe:

1 cup butter

1 cup white sugar

1 cup brown sugar, packed

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

3 cups quick cooking oats

First, cream the butter and both sugars until light and fluffy.  Add in 1 egg at a time, beating to thoroughly incorporate.  Add the vanilla.  Mix.

Sift the dry ingredients (except oats) together.  Add to the wet ingredients, mix thoroughly.  Add the oats and mix.  Refrigerate the batter for at least an hour.  

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Grease your cookie sheets.  Remove batter from the refrigerator.  Roll the batter into balls, placing them 2 inches apart.  Bake 8-10 minutes until lightly browned around the edges.  Remove from oven.  Let cool slightly, remove from pan with spatula.  

The size of the ball you make determines the size of the cookie.  I made mine about the size of a walnut which made about 4 dozen cookies.

Oatmeal cookies are one of our favorites, but I don't like anything in them like raisins or nuts.  If you do, feel free to add them to the batter.  You could also drizzle the tops of the cookies with chocolate or powdered sugar glaze if you wanted to.  Since these were going to be outside in the heat, I left them plain and they were just "plain" delicious.

Memorial Day will soon be here and that is usually the "official" kickoff for cookouts and picnics.  If you want a simple and easy dessert to take along, always think about cookies.  They are easy to make, easy to take and easy to eat.  Here's to a spectacular summer!

Everyday Donna

Things to Remember:

If ants are such busy workers, how come they find time to go to all the picnics?
- Marie Dressler