Monday, November 30, 2015

Favorite Cookies

My baking Santa is joining me for tea at the coffee table today, and I'd be happy to share a cookie with you.  We're also having some decaf vanilla tea, which is so heavenly.  


Isn't this Santa adorable?  At Christmas time, he resides in my kozy kitchen.


When I was in Ohio last week,  to cook Thanksgiving dinner for my dear Mom, my sweet sister had bought me this darling teapot from World Market.  It looks so small, but surprisingly when full, it holds about 4 cups of tea.  


I'm using my Johnson Brothers Olde English Countryside teacup.  I love to mix and match my dishes. I love how the teacup blends with the Target dishes that my late beloved and I scoured the stores for years ago. 



I know that I've written about these cookies before, but they are so good that I wanted to include them again,  as a Christmas version.  They don't contain any flour, which is great for a gluten free diet.  I don't have that problem.  I just happen to love these cookies, and I hope you'll try them. 


Monster Cookies
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1 and 1/2 cups peanut butter
3 eggs
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 and 1/2 cups uncooked rolled oats
1 cup (6 ounces) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup candy-coated chocolate pieces (use red and green for Christmas)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper.
Beat butter, sugars, peanut butter and eggs in large bowl until well blended.  Blend in baking soda, vanilla and oats until well mixed.  Stir in chocolate chips and candy pieces.  
Scoop out about 1/3 cupful of dough for each cookie.  I use an ice cream scoop instead, which is about a 1/4 cup.  Place on prepared cookie sheets, spacing about 4 inches apart.  Press each cookie to flatten slightly.  Bake 15-20 minutes or until firm in center.  I only bake mine for 15 minutes.
NOTE:  I now scoop the cookies and freeze them on parchment paper.  After they are frozen, I transfer them to freezer proof bags and take out and bake when needed.  
Makes about 18 cookies, if using 1/3 cup, or about 30 with the ice cream scoop.
I am sharing this with these lovely parties:

34 comments:

  1. Hi Kitty, So glad you enjoyed a great time at your mom's cooking and sharing Thanksgiving together. Love the teacup from your sister. What a special gift. Your cookies look so good and thank you for sharing the recipe. I love your baking Santa. He is a treasure for sure and the dishes you and your beloved hunted down years ago are darling. Love the red and green spongeware. Looks like you are getting ready for the season and your setting looks so cozy and inviting. Looking forward to Friday. Can't wait to see you and Pat. Blessings for a great first week in December. xo

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  2. Oh Kitty, those cookies!!!! Thanks for visiting my blog today and your kind words. That Santa is so cute. I loved all the little details!

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  3. Your Santa is just darling. Those cookies looks so good, I made a promise to myself to try and cut back on my sweets through the holidays. I hope I can stick to it, but looking at those makes me want one now! I love anything with peanut butter in it.

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  4. Your Santa Baker is adorable Kitty and your monster cookies look and sound delicious too! I love the tip to bake from frozen one or two at time when you have a cookie craving hits.I have some vanilla tea bags at the ready, it's cool and rainy here this morning, but mine are high test, I need the caffeine :)

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  5. Hi Kitty,
    Sounds like you had a very nice Thanksgiving! I love the teapot! Love your display in the living room too. I noticed that very cozy throw on the couch!!! Yah, I'd be all wrapped up in that!!! LOL!
    Your Santa is really cute! You have the nicest pieces and you display them so beautifully in photos! BTW, those cookies look delicious! I don't think I have ever had a peanut butter oatmeal cookie before. must try.....have a great day Kitty! Miss you and think of you often!! Drinking tea from the lovely cup you gave me right now!
    xo
    Linda

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  6. Kitty, your cookies and lovely things are a treat to the eye this morning! The thing I like about a glass teapot is watching the tea leaves unfurl.

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  7. Kitty:
    Wow - I read your ingredients and those sound wonderful. I must try them and perfect for my grandkids too! Your cup and saucer is really pretty. I saw that pattern at the mall and admired it but I need to start slapping my hands now! So glad you shared your posting at my blog party!

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  8. Kitty, I love your red teacup and the teapot is a cute one. Your Santa would be cute in the kitchen. He looks very jolly. I have a baker snowman but I rarely bring him out. I think I have way too many Christmas things and will have to start getting rid of some of them. Your cookies sound yummy and chocolate and peanut butter are always a favourite here. Thanks for the recipe and for joining me today at my party. Have a delightful week, my friend.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  9. I have a similar (but smaller) tea pot I got from QVC years ago, they are cute! Your cookies sound good Kitty, let the holiday baking begin:@)

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  10. I think my kitchen Santa is the same as yours.
    I just brought in my tub of Santa's so tomorrow I will put him in his place on the kitchen island and make cookies, too. :) Your cookies sure sound delicious....

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  11. Kitty, your baker Santa is adorable! Thanks for the cookie recipe. I hope to host a cookie exchange party one year. It's fun to collect different Christmas cookie recipes.
    I saw that same teapot at World Market and liked it. Good to know it holds four cups. I was wondering how many cups it held.

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  12. It looks so nice an pd Christmasy! You've got to grab Santa while he still has time for baking cookies. These cookies sound very interesting!

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  13. Your setting looks to be quite cozy, Kitty. I love all the goodies tucked away in Santa's pocket, very cute.
    I have a friend who made those cookies for my husband and I when we were visiting them and they were delicious! I was quite shocked when she told me that they had no flour.

