Monster Cookies

I saw a recipe in the newspaper last week and I just HAD to try it. Not only did it look delicious, it was GLUTEN FREE! That is major deal in our family since Kori and Easton both have Celiac Disease, as do my father-in-law and one of our nephews.

I had NO IDEA how HUGE these cookies would be. The recipe said it made 6 dozen, but that didn't freak me out until I started making the dough. The dough filled 2 of the largest tupperware bowls (you know, those huge ones with the lids) when I was all done making it. The fact that it said in the recipe that you scoop the dough with a 1/4 cup measuring cup and form it into balls, or the fact that you can only put 6 cookies on a large cookie sheet to bake ought to have been a clue. But I guess I wasn't paying close enough attention. When I put in 12 eggs and 4 C. of brown sugar and 4 C. of white sugar I began to get the picture. This recipe makes a TON of cookies. I'm thinking you could half the recipe and be fine, but I haven't tried that yet.

The cookies were delicious and I sent a huge box of them to Easton in Houston on his mission. I will add my notes in italics in the recipe. If any of you try this and half the recipe, let me know how it turns out.

Monster Cookies (recipe found in the Daily Herald last week)
Makes 6 dozen (4 1/2" - 5") cookies

12 eggs
4 C. brown sugar
4 C. white sugar
1 Tbs. vanilla
1 Tbs. light corn syrup
2 Tbs. plus 2 Tea. baking soda
5 C. peanut butter (I used smooth)
2 C. butter, softened
18-20 C. old fashioned oatmeal (I used Quaker brand. To be sure your oats are gluten free, check the label. It should say 'gluten free'. If it doesn't, check to see where they are manufactured. Oats manufactured in the U.S. should now be gluten free)
1 lb. milk chocolate chips
1 lb. M&M's chocolate candy

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix eggs, sugars, vanilla, light corn syrup, baking soda, peanut butter and butter together. (I was using the hugest tupperware bowl. At this point I split the dough into 2 huge tupperware bows. I then added half the oatmeal to each bowl). Add oatmeal. Stir until blended. Use hands if necessary (it was for me) to mix thoroughly. Add chocolate chips and M&M's. Stir in.

Form into balls using 1/4 C. of dough. Place 6 balls on each large cookie sheet and flatten with the bottom of a saucer. Bake 12-15 min. (I have a convection oven and it was almost exactly 12 minutes for me). Cool on cookie sheet for 10 minutes (I found this is very important!).

Note: These cookies and/or the dough freeze very well.

Celiac and Other Mothers

As most of you know, our son, Easton is serving an LDS mission in the Texas, Houston South mission. He has spent the last 6 months on Galveston Island and just loves it. There are so many opportunities for service due to the absolute mess that was left by Hurricane Ike. He also spends almost every minute 6 days per week teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to those who want to listen and learn. We have been so proud of him and are so excited for him to come home in about 10 more months. Many of you also know that Easton has Celiac Disease. He cannot have gluten in any form (and it is in just about everything!). I knew he would be OK on his mission because he is really careful about what he eats. My worry was what he would do when he and his missionary companion were invited to someone else's home to eat. I was worried he would eat something he shouldn't because he didn't want to offend someone and then get really sick. But, everyone has been so kind. Many people have gone out of their way to work around what he can and can't eat. In fact, I got a phone call from a family there on Galveston Island to let me know they were having Easton and his companion, Elder Peterson (yep, no joke. Elder Pedersen and Elder Peterson) over for dinner and that they wanted to fix Easton his favorite gluten-free meal. How nice is that? I emailed her the recipe and she is excited to give it a try. Easton will be so surprised, and so grateful for his favorite gluten free Chicken Broccoli Casserole. I am so grateful for 'other mothers' who care about my son and his welfare while away from home for 2 years.