Storms are here.

Happy Tuesday all!

Storms are a brewing round' these here parts. You know what that means? A day full of cooking and baking, oh and studying for my personal training cert. Almost finished! Yay! So, yesterday I had a little disgruntled storm between myself and another person. What? Normally I don't like confrontation, unless it's with a family member...then I just say what is on my mind. For the most part, I like to talk things out in a calm and rational manner. Hey, it works. Try it. But yesterday, yesterday, was an exception. 

You see, my dad requested that I go to Sam's Club (that's Costco for you non-Sam's ppl) yesterday and pick up a package of pork steaks. We call them pork steaks, but the are really boneless pork chops...it's whatever. Anyway, I have always used my dad's company club card that he has had, mind you, since 1992. So, I head to the checkout with my little buggy filled with a few goods, grinning ear to ear, for what is to come with these pork chops. Not to mention, the fact that I was about to save $20 buying bulk items. Yes! However, the check-out lady proceeded to tell me that I was "out of line" using someone else's card when they were not with me at the store. 

That's when things got good. I politely responded, "Excuse me? I have used this card before and have never had a problem. It is my father's card. I can even show you my i.d. with the same last name (at which point I whipped out my i.d., which, btw is expired)." She wouldn't budge. Oh, oh...then she called the manager on duty to join our conversation, where the m.o.d. informed me that they were just trying to "do the right thing." What am I a criminal? Since when is it illegal to use your father's form of identification at a supermarket? I wasn't trying to actually pay with the card...I was using my own money, I just needed his club identification. Anyway, I told them that my service would be better appreciated at Costco and left. 

Oh, oh...this is the icing on the cake. My Dad was a little peeved about my experience and wrote the manager an email, at which she replied absolutely horrified that a customer was treated like this at Sam's. Well, I guess we will see how this pans out, but if she expects me to return to Sam's, she better role out the red carpet and tack on a $100 gift card! ha ha! Long story, short is...I came home and worked on a recipe for a chewy oatmeal cookie, as per my father's request. After doing some research, I learned that for a cookie to be "chewy," you should slightly under bake it. 

Bada-Bing

Bada

Boom!

I call these Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Everything Cookies. 

I added some Chocolate Chips to the last batch

 just because you can never go wrong with chocolate chips in a cookie

I am

speechless.

I can tell you one thing: the ladies at Sam's aren't getting any of these babies!

Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Everything Cookies:

Ingredients:

2 sticks of butter, at room temperature

1 c. brown sugar

1 c. granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 T. pure vanilla extract

2.5 c. all-purpose flour

1.5 c. rolled oats

1/2 t. salt

1 t. baking powder

3 t. ground cinnamon

1 c. raisins 

1 c. chopped Walnuts

optional add-ins: 1 c. of each: chocolate chips (semi-sweet, dark, or milk), chopped pecans, coconut (really the sky is the limit).

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 F. Line 3 baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and the sugars together until smooth.

3. Add the eggs and the vanilla and beat again, mixing until fully incorporated.

4. Add in the flour, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon. Mix well, scraping down the sides as needed.

5. Add the oats and mix again until everything comes together.

6. Fold in the raisins, and walnuts (at this point, also fold in your add-ins to the mix).

7. Refrigerate the dough for 20-30 minutes.

8. Roll the dough into tablespoon sized balls, place on the prepared baking sheet, and press each ball of dough down with the palm of your hand to flatten.

9. Bake for 11-12 minutes (this time will very depending on your oven).

MANGIA!!!