coffee + sun (and also the best, no-fuss Oatmeal-Chocolate Chip + EVOO Cookies ever)

The cold, winter months of January through March are when I am repeatedly consumed by thoughts of white, bright light, shades of pastel, greenery, and all things breezy and warm. It never fails. I coax my way through the pushy, winter funk blues by basking in the bursts of sunshine we are sporadically graced with (deceivingly, providing little-to-no warmth, if only to my heart), baking, lightening up my home and wardrobe, and reading. New sheets, go-to tee and Levis, and as of late, starting on another gem by Joan Didion, which essentially dates back so much of her family life to sunny California and Honolulu. At any rate, I am pushed forward by remaining present, living the little things, and finding comfort in the happiness all of that brings. These simultaneously gooey and crunchy oatmeal-chocolate chip cookies with EVOO (even days after sitting in the cookie jar), are the perfect, no-fuss cookies to throw together, bake, and sit to enjoy as the last bit of daylight lingers. They are perfection.

*Note: Recipe is as follows, which was adapted from Half Baked Harvest and tweaked to include extra-virgin olive oil and a few measurement changes here and there. 

Oatmeal-Chocolate Chip + EVOO Cookies 

Ingredients for about 2 dozen, nice sized cookies

- 2 1/2 cups old-fashioned, rolled oats

- 2 cups of all-purpose flour

- 1 cup (tightly packed) brown sugar

- 1/2 cup granulated sugar

- 1 teaspoon of salt

- 1 teaspoon of baking soda

- 1 cup of EVOO

- 2 large-jumbo eggs

- 5 teaspoons vanilla extract

- 1 1/2 to 2 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips (how gooey do you like 'em?)

Directions

I am a cook, not a baker, and when I say this is an easy recipe, I mean it. Seriously, preheat your oven to 350 degrees. While that gets warm and toasty, sift all your dry ingredients into a bowl to eliminate clumps, add your oats, and mix it all together. Then, in a separate bowl, mix all your wet ingredients and wisk until nicely incorporated. You will then combine your dry with your wet ingredients in thirds with a good wooden spoon and put in some arm work. No fancy mixer needed. Mix in your chocolate chocolate chips at the end to your liking, and begin to combine about a tablespoon of dough or so into your hands. Squeeze the dough tightly to form balls and place them on a prepared cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 10-12 minutes until golden, and while you wait, get yourself a good coffee/tea pot going. Heaven will be a place on earth in just a few short minutes. 

You're welcome.

xx