Out-of-this-World MONSTER Cookies

I've baked a lot of items in my day, but never once have I baked monster cookies.  I have a good friend whose mom is known for her monster cookies.  You know, like she is expected to bring them to every gathering or we'll turn around and walk out.

A few months back I talked about how I finally conquered the oatmeal chocolate chip cookie.  Well, somehow, I got this one right on the first try.  Beginner's luck I suppose.

More on these colorful beauties later.

I had a friend post her "dreams" on Facebook the other day.  Not the dreams she has while she's sleeping, but the actual dreams she has for her life.  I thought it was quite brave of her.  I mean, who actually has the guts to say to the world , "hey, I want to do this and it might sound crazy, but it is my dream..."  Not too many people.

Then I thought, maybe I should be brave and say a few of my dreams for my readers.  Most already know my one dream - to write and publish a successful cookbook.  {Still working on that dream!}

Many of you might not know my other dreams.  Here we go.  I'm crossing my fingers and toes that you don't think I'm crazy or stupid for sharing these with the world.  Please don't make fun of me.  I'm sensitive.  And if I cry then I probably won't feel like cooking and then this blog fails.

Capisce?

I have a dream to run a business.  I'm not sure what yet, but in the back of my mind I've always had this feeling that I will do SOMETHING.  I know it will involve food.  I'm just not sure in what capacity.  Lately, I have strongly been considering a food prep business.  Organizing freezer swap parties, cooking for friends and family to help stock their freezer with meals, or taking orders for anyone that needs help getting a hearty, healthy meal on the table for their family.  I would provide a list of meals to them, they'd chose what they'd like, whether I make it for them or whether they'd like to invite their friends over to make a day of it.  We'll see....it's a work in progress.

I dream that we as a family will become debt free.  {I wonder if most people even know that is possible?}  Since this past November we have been following the Dave Ramsey program.  It was hard at first, but now it's just a part of our lives.  Since then we have paid off close to $7,000 in debt.  That is a great feeling {and quite a bit for a husband who works in civil service and me just working part-time}.  We have found there is no reason why you cannot pay cash for EVERYTHING.  In fact, I will probably have to be on my death bed to ever take out another loan again.  I'm serious.  And those darn student loans - aren't they the death of all of us? 

And to be a bit frivolous, we'd love to someday own land, have a pond, a big garden and a log cabin.  Oh, and working on this blog, raising my kids and having fun at the cabin would be my full-time job.

Hey, a girl can dream.

I apologize if you tuned in for this monster cookie recipe and I'm now just FINALLY getting to it.  I will delay no longer.

Enjoy.

Out-of-this-World MONSTER Cookies

{Print this Recipe!}

1 1/2 c. peanut butter

1 c. brown sugar

1 c. sugar

1 stick of butter, softened

3 eggs

1 t. vanilla

2 c. oatmeal

1 1/2 c. flour

2 t. baking soda

1 c. chocolate chips

1 c. peanut M&M's

In a stand mixer or hand-held mixer combine the peanut butter, sugars and butter until fluffy.  Add in eggs and vanilla.  Then oatmeal, flour and baking soda.  Fold in chocolate chips and M&M's.  Place the dough in the fridge for at least one hour or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Using an ice cream scoop, scoop out a large ball of dough and place on a greased cookie sheet.  Add a few more M&M's onto of the dough {to make them look pretty!}.  Bake for 11-12 minutes or just until golden around the edges.  Do not over bake.  Cool on a wire rack.

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Okay, be brave folks.

Tell me your "dream" in the comments.  I'd really like to not be the only one airing my fears out for the world to hear.