Cowboy Cookies

I am a Canadian. I am proud of our socialized medicine and our Charter of Rights of Freedoms. I pay 12% taxes on everything (PST, GST, HST) and I do it with a grin. Yes, we do have a conservative federal government - and I'm not proud of that - but at least we don't have all those crazy Tea-Baggers running around.

America's Republican Party absolutely intrigues me. It was founded in 1854 on one simple platform: to stop the spread of slavery into the western territories. Now, last time I checked, that's not such a big hot-button issue anymore. So why is the GOP still around? (Of course, you can say the same thing about the Democrats, who were founded on the platform that Alexander Hamilton was a big D-Bag).

Enough of the history lesson. To be honest with you, I'm babbling because I've got some real guilt issues going on. I made some cookies the other day. The recipe came from a pretty prominent First Lady. A pretty prominent Republican First Lady. Doesn't seem so bad, I know - but I'm a pretty left-wing Canadian. I'm talking NDP left-wing. And this particular Republican First Lady was married to a pretty infamous Republican President. Now, this certain Republican President is not a bad man. I would totally have a brew or two with him. He was just . . . special . . .

Really special.

Back to the cookies. These cookies were used in an epic battle - Tipper Gore versus Laura Bush. Left wing versus Right wing.  Donkey verses Elephant. And, to be honest, the Elephant won. Hands (or trunks) down. I tried to like Tipper's Ginger Snaps. But, unlike her ex-husband's documentary, I couldn't swallow them. Literally. They were pretty dry. But Laura's cookies - These are seriously the best thing to come out of the Bush Administration. They're huge, chewy, and full of a whole array of ingredients that will make your mouth and tummy really really happy.

So, bake these cookies. Even if you voted Nader for the last couple of years.






Cowboy Cookies
adapted from Laura Bush and Brown Eyed Baker

Makes 1 and a half dozen GIANT cookies

1 1/2 AP Flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 medium eggs
1 1/1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups bittersweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1 cup shredded coconut
1 cup chopped pecans

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk together your flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Set aside.

2) In a large bowl with an electric mixer, whip together your butter and two sugars until fluffy and light. Add the eggs, one at a time. Add the vanilla. When everything has been combined, stir in the flour with a wooden spoon.

3) When the flour mixture and wet ingredients have just begun to combine, add the chocolate chips, oats, coconut, and pecans. Make sure everything is distributed equally.

4) Spoon 1/4 cup of dough per cookie onto your cookie sheet (yes, these are huge cookies). Bake the cookies for about 12 to 15 minutes, or just as they are beginning to turn golden brown. Get a HUGE glass of milk and enjoy while warm.





Yee-Haw