    Sounds like you had a wonderful time with your mother, and I'll bet the meal you cooked was delightful. :-)

    Bless you~~ Debbie

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  14. Your Santa baker is too cute! This is the first time that I heard of monster cookies which look yummy. I'm also loving your new teapot--your sister knows you so well!

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  15. Kitty, I see a cookie in Santa's apron pocket. Too cute! Those cookies look delicious!

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  16. Hi Kitty, What a cute baking Santa! I keep searching for a Santa holding a teapot, but to no avail. I'm sure they exist at some store, but I haven't been able to find him in all the years I've been searching. Your Christmas cookies look delicious. I've been enjoying watching the Christmas cookie competition on the Food Channel. How wonderful that you got to spend Thanksgiving with your mom and sister - who is obviously very thoughtful. Love the teapot!
    ~ Phyllis

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  17. I remember these cookies! Wish I had one right now ~ :) I remember the dishes too! I love dishes, stemware, etc. Just don't have the space to add more...that's the reason I resisted when Target had them. Your tea pot is perfect! Glad you had a nice visit with your Mom...I'm sure she loved having you there.

    Friday's coming soon! :)
    xo
    Pat

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  18. Your Santa has a stance that says he's the man of your cozy kitchen! :-) The new teapot reminds me of a pyrex shape from long ago and it's quite festive with your teacup and yummy cookies.

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  19. Oh Kitty, I could use a cup of tea and I guess a cookie or two. :) I am developing an attraction to World Market.

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  20. Kitty, what a cute tea pot from your sister. I'm sure Santa enjoys watching over your kozy kitchen.I just printed the cookie recipe and they will be going on a platter for my office Christmas party.

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  21. Hi Kitty,
    Oh your baking Santa is sweet and I do love your red transferware cup with the pretty Christmas china that you and your hubby searched for. I have looked for things that I want too with my hubby. I must try baking those cookies. Everything looks so festive. Happy December and Tea Day! Karen

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  22. Hi Kitty,
    Oh your baking Santa is sweet and I do love your red transferware cup with the pretty Christmas china that you and your hubby searched for. I have looked for things that I want too with my hubby. I must try baking those cookies. Everything looks so festive. Happy December and Tea Day! Karen

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  23. What a cozy Christmas scene you've created. The cookies sound delicious and the red cup is so pretty. Enjoy your cookies and tea, Kitty! Have a wonderful day.

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  24. Hi sweet Kitty! Your cooking Santa is darling :) WIth a helper like that I am sure the baking is much more fun {{smiles}}

    Your cookies look oh-so-good and I know my son would love them....and so would I. I MUST make some soon.

    I saw Celeste's comment and she said she is looking forward to Friday....does that mean you and her are going to meet in person? Oh friend, if so than please know that I am very excited for the two of you! And maybe even slightly jealous! The two of you are so precious and what a joy it would be to meet.

    Have a lovely day, dear friend. Sending love and hugs your way!

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  25. Dear Mizz Kitty...
    I come to you on bended knee to ask if you were having your Home Fellowship friends over for a gathering, about 10 to 12 people with everyone in the Christmas spirit, what would be a good (and easy) menu. I want something festive and Christmasy but not anything too involved. Remember, I am more of a almost homemade kind of girl and nothing fancy. You are so much better at this kind of thing than I am. I first thought of a great soup but we had soup last week at the other hosts house. Don't stress over this, Kitty...just thought you might have an idea pop into your mind.....xoxoxoxoxo

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  26. These look delicious, Kitty, and would be great for serving my (mostly gluten-free) book club. Your table looks so festive with your Santa. That is a cute looking teapot. We drove through Ohio this past weekend on our way to Virginia. I thought of you and our friend Michele at Finch Rest. Wish we could have all had tea together!
    I love your wood floor. Beautiful!

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  27. Your Santa is so cute! I love the Olde English Countryside teacup. Those cookies look great, and I love they are gluten free! Thanks so much for linking to Tuesday Cuppa Tea!
    Ruth

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  28. Your little Santa is so cute, Kitty! I love all the little details - the little cake is too sweet! My daughter will love this recipe as she has problems with gluten. Sweet little teapot and tea set, too. My Mom had that Christmas dish set. My sister has it now:) Hope you have a cozy week! Hugs xo Karen

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  29. Kitty, your Santa is a cutie! The cookies look delicious and along with the tea would be a wonderful treat! Happy Christmas month!

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  30. Hi Kitty! Oh, what a darling little Santie to help you out in baking the cookies! The cookies look so delicious and I'll take just one, please! Your little teapot is so cute and I love your beautiful cup and saucer. Hope you're doing well.
    be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  31. Your Santa is too cute and sure brings you a smile as you are cooking. Great find with the plates and those cookies look terrific. We are trying to stay away from white flour and sugars, but I am thinking I may be able to adapt the sugars too :) Have a great weekend!

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  32. These sound really delicious!

    Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!

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  33. Love your Santa Kitty, and the dishes have fond memories for sure! I haven't made monster cookies in a long time, but they are yummy! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  34. Hi Kitty,
    Sure hope you had a great thanksgiving at your Mom's. Your Baking Santa, is just the cutest thing ever and those cookies look awesome!  Hope  you are having a great day and thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

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