oatmeal chocolate chip cookies

it is so rainy here on the east coast. they keep adding more days of rain to the forecast. i don't mind. i love rain actually. rain like this makes me want a cup of tea, a cookie and a hug. so yesterday, we made our favorite oatey oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. oats and chocolate are a great combination. a little bit good for you, a lot delicious. 

ive been slowly developing this recipe for 15 years. i got the original idea from hillary clinton. after her "i could have stayed home and baked cookies" comment, and prior to the presidential election, some women's magazine publication, i can't remember which one, had barbara bush and hillary each submit cookie recipes, a bake-off to help decide the 1992 election. hillary won, and consequently, bill won the election. coincidence? yes! but no matter, herein was the kernel of an idea that oats go far better with chocolate than they do with raisins and cinnamon. for us, a household of chocolate fiends, who aren't so crazy about raisins, but are crazy about oats, this works. 

oatey oatmeal chocolate chip cookies

makes about 6 dozen cookies. we love cookies.

preheat oven to 350 degrees

combine dry ingredients:

2 and 1/2 cups unbleached all purpose flour

1/2 cup organic oat flour

2 tsp salt

2 tsp baking soda

in mixing bowl beat together:

4 sticks organic unsalted butter, softened

3/4 cups organic sugar or super fine sugar if you've got it

1 and 1/2 cups brown sugar

1 TBSP vanilla extract

until nicely mixed and all light and fluffy.

now add

4 eggs, (best if they are at room temperature)

until thoroughly incorporated.

with large wooden spoon, gradually mix in dry ingredients and then

5 and 1/2 cups old fashioned rolled oats

you want to walk the line between mixing thoroughly, but not over-mixing here. a light touch is required.

next gently fold in

1 12 oz package of chocolate chips 

and once in a great while, but completely optional

3/4 cup chopped pecans

bake for 10 to 11 minutes, or until lightly browned on bottom and set/starting to brown just barely on top. cool for two minutes on baking sheet, then remove to plate or rack to cool the rest of the way before storing...or just eat right off the tray at exactly two minutes, as my kids do.