A Sweet Treat

"Nonsense pure and absolute"

Edward Lear, describing his poems

Lear is the father of the limerick

He was born  May 12th ,1812 

Lear particularly liked this opening line of his limerick 

because he was able to think of so many rhymes to use with it.

There was an old man of Tobago,

Who lived on rice, gruel, and sago:

Till, much to his bliss,

His physician said this-

To a leg, sir, of mutton you may go.

After reading Amy Krouse Rosenthal's book Cookies Bite Size Life Lessons  to a kindergarten class I was motivated to bake some of my own cookies. 

This is such a clever book where the author uses chocolate chip cookies as way to explain abstract vocabulary words such as envy, greed, cooperation, to young children.  It also is a good vehicle for discussion with young children who are experiencing the emotional roller coaster of feelings. And believe me kindergartners do have ISSUES this time of the school year! Here are some sample pages from the book...

TRUSTWORTHY means

If you ask me to hold your cookie until you come back, I will still be holding your cookie.

FAIR means

You get a bite, I get a bite, you get a big bite, I get a big bite.

UNFAIR means

You get a bite, and now I get the rest.

CONTENT means

sitting on the step-just you, me, and a couple of cookies.

The book ends with a chocolate chip cookie recipe. The following recipe is different from the one written in the book. I like these oatmeal chocolate chip cookies because they are crunchy to the taste.

Crisp Oatmeal Cookies

recipe adapted from Allrecipes.com

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup shortening (I used 1 stick of butter)
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 3/4 cup rolled oats (not quick oats)
• 1/2 cup flaked coconut
• 3/4 cup miniature chocolate chips

Directions:

Cook's note Chill the dough in freezer for 1/2 hour and return dough to freezer in between baking batches

Makes 2 dozen

The recipe called for oven temp 350 but I had better results at 375

• In a large bowl cream butter, sugar and beat in egg and vanilla till well blended
• Combine in a separate bowl: flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt 
• Mix well with butter/sugar mixture 
• Mix in chips, coconut and oats
• Place in freezer for 1/2 hour to chill dough
• Roll dough into 1 to 1-1/2 inch balls and place 2 inches apart on a very lightly greased cookie sheet
• Bake 12 minutes