It bakes for thee.

Okay, you've seen Kirsten's present in the previous post (Karen is FURIOUS that there isn't an identical welcome mat on our doorstep, btw), but here is a present for everybody...a recipe for chocolate oatmeal cookies--Hannah & Molly's favorite.

(If you saw Bethany's recent FaceBook pics of me, you'll notice that I've put on a few pounds since last summer...and these cookies share part of the blame.)

Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

2 cups whole-wheat flour
6 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 C. butter
2/3 C. brown sugar
1/2 C. Splenda for Baking (or 1 C. sugar)
2 eggs (or 1/2 C. egg substitute)
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 1/4 C. rolled oats (the thicker, the yummier)
1 C. chocolate chips (the darker, the better)

1. Preheat oven to 350. Grease cookie sheets or line them with parchment or silicone. Stir together the first 6 dry ingredients; set aside.

2. In a large bowl, beat the butter & sugars. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Stir in the dry ingredients, then the oats, then the chocolate chips. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto cookie sheets.

3. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned.

4. Quickly deliver them to others...or prepare to buy larger pants.

UPDATE--6:56 a.m.: Just got home from the Y. Worked out, soaked my aching neck (killing me for three days) in the whirlpool, and showered in an almost-normal-sized bathroom. The mirrors were mounted for women who are 5' 2" (could only see my chin) and the shower nozzle was even lower than that...but it was STILL better than the criminally-tiny bathroom attached to the "master" bedroom of my house.

Let's see if I can work off some of this winter's chocolate oatmeal cookies with a new Y routine this spring!