Cookies and Therapy

I had to make two kinds of cookies last week for Bedtime and Books, a cute event at my son’s elementary school that aims to have everything homemade. But since I had a busy week, finding the time to fit everything in was getting difficult. That’s when cooking with friends comes in most handy and works as a perfect solution. Jackie, who I hadn’t cooked or baked with in a while, was eager to fill her cookie jar and be able to say yes to her son’s after school request for special treats. She also thought she could use the hour and a half to make a few batches of meatballs for her freezer, taking some pressure off at the dinner hour. Plus, we hadn’t had much time to see each other and get our much needed girl time.

I came totally prepared with two kinds of dough which I had made in advance. All I had to do was roll cookie dough balls and keep a close watch on them to make sure they didn’t get overcooked. It worked well since Jackie hadn’t made her dough yet and by the time mine were complete hers were ready to go in the oven. This strategy proved to be ideal for her single oven kitchen. While the cookies baked, we had time to talk about some important mom issues, both personal and relating to our kids. It was like a free therapy session but better! You don’t have to pay for it and you get food in return. What therapist would offer that?! When my cookies were out of the oven, I offered to dice Jackie’s onions for her meatballs, knowing it is a chore she’d really prefer not to do.

I made oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and used the oldie but goodie Quaker Oats Famous Oatmeal Cookies.

Enjoy!