Oatmeal Cookies

It's been awhile since I posted a recipe.  Here's a quick and easy one to do.  It's for oatmeal cookies.  Since we would be starting our fast soon, we try to clear the pantry of stuff like biscuits or chocolates.  We also haven't bought any junk food since we wouldn't be able to snack during the day.  The only things remaining in the pantry are the staples such as flour, sugar, spices and oatmeal.  

Pete and I took a very long walk today - about 10km, so once home, we were ravenous.  We had lunch soon after but I got a serious case of the munchies.  I craved for something sweet.  I looked at my pantry - no bread, cookies or cake.  But I had the ingredients to bake something quick.  I decided to make oatmeal cookies.  I could also throw in whatever was left of a dark chocolate bar I had in the fridge.

Since its a warm day, it didn't take long for me to soften the butter.  I only had to put the bowl in the balcony and let the sun do its thing.  While waiting for the butter to soften, I measured out the other ingredients.  One thing about cookies is that they don't need much work.  Once the butter is soft, you only need to beat it together with the sugar for about 2 minutes on high.  Then, after adding the other ingredients, the cookies should be ready to bake within 10 minutes.  Depending on the size of the cookies, you could be enjoying them within 15 minutes.  Quick and simple.

Oatmeal Cookies with Chocolate Chunks and Coconut

1/2 cup butter or margarine, soft

1/2 cup caster sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 cup flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon powder

A pinch of ground cloves

A pinch of ground nutmeg

1 1/2 cup oatmeal 

60g of dark chocolate, chopped into chunks ( or simply use chocolate chips)

A handful of grated coconut (optional)

Preheat the oven to 190C.

Beat the butter with the sugars until well combined.

Add the egg and continue beating on high speed for another minute.

Add the vanilla and mix well.

Add the flour, baking soda, salt and spices.  Stir well and then add the oatmeal.

Lastly, add the chocolate chunks and coconut.

Shape the mixture into balls (mine were the size of boiled egg yolk) and place them slightly apart on a lined baking tray.  Press them a bit to flatten them a bit.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes.  If you want the cookies to be soft, take them out earlier.