Survivor and a re-post/revamped Kitchen Sink Cookies

During these last few months I have been working with the local parishes to run a monthly event for Young Adults called "Theology on Tap".  For those of you unfamiliar with this program, it is where Catholic Young Adults meet in a bar and listen to a talk pertaining to our Faith.  So far it has been going really well, and the response has been awesome!

This last week we were fortunate enough to have a really awesome priest come and speak to us.  Father Norbert is a gifted orator, and really knows how to reach people.  Since our theme for the summer is "Reality TV" this topic he spoke about was Survivor.

Father said that just like winning the show Survivor in order to Survive this life you need to form alliances.  You form these alliances by finding similarities with people and forming bonds.  He also said that it is important to not only form alliances with people who are just like you because that will not make the best team.  If you are all hunters but nobody is a cook how will you eat?  He also stressed the importance of  teamwork.  If one player is injured the rest of the team pulls together and picks up the slack.  It is vital that the team works together as one body to move in the best way and win!  Just like a three legged race, you need to learn how to work together in order to move in the most efficient way!  It is also important that you are all working towards the same goal, because if not you will fall apart.  This goal should be heaven, and the food that we eat to sustain us and get us there is the Eucharist.  Boo yah!  Great talk Father Norbert!

Now the reason I am bringing this talk up is because it reminded me of these cookies.  There are many elements to this cookie, they are all different, but they all work together and produce the best tasting cookie ever.  Maybe you are the coconut, maybe you are the chocolate chips, maybe you are the raisins...I hope you are able to find your missing ingredients and become the best cookie possible!

Kitchen Sink Cookies

adapted from Martha Stewart

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup firmly packed light-brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

1 cup ground old fashioned oats (grind in food processor)

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

1 cup unsweetened coconut

1 cup raisins

1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds (optional to toast them, which is way better)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl beat butter, sugar and brown sugar together until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until well blended. Stir in vanilla.
3. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Gradually stir into butter mixture until well blended. Add oats, chips, coconut, raisins, and walnuts, and stir until well blended.
4. Drop batter by heaping tablespoons or with a 1 ounce ice-cream scoop about 2 inches apart. Press tops down with the bottom of a glass to flatten cookies evenly. Bake until golden, about 8-10 minutes until slightly golden. Cool on pan for 2 minutes. Remove from pan, and finish cooling completely on wire rack.

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