March 24, 2014

Cookie Butter Oatmeal Cookies


I'm not sure why I don't bake anymore.  It makes me sad, to be honest.  The simple truth is probably that when I don't have people to share the baked goods with, I don't want to make them.  For example, Scott doesn't enjoy it when I bake...simply because he knows he'll end up eating it all.  Oh, he enjoys it-enjoys it, but he doesn't want or need to eat 2 dozen cookies and that's what happens when I bake.  (We have very little self-control around desserts.  Good thing we found each other, right?)

In Alaska, I would take my creations into the faculty lounge.  They'd usually be gone before school started.  There was one teacher in particular who would always ask what I was bringing in next.  He was so grateful and appreciative of the products of this blog!  I would take in a pan of rice krispy treats and see half a dozen people eating them with their morning coffee.  That made me feel so good.  Like I was providing a service.  Food, I believe, is my love language.  I had an email exchange about this with Kate...people who get fulfillment out of feeding others have to have food as a love language right?  Didn't Jesus use food as love anyway?  With the bread, the fish, the wine, and all that? (excuse my less than eloquent wording)

Alaska was where I learned to cook.  Where I learned to use food to show people I cared.

In Missouri, I haven't had a chance to express myself through food.  It hasn't hit me until just recently that this has been the case, and it makes me really sad.  I don't work in a tight-knit building.  They may claim to be tight-knit, but there's over 50 teachers, and probably 70+ staff.  I don't know everyone's name.  I still, after 7 months, cannot match names to faces and I've never spoken to half the people there. I very much enjoy the challenge and professional growth I've gotten out of Missouri, but I can't say that I've ever felt particularly loved here.  I do have some sweet friends, but they are very much outside of my everyday routine and a treat to spend time with; I don't see them each day.
My only friends in Alaska, after that first year, were at work.  It was my community.  My support system.  My co-workers saw me laugh and cry.  They saw me frustrated and happy.  They knew me as a person and trusted me as a teacher. How is it possible that I could fit in better in the state of Alaska than I could here?  That's something I ponder almost everyday on my way to work...

Anyway, that's a lot of deep thought for a post about cookies.  


I baked these cookies for my dad, for his birthday.  Oatmeal cookies are his favorite.  


They get an added kick of gingersnap flavor from a giant scoop of cookie butter.  Feel free to try different kinds of cookie butter…next time, I'll substitute in the cocoa swirl.  

Cookie Butter Oatmeal Cookies
makes 4 dozen
1/2 cup of butter (one stick), softened
1/4 cup cookie butter (or biscoff)
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 t. vanilla
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 t. baking soda
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. salt
3 cups old-fashioned oats
1 cup chocolate chips

With an electric mixer, cream together the butter, cookie butter, and sugars.  Add the eggs and vanilla; beat well.
Combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in a small bowl.  Add to the creamed mixture and mix to combine.  Add in the oats and chocolate chips.
Drop by tablespoons onto a greased cookie sheet. 
Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes.  Don't over bake.  They're best when chewy!

10 comments:

  1. Kristin, I totally understand what you mean about your school. At my new school, everyone is very nice and very friendly but they aren't friends like the people were at my old school. I never realized how important that was to me until I didn't have it anymore. The year is almost over, right?

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  2. I hate that you're missing that connection there. I understand it, though. And food is totally a love language. I was just telling my friends that this weekend--I was busy in the kitchen almost the entire time they were here--and they kept insisting we just order pizza because "it's so much work." But I couldn't explain to them how much I enjoy all of it--how much I love feeding my guests. It's also one of those rare moments where I feel just so much like my mom. And I cherish that. I wasn't always a good cook. I had to work really hard to get to where I am now (and even still, I have a lot of growing to do)--so I enjoy when I get to share it with people!

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  3. I am very much of a "feed people" type of person, too. For me, it often takes the form of inviting people over to my home for dinners or parties, but I used to bring in snacks to beauty school and sometimes send cookies or something in with Angel to work...funny, because I hated the institution of beauty school and don't know any of Angel's coworkers...but I strongly believe in blessing people by feeding them. My reason for not baking right now is that my oven has been acting up. :( There's a technician coming tomorrow and I'm wondering if such a thing as an inexpensive fix exists...

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  4. These cookies look amazing. I wish I was close enough to test them for you :)

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  5. I still have to admit I've still never had cookie butter. We don't have a Trader Joe's near us!

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  6. If I could "help" you eat these, I totally would :0) Hopefully in CO, you can bake for others

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  7. Cookie butter? May have to get some for Keith, he loves anything related to peanut butter. Sounds good!

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  8. These look so yummy! I cannot wait to try these and share them with our church small group.

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  9. Oh my yum. Gimme those cookies right meow. I need to get my hands on some cookie butter so I can whip these up!

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  10. I will admit, it took me a while to learn the names of everyone here at Mo Valley. People were very nice my first year, but I really didn't come out of my shell and feel totally welcome until after my second year! It takes me a long time to adjust to new people! lol

    Scott LOVES oatmeal cookies. They are definitely his favorite. Do you think these ones would bake ok without the chocolate chips? He prefers plain oatmeal cookies. I've tried just taking the chips out of recipes before, and they didn't quite turn out....

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