Clean Oven Cookies

I just cleaned my oven and it's spotless. I have vowed to never bake in it again and muck it up. Really how do they get so dang dirty in there? I don't spill things in there and nothing overflows that I know of. It didn't look that dirty but after spraying it down and letting it sit overnight with oven cleaner in it, 'twas a different story. It was like cleaning out a grease trap at a fast food restaurant. Okay, not really that gross, but I was elbow deep in goo and it wasn't pretty.

You would think this was my first time cleaning my oven. And you'd be right. ha! It has been cleaned before, just not by me. My fabulous husband usually cleans it for me and I've never stuck around long enough to witness the vulgar act. Today, I thought I'd attempt it on my own (for some unknown reason). I now have a new found appreciation for him and the things he does for me in the name of love. Thanks Babe! Now onto that vow I made about not baking in it...that may not last too long.

Luckily for you (and me), I made these cookies a couple weeks ago. These are probably my husband's favorite cookies. I've been making them for as long as I can remember and my family expects them in their cookie boxes at holiday time. The original recipe makes 3 dozen 1/4 cup cookies- that's a big cookie! I usually make them a tad smaller and make more of them with the same recipe. I can get about 6 dozen cookies from a full recipe but this time I decided to cut the recipe into thirds and ended up with about 2 dozen. If you want the full recipe, go HERE otherwise the small batch recipe is below.

These cookies are loaded with oatmeal, chocolate chips, shredded coconut and pecans. They're awesome right out of the oven with a glass of milk but they're just as delicious once cooled. They're crispy from the white sugar but they're a little chewy from the addition of the brown sugar and coconut. The nuts provide crunch and the chocolate chips add sweetness in every bite. Oh and there's cinnamon in there too- gotta love that! They really are a well rounded cookie- perfect for cowboys and husbands who clean your oven too :-)

Cowboy Cookies (1/3 Recipe)
adapted from Laura Bush

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• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
• 2/3 cups sweetened flake coconut
• 2/3 cups chopped pecans

Heat oven to 350 F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in bowl. In a large bowl, beat butter on medium speed until smooth and creamy, 1 minute. Gradually beat in sugars; beat to combine, 2 minutes.
Add egg and vanilla. Mix til combined.
Stir in flour mixture until just combined. Add chocolate chips, oats, coconut and pecans.
Using a medium ice cream scoop (2 Tablespoons) drop dough onto ungreased baking sheets, spacing 3 inches apart.
Bake in 350 F oven for about 15 minutes, until edges are lightly browned. Remove cookies from rack to cool.
Makes about 2 dozen cookies.

Gotta go make dinner...on the stovetop!