Welcome Home Monster Cookies

Joe started a new job about a month ago. It seems like a great company and it's a great experience for him. So overall, we are very excited. Unfortunately, the job involves a lot of traveling. He was gone for almost 3 weeks in a row, but came home on the weekends. Because I work every other weekend, we didn't get to see each other very much :'(

There are some benefits I guess. Being apart has given me a good reminder of how much he means to me. I REALLY miss him when he's gone. I like to think I appreciate him all the time, but I'm not perfect. When we're apart, we have to be very intentional and even do some planning to let the other person know we love them and are thinking about them. Joe hides little reminders around the apartment before he leaves that I find throughout the week. I write him notes and bake things for him. It takes me back to when we were dating long distance. Here's my bit on long distance relationships: They suck. But... it made us be good communicators. When we couldn't see each other, we had to make an effort to communicate. We had some great phone conversations and even emails. Writing is great communication for me because I often need extra time to think about what I want to say. I struggle to put my thoughts into words in a face to face conversation. Anyone else like that?

Also, when we got married, we became one. Ephesians 5:31 says, "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." When we're apart, I feel like a part of me is gone. I'm incomplete without him. Sorry, this is getting a little sappy for a baking blog. I can't help myself sometimes!

Anyways, to celebrate his homecoming, I made some monster cookies. I'm not sure why they're called monster cookies, but I love 'em! Peanut butter, oatmeal, chocolate... If it weren't for the sugar, it would be almost healthy! I made a second batch a couple days later and tried them with shortening instead of butter. They looked nice because they kept their shape better (didn't flatten as much) but I much preferred the butter version taste to the shortening version. Just fyi.

My handsome man

The goods:

1 1/2 C peanut butter
1 C packed light brown sugar
1 C white sugar
1/2 C unsalted butter
3 eggs
1 Tbs vanilla
4 1/2 C quick cooking oats
2 tsp baking soda
1 C chocolate chips (I used semi sweet, but milk or dark would be good too)
1 C M&Ms (I used milk, but trying different flavors would be fun)

Directions:

Beat the peanut butter, butter and sugars together in your stand mixer until smooth and creamy. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Combine the oats and baking soda in another bowl and then add to the wet ingredients. Beat until combined. Add the chocolate and M&Ms and hand mix until combined. Drop by spoonful onto greased baking sheets and bake at 350 for 10-12 min. Makes about 4 dozen small/medium cookies. I usually half the recipe for just Joe and me.