Peanut Oat Chocolate Chippers

I would like to switch gears temporarily from cooking to baking. I love baking so much more than cooking, although cooking is really growing on me, because it is so exact, you just have to follow the directions, and timing isn't that big of a deal. And I almost always already have whatever ingredients I need in my pantry. Baking. So easy. (Also it helps that I never bake anything fancy or try to make it look nice.)

So this is my favorite cookie recipe but I haven't made it since Theo was old enough to notice. Sad...it's so delicious. Flourless, crunchy, sweet and salty. Make it today. Make it today and think of me!

Peanut Oat Chocolate Chippers

(recipe courtesy of Becky Miller)

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 1/2 cups sugar

4 large eggs

6 cups quick-cooking oats, uncooked

1 6-oz package semisweet chocolate chips

1 18-oz jar CHUNKY peanut butter

1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 1/2 tsp baking soda

Beat butter and peanut butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy; gradually add sugars, beating well. Add eggs and vanilla, mixing well. Combine oats and baking soda; add to butter mixture, mixing well. Stir in chocolate chips.

Drop dough by tbsp onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350* for 9 to 10 minutes. Cool on baking sheets 5 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. Makes 7 dozen.

Maybe you are thinking what I thought when I read this recipe. 7 dozen?? Who even knows how many 7 dozen is?? I sure don't. But anyway, it has been so long that I don't remember exactly but I think it makes 7 dozen smallish cookies.

Several people have followed up with me about Theo's peanut allergy test. I announced a while back that I was getting him tested at his 3-year-old checkup. Well, my doctor suggested going to an allergist and getting a skin-prick test instead of the blood test he does at his office. This way we'll get a more accurate result. But I have not yet taken Theo to an allergist and this is why:

1) I hate going to new doctors.

2) I HATE making appointments, regardless of whether it's a new or old doctor.

3) I'm not super motivated because--other than not being able to make Peanut Oat Chocolate Chippers--I have kind of gotten used to avoiding peanuts. (I still eat peanut butter regularly, but only at night or during Theo's naps.)

4) I just realized this today...I am a tiny bit scared of the test result.

In the past couple of months Theo has accidentally had very small amounts of peanut butter a couple of times and has been totally fine. This brings my hopes up, and I feel like going to an allergist might dash them. How's that for denial? It's not just a river in Egypt, you know. (My little brother used to give me the "river in Egypt" line when he was very young...like 5 or 6...how weird that I just thought of that.)

Anyway. This post was supposed to be about the best cookies ever and it turned into an admission of my denial. Which I guess is an oxymoron. I think it's time to end this post. COOKIES!