Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut Cookies!

It's not only been easy, but pretty unfortunate that I have been so caught up in my "everyday routine". Wake up, rush out the door to class, scarf down lunch, go back to class, race home to eat more food, study. Repeat. That's my the life. I haven't talked to some friends in a few days or even checked in with my family. I find myself just going through the motions. Worrying about things instead of enjoying the adventure. I know it's not a switch I can turn, but a process that I have to change. Approaching each day with a better mind set and reflecting on the opportunity that I do have will hopefully allow me to make the most of each day.

It's the night before my first medical school exam. I should probably be learning more about the heart and nervous system and where all the blood vessels drain into God only knows what. But I am not. I decided to take a little break from it all to hopefully calm me down a bit. I think my CCL group will appreciate it :)

Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut Cookies
1 cup butter, room temperature
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 TBSP vanilla
1 TSP baking powder
2 1/4 cups flour
1 cup chopped macadamia nuts
2 cups chocolate chips

preheat the oven to 375. cream the butter and sugar together. add in the vanilla and eggs. stir in the flour and baking powder. then add the chocolate chips and chopped nuts.

use a spoon to make semi-even sized cookies. bake at 375 for 8-12 minutes depending on how large the size. I like mine a bit softer so did not cook them too long!

let them cool and enjoy with a refreshing cold glass of milk...or be a good team player and wait to enjoy tomorrow with your classmate to celebrate anxiety of test one disappearing!

It's not that I haven't been doing my best or working hard. But I think that I have been losing sight of some pretty important things. I am hoping to get back to a better balance and remember that I am a person, a daughter, a sister, a friend, and classmate. I am looking forward to enjoying a fun weekend and making the most of it!!

Oatmeal, Chocolate Chip, Cranberry, Walnut Cookies

Cake? Bars? Cookies? 

Chocolate Chip? Peanut Butter? Oatmeal Raisin? Nuts?

Yea I get a little carried away sometimes. And overwhelmed by all the possibilities cause I want to create the best thing possible. Especially when I haven't baked in a while. But I was having difficulties coming up with something this time. 

I weighed the pros and cons. Multiple times. Back and forth like a yo-yo. 

Most people like cakes for their birthdays. And I have a pretty famous Layered Chocolate Raspberry Cake. But I don't really like cake. At least the traditional, frosting-loaded type. And I made that a time or six before...

Cookies always please me. But is that enough to make someone feel special on their birthday? It's not my birthday.

Bars are a bit more unique. Maybe fancier than a simple cookie?

Ever feel like you get so worked up about the dumbest things? Things that should be fun, enjoyable, or not so stressful? Yea, I found myself falling into this category...again...

So finally I decided to put down the computer. Stopped looking at cookbooks. Started throwing around ingredients... 

Awesomeness. 

Oatmeal, Chocolate Chip, Cranberry, Walnut Cookies

something I created

1 stick butter 

1/2 cup oil 

1/2 cup white sugar 

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 eggs 

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

3 cups oatmeal

1 1/2 - 2 cups flour

1 cup dried cranberries

1 cup walnuts

1 cup chocolate chips

1/2 teaspoon finely chopped rosemary

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

beat butter, oil, sugars, eggs, vanilla together. mix in baking soda, powder, cinnamon, rosemary. fold in oatmeal, flour, cranberries, chips and nuts. 

use a teaspoon to place onto cookie sheet. *or press into a baking dish to form bars*

bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown.


I like my cookies a bit softer so I watched the timer very closely and did not overcook them. 

yummo!!

 *I clearly could not decide on bars or cookies so I did both! :)

the bars!

I will place a candle in the cookie bars and present it to the birthday queen in just a short bit. Hopefully they will not be overcooked and will be soft, chewy and moist!


At the end of the day, I think it's best to go with you gut. Trust yourself to make good decisions. It's ok to be cautious, but sometimes it's ok to not over-think everything. Once you make a decision, stick with it. Confidence is key. You learn with each mistake. And decision.