Sorry about the Monday gloat yesterday…I will try not to rub it in your faces that I am on summer vacation for life. Or at least for a few years.
Tuesday was just as nice.
Breakfast
I walked to a local coffee shop and had a chai latte with a friend from school. We sat outside and basked in the sun while we caught up – it was fantastic.
When I got home, I had something more substantial than coffee.
spinach and peanut butter (which we call plemmot babber at this house) – a winning combo.
Lunch
I made Meeker a veggie burrito when he came home from lunch – broccoli, carrots, black beans, red peppers, corn, salsa, and rice in a tortilla. Then I just picked at the leftover innards from his lunch. I didn’t eat much real food because I had these cookies on my mind.
Uhhh…that’s not what Jessica’s cookies looked like.
Mine came like bumpy pancakes. I have never been able to make a successful batch of oatmeal cookies!! They always spread way too much. What the heck?!
I’m going to blame it on the altitude.
However, their ugly appearance didn’t stop me from eating two…or three. I can’t remember.
After the cookie fail, Adrienne napped while I started on dinner.
Aren’t her cheeks getting adorably chubby? Gah…I love her.
Dinner
This pasta dish was meh. Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to attempt to put this little one to sleep for the night.
Any advice for me on the oatmeal cookies? I’ve tried so many different recipes for the same cookie, and they always come out flat and ugly. What gives? It’s just the oatmeal variety…
LOVE those cheeks!! Can’t wait to see them in real life!
Try to not over cream your butter and sugar. I’ve heard that’s what makes cookies go flat. Good luck!
Oooh, that could definitely be it…I left my mixer on for a while while creaming the butter/sugar together. Thanks!
I am unfortunately zero help, as I just had a cookie disaster of my own very recently.
HOWEVER… I will say that your daughter is freaking adorable. So at least ya got that goin for you
are you using margarine instead of butter? or some other butter substitute? that could be affecting the flatness…
1) Try more flour in the cookies. I fine that at our crazy altitude, getting the batter a little less sticky and a little more fluffy/floury helps. Maybe half a cup or so.
2) Andrienne is getting so big and cute-baby-chubby so fast! I can’t even stand it. Visit soon, for sure
Have you tried refridgerating your cookie dough before you bake it? That is supposed to make them poofier.
I refrigerated it for almost 30 minutes with high hopes…still flat. Thanks for the suggestion, though!
The burrito looks fantastic! Yum!
reduce the sugar…I used to have the same problem.
Your daughter is the stinkin’ cutest.
Advice on oatmeal cookie conundrums….I don’t know! Do you start with softened butter? Because sometimes when I start with cold butter and then microwave it a little bit to soften INSTEAD of using room temp, it makes them thin like that. But eh, what do I know. My name’s not Jessica and I don’t run the international success known as HowSweetEats.
Haha, I know…everything she makes is fantastic. BUT, I did microwave the butter instead of just using room temp butter, so that could be it. Thanks for the tip!
Awwww, Adrienne looks so adorable wrapped in THE YELLOW BLANKET!!! Of course she’s adorable no matter what
I don’t have any advice about the cookies……
Grammy, your blanket is beautiful! Great skill there!! And I say.. who cares what your cookies look like! haha. Keep the question.. how do they taste? Maybe time for another kind of Meeker Marathon!
I was going to make oatmeal raisin cookies for Bill the other day, but he talked me out of it. He didn’t want them around
! I should try some now. I have a new recipe I want to try…I will let you know if I do and how they turn out. There is nothing better than the PERFECT oatmeal cookie. I always think of them as a healthy cookie option!
haha, yes the addition of oats = automatic healthy. Let me know if they turn out when you make them!
Hey, I live in Ft Collins, so I know all about the fiascos altitude can create. Try adding a little more flour or using margarine such as Earth Balance sticks, which I’ve had really good luck with.
Cookies spread when the butter is too melted I think! Or mixed too much.
Adrienne looks so darling in the last photo especially. Is she starting to walk? Lol just kidding!
I only asked that because of how she is being held. Haha, sorry I easily crack myself up!
I love the picture of Meeker holding her.. she is too cute.. and those cheeks.. are too much!
I am definitely not one to offer advice. I’ve made one batch of poofy oatmeal cookies in my life, but the rest have been flat as flying saucers. I didn’t change anything about the way I made them either. Ugh!
Well, I’m glad I’m not the only one…
I’m no help at all, but I wish I was on summer vacation for life. Actually, just for the summer would be okay with me too!
I love those chubby cheeks!!! She is adorable!!
I’ve always used the recipe on the quaker oats container and they turn out really good. Thick and chewy. You could give it a try?!
http://www.food.com/recipe/vanishing-oatmeal-raisin-cookies-3180
I believe before I even read you writing I think in my head “GAH – I LOVE HER!” Haha. That last picture with Meeker holding her is just too much.
That’s so strange about the cookies – the only two things I can think of is if you’re over creaming your butter and sugar or if your baking soda/powder is old. I’m glad you ate them anyway, I always eat at least a couple before tossing them (okay or most of them!).
I just want to stare at that little Adrienne picture all day – she’s SO STINKIN’ CUTE!!
I have a similar problem with chocolate chip cookies in Japan. I’ve started adding a tad more flour and baking them at a lower temp for a little longer. Works for me.
add more flour! i had the same problem when I moved here (in the VA mountains). Adding just 1/4-1/2 cup more flour makes a huge difference if it’s because of altitude.
1. Rub it in all you want!
2. I love that you used the word calamity. Amazing.
3. She is the cutest thing EVER!!
Those cookies look great! I want one BAD!
Babycakes is too cute for words!
I am retired and have been for almost 10 years! Staying home with my 3 has been the best decision I have ever made!
Adrienne looks so cute ! Your so lucky to have such a beautiful daughter. I don’t really know much about the oatmeal cookies, maybe the batter is too runny?
ooh, I’ve had this problem before! are you letting your butter soften too much before making them? I used not-so-softened butter, and that did the trick.
I’m with Brandi. I always add just a little more flour to my cookie recipes. You don’t want so much that you can taste it, but even another 1/4-1/2 cup will help prevent flat cookies. I love the cheek chub. It gives me more to love on!
Hi! Out of left field but I have an oatmeal chocolate chip recipe from high school that Mrs Mueller gave us in chemitry class. It is awesome though because she altered it specifically for the altitude and they are amazing every time! I can get it to you if you are interested.
Hi
Firstly, I just want to say that i’ve been following this adorable blog for the last 6 months now.
It’s so simple, yet there’s something about being taken into another persons life- which is just so interesting. Along with the fact that we get to see pics of a very VERY gorgeous little bubba.
In terms of the cookies, the same thing happened to me last weekend. Using room temperature butter and not over whipping it is the key. Also, perhaps try adding a little bit more flour than oats.
Hope that help,
Jess (all the way fromNew Zealand)
I love A’s polka dot onesie! I also love the fact that you don’t feel the need to dress her only in pink just because she is a baby girl!
Try not to mix too much once you add the oats/flour etc!
For the record, I can’t make oatmeal cookies either.
And oh my gosh, your baby is ADORABLE. That last picture made me want to laugh and gasp all at once. So precious!
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To me they still look pretty darn good! And yes, omg her cheeks are getting all chubby! So adorable.
I’ve had so many cookie flops like this; the gluten-free flours I use just don’t work the way anybody wants them. Glad you got yours to work in the next post. Buttery oatmeal cookies are the bomb.
Love the baby cheeks! SO cute!!!!
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