First Day of School

Sunday, September 11, 2011

And now I am the mother of two high-schoolers. 

My oldest is in her final year.  The next few months will be full of applications, and campus visits, and decisions.  Next fall, her first day of school will be celebrated on a university campus yet to be determined.

My youngest is in her first year.  Her next few months will be full of meeting new friends and getting used to a challenging new routine.

For one last year, I had two girls bursting in the front door to tell me about their first day of school.  So it’s no surprise that I marked the occasion with a plate of fresh-out-of-the-oven cookies.    Unable to decide which was a better back-to-school choice, chocolate chip or peanut butter, I settled on both.  These peanut butter and oatmeal chocolate chipsters were a perfect way to ease into the fall.

I remember first days of school when either of them had missing front teeth, and when I held their hands to meet their teachers.  I remember my oldest daughter’s first day of grade one, when she marched confidently into the school without looking back.  I remember my youngest daughter’s first day of junior kindergarten, when she proudly walked onto the playground, finally one of the big kids.  Her JK teacher, retired for five years, attended her grade eight graduation in June to watch her former students graduate.

Whether or not you have kids, and no matter how old those kids are, these cookies are perfect for the first day of school, first day of a new job or first day of the rest of your life.

First day of school, September 2005

Chunky Peanut Butter and Oatmeal Chocolate Chipsters

Note: This is the recipe for a half-batch of cookies; the original recipe can be found in her cookbook.

1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
pinch salt
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 large egg
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup chocolate chips or 4 1/2 ounces chopped chocolate

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Whisk together the oats, flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.

Beat the butter, peanut butter, sugar and brown sugar on medium speed until smooth and creamy.  Add the egg, beating for one minute, then beat in the vanilla.  Stir in the dry ingredients, just until blended.  Mix in the chocolate.  If you have time, cover and chill the dough for about two hours.

Form the dough into balls and place on cookie sheets.  Bake for 13 to 15 minutes.

43 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love oatmeal and chocolate chip; adding peanut butter can only make these cookies more perfect. Your girls will always remember the wonderful homemade treats you baked for them!

Taryn said...

These look like something I would have enjoyed coming back from school!

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

Sweet memories of you dear little ones that are now getting so grown up. You cookie recipe sounds perfect!

Gloria Baker said...

Beth these look amazing!! Love them! gloria

Kayte said...

Poignant posts for poignant times...darling photo from the 2005, wow that time went fast, didn't it? You know, if one of those college choices is Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, I will be more than happy to deliver some of these cookies to her personally every now and again while she is there...really, seriously! :-) This year will go faster than you ever thought possible. I speak from recent experience.

Beth said...

Ooh, what a great offer, Kayte! I might just take you up on it!

Barbara Jean said...

Aw, that made me teary! Bittersweet chocolate might have been more appropriate!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for doing a half-batch! Marcus is not a dessert man, so it's nice when I don't have to do the math in my head :)

What a sweet way to celebrate a somewhat bittersweet return to school!

Belinda said...

What a sweet photo. Wow - how crazy! Well, these cookies will sure to lure them back at any age.

Elaine said...

Your cookies look perfect and such a wonderful first day of school treat! High school years go so quickly. It seems like you blink and they are graduating.

Natalie Aguirre said...

Cute picture. My daughter just started high school last Tuesday. She's on the swim team so had to be there at 5:50 am and the same time 3 days a week through swim season. We're adjusting.

Angie's Recipes said...

I believe those cookies are perfect for any occasion!

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

Thanks for sharing your first day back experiences. My daughter started high school this year. She's loving it so far. It's so good to see her happy and enjoying herself.

Lorraine said...

Great post! Perfect cookie for this occasion. It sounds yummy. Love the picture of your girls. Wishing them a very happy school year:)

Valerie Gamine said...

No matter how old your children are, they will never get sick of homemade cookies. I'm in my 30's and I still get excited when I smell something baking in my mom's kitchen. :-)

Cindy said...

Dories cookies turn any occasion into an event! Enjoy this year, make wonderful memories. Life seems to be about moving on, even if moms want to hold on a little longer!
Have a great day.

Allison said...

Ah my oldest starts jr k today. Your post brought tears to my eyes. Certainly these cookies would be a great way to welcome him home and here about his day.

Miriam said...

Hello, I am following your lovely blog now, what a sweet post! There's nothing better than coming home to warm homemade cookies :), Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters

Anonymous said...

Hope school goes well for your girls!

Carol said...

Perfect for the first day of school, or any day :) Wishing your girls a great year.

Anonymous said...

Happy first day of school!

Barbara said...

It's been a while, Beth, but I remember those days like it was yesterday. The new books, the new clothes and looking forward to new teachers and seeing old friends. Hope they have a super year!

Sweet And Crumby said...

Cute picture of your daughters from way back. Those cookies look like the perfect way to sit back and chat about the first day of school. Yum!

Mary said...

PB & Oatmeal are absolutely perfect together and an absolutely awesome cookie combo for back to school days. I can't even imagine two high schoolers right now. Just having two kids in school is enough for my mind!

laurie said...

Cookies and kids go together!

Stina said...

Wow, I'm coming over to your house!!!

My youngest is missing her front tooth. While most parents cringe at that when it comes to photos, I wish she would still look like that for picture day. I think it looks so cute. :)

lisa is cooking said...

This sounds like my kind of cookie. Love the mix of oatmeal and peanut butter. Hope the first day went well!

Anonymous said...

They grow up so fast. :)

The cookies sound awesome.

Have a wonderful week.

Joanne said...

Mmm i would love to come home to these after a first day at school! hope your girls had fun!

Liz That Skinny Chick Can Bake said...

My youngest is a senior, too...it will be bittersweet next year when he's off to college. I have a feeling I'll be sending him lots of cookies...these would be a huge hit :) Can't beat Dorie for a great recipe~

nancy at good food matters said...

sweet musings today, Beth.
Around our house, we call these Kitchen Sink cookies. When you just can't decide which cookie to make--- you roll 'em all into one!

Jess said...

Stