Oatmeal Cookies and Stuff

It's hard to believe how quickly the first part of the year went by!  Here it is already Spring.  It has been beautiful here the last few days.  Lots of sunshine and nice breezes.   This is the pear tree we will be enjoying fruit from this season. 

My little herb garden seems to have gained a few more plants.  Mars planted 6 tomato plants, some jalapeno's and some green peppers.  Oh and I think he tossed in some yellow squash while I wasn't looking! Oh well, like I'm going to complain??  LOL  None of the herbs are above ground yet.  I am impatiently waiting to see whats going to pop out of there! 

Last night Mars grilled some chicken on the pit with some of the last of the mesquite wood. Along with the potato salad I made, some beans and some Chili bread it just couldn't be beat!  Oh, and oatmeal cookies and milk for dessert. Yummy!!  I wonder what the rich folks were eating??? 

I think I may have found an almost perfect Oatmeal Cookie Recipe.  I made these yesterday and they came out great for a first attempt.  There is plenty of room in this recipe for "playing".  I love versatile recipes. 

Soft Oatmeal Cookies

Original Recipe Yield 2 dozen

Ingredients

    * 1 cup butter, softened
    * 1 cup white sugar
    * 1 cup packed brown sugar
    * 2 eggs
    * 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    * 2 cups all-purpose flour
    * 1 teaspoon baking soda
    * 1 teaspoon salt
    * 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
    * 3 cups quick cooking oats

Directions

   1. In a medium bowl, cream together butter, white sugar, and brown sugar. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon; stir into the creamed mixture. Mix in oats. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour.
   2. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets. Roll the dough into walnut sized balls, and place 2 inches apart on cookie sheets. Flatten each cookie with a large fork dipped in sugar.
   3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Raisins, chocolate chip, peanut butter, coconut, walnuts..... See what I mean?  Any of these additions would make an excellent variation.
I made some more chili bread as well... If you would like the recipe I posted it here. So yummy!  Mars has been missing his favorite bread.  I'm glad to be back in the breadmaking mode again.  Store bought just doesn't taste right anymore.  And it doesn't feel right to be paying over a dollar a loaf for it either!
It has been awhile since I made a trip to Little Big Town.  It has taken some getting used to not just running around the corner for whatever we might want or need.  So far I have done pretty well. I have a list started but don't actually have a day set to go yet. Although with Easter weekend coming I probably should go tomorrow.  The good thing is that the list is really small which means that I am only restocking what we have used.  I feel pretty good about that. 
Who would have thought that just over a year ago that we would be here?  I certainly never imagined it!  I can't remember the last time I felt so content with just living.