Wednesday Addams and Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Where’s cloud 9? What does that even mean? I think I’m there. The last week of life has been full of good news and potential for great things to happen for the dabble. You know me, 2 seconds after all this happiness I had thoughts about when it’s going to fall down around me. I’m really trying to remain on the up with this rare, pleasant experience. Sure, there are some things not so wonderful but the good overshadows the bad for once.

I don’t even want to call out why I’m happy because experience tells me that once I do this, it inevitably changes to something horrible and then I’m crying on the couch or punching pillows and throwing things (which is more likely). If it continues long enough, I’ll let you know why I’m trotting around the apartment like a pony. (The Kentucky Derby is tomorrow…that was my segue to remind you, if you care. I’m a fan.)

While talking with Greg over lunch, he asked who the person was on the other side because I was too cheery. I took slight offense but that’s how we flow-we tease one another to no end. That’s healthy.

Not even the fact that the washer destroyed my 2 favorite pairs of pajama/workout pants in the last week can get me down. (I did screech when I saw them and for dramatic effect, whirled them around screaming “wwwhhhhyyy?”) The washer, I guess, wanted to chew on the “make my tush look better” pair and thought that the drawstring/waistband was just too helpful in keeping the pants up and decided that I didn’t need them. Nice one, washer. You got me again. Touché.

Ladies (some guys too), you know how aggravating it is to find THE pair that make the fanny look better. I know that fanny is slang for a particular female part in other areas of the world and happens to be exactly the area that the washer destroyed my pants. No, I can’t buy another pair because I found these at a consignment shop; I’ve searched the brand online to find no sign that it even exists.

I’ll admit that I thought that maybe these pants were placed at that store years ago, the person knowing the torment I would have when the pants would finally be placed out of commission and my inability to find anything even close to them as some sort of punishment for the fashion atrocities I’ve committed in the past. That’s crazy talk, right? Moving on…I talked a bit more than I wanted to about this…I really am happy. This is happy for me.

If you’ve ever seen Wednesday Addams in the Addams Family Values movie, imagine the scene where they made her (and a few others) watch Disney movies in a cabin all day to make them happy, perky people. When she finally gets out and has to convince the camp residents that she is ready to be cheery, she produces, after some trouble, a creepy smile (the blonde camper comments that she’s scaring her)-that’s kind of how I picture my happy. I love that movie. (“You have enslaved him. You have placed Fester under some strange sexual spell. I respect that. You have gone too far. You have married Fester. You have destroyed his spirit. You have taken him from us. All that I can forgive, but Debbie…pastels?”)

I know what can make this manic episode even more manic-oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. These could quite possibly be my all time favorite cookies. The obsession began in college at Potbelly’s Sandwich Shop. Have you seen those giant cookies by the register? Take a closer look and you might see an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie…you should pick one up or make an entire batch with my recipe below, my recipe inspired by Two Peas and Their Pod.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Makes 18 to 24

Ingredients:
¾ cup all purpose flour
2/3 cup brown sugar
½ cup butter, softened
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
½ tsp baking soda
¾ tsp cinnamon
dash of nutmeg-optional
¼ tsp salt
1 cup of old fashioned oats
½ cup chocolate chips (or raisins if you really want)

Preheat the oven to 350. In a large bowl or in your mixer, mix together the sugar, butter, egg and vanilla until creamy. In another bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg (optional) and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture until just combined. Stir in the oats and chocolate chips.

Spoon into a ball onto a baking sheet with parchment paper (if you have it that is), leaving space between each cookie. Bake 10 to 12 minutes, until golden. Allow them to cool on the sheet for 5 or so minutes before placing on a cooling rack. Store in an airtight container up to a few days.