Yet, another version of the Oatmeal Cookie!

I'm always up to trying new and improved ways of making oatmeal cookies. This one caught my eye because of the fresh essence offered by the orange zest and the inclusion of the bits of dried apricot. The fact that they come out crunchy was only an added bonus. The bran flakes give an extra fiber boost and an interesting taste. I never pass on a chance to sneak something good into a treat.

Again, with the Oatmeal Cookie!

1 cup butter

1 cup white sugar

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 tablespoon freshly grated orange zest

1 egg

1 cup vegetable oil

2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon baking soda

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup old-fashioned oatmeal

1/2 cup flaked coconut

1 cup bran flake cereal

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1/2 cup finely diced dried apricots

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream together the butter, sugars and zest. This gives the oils from the zest a chance to blend into the butter. Beat in the egg, oil, vanilla extract, baking soda, and flour until just mixed. Add in the rest of the ingredients and combine.

Drop walnut-sized balls of dough on cookie sheets.  Bake for approximately 10 to 12 minutes, depending on size you make the cookies.

Although using vegetable spray to grease the sheets is fine, consider using parchment paper. It helped bake the cookies more evenly and clean up is very easy. The cookies just slide off.

Time to fill the cookie jar . . .

I like basic cookies especially if I can create my own versions according to taste or what is on hand in the cupboard that day. These are pretty basic but always seem to be popular with children and grown up children!

Make It as You Like It Cookies

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
½ cup brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2¼ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups. chocolate chips
½ cup pecans, chopped
½ cup raisins

Cream butter with sugar; add brown sugar, eggs & vanilla. Combine other dry ingredients in bowl and sift. Add to creamed mixture. Add chocolate chips, nuts and raisins. Stir in with spoon.
Bake 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees

Ideas . . .

Substitute dried cranberries for the raisin or, use half and half.

I like pecans but walnut or almonds work well, too. Peanuts would be an interesting change of pace.

Use toasted coconut instead of the raisins.

It doesn't have to be chocolate chips. White chips, peanut butter chips, or butterscotch chips would make the recipe your own.

Using an ice cream scoop would make giant cookies for a special event.

Dip one half of each cookie in some melted chocolate.

Crossing the English Channel . . .

I have always wondered about people swimming the English Channel but never imagined how great a distance that swim could be! We traveled from England to France on a French Ferry boat (note the French flag!) and it took over seven hours. I don't think I'd like to be paddling around the cold water for that amount of time. My son had never been on a ship of any kind so found it all amazing. He even climbed up the the very windy upper deck for a better view.

The ferry boat was a lot more than just the name would indicate. There were shops, snack bars, drink bars, a sit-down restaurant, and a cafeteria on board. I think it was five or six stories high or seemed to be given the times we got ourselves lost! Definitely not a cafeteria you'd imagine. Gourmet food with the serve-yourself concept. They even cooked your steak to order!

When we reached France, we went down to the depths of the ferry, found our tour bus, climbed in, and drove off into the French countryside. The modern world is amazing!

It's morning! Wake up and read the quotes!

"A committee can make a decision that is dumber than any of its members."
       -- David Coblitz

 

"Did you ever walk into a room and forget why you walked in? I think that's how dogs spend their lives."
       -- Sue Murphy

 

"There is no safety in numbers, or in anything else."
       -- James Thurber