Chunky Comfort Cookies

Who doesn't like an oven fresh cookie on a cold day?

Everyone has heard how cold weather brings out the urge for something heavy, warm and tasty slow cooking on the stove. 'Cause when the snow and rain fall, who doesn't wanna curl up the couch with a good book or an intriguing movie and nibble something wonderful. Right?

Sadly baking is a pleasure that few of us make the time for, but nothing says comfy in the middle of 35F than a warm plate of cookies and a hot cup of tea!

Here's a recipe to get you started. It's easy and tasty! As an energy saver, I recommend baking these cookies as a bar; that way, you only use some power vs. the ton that conventional measure and ball cookies do. Plus you save yourself some time, too! Leave your butter out the night before to speed this baby up even more.

I always use organic ingredients. Organic is good for the body and the environment! And to ease off on some of the guilt you might feel for indulging in homemade sweets, I've modified the recipe to include nutritious ingredients like fruit, seeds, and oatmeal.

Chunky Chocolate Comfort Cookies
total time - 35 mins; Bake temp - 375F
Prep - lightly spray a 15 x 10 casserole dish with olive oil

Ingredients:
1 3/4 cups flour
dash of sea salt (optional)
3/4 tsp baking soda
3/4 cups unsalted butter or margarine, softened (butter tastes better!)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
NOTE - If you don't have brown sugar, try 1 cup sugar + 3 Tbsp unsulphured molasses
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup oatmeal (quick cooking or instant oats work best)
1/2 cup fruit and nut trail mix (try to use one with pumpkin and sunflower seeds)
1 Tbsp sesame seeds
1 Tbsp hulled hemp seeds
2 tsp ground coriander or cinnamon or both!

Directions:
1. Take softened butter into your mixing bowl; cream butter with sugars (and molasses if you're using it).
2. Add to the creamed sugar/butter your vanilla and egg. Mix well.
3. In a separate bowl, mix flour, baking soda, salt (if you're using it), coriander/cinnamon, oatmeal, seeds, and trail mix. Once this is combined, slowly mix it into your sugar/butter mix.
4. Mix all well.
5. Add chocolate chips and mix until all is combined and smooth.
6. Take your prepared casserole dish and dump in your cookie dough. Spread it into the four corners with clean hands.
7. Into the oven for 22 minutes or until golden brown (times may vary depending on locale, pan, etc.).
8. Once cookies are done baking, allow to cool for 10 mins. and then cut them up however small or large you like. Enjoy!

Homemade cookies taste better, are healthier for you and your loved ones, and have the added notion of being just plain special because you took the time to make them. Plus, they are far more economical than packaged cookies or boxed mixes which are often full of empty calories and gods know what!

Make your sweetie cookies, curl up on your favorite sofa and show them that you care, even if it's cold and yucky outside. :o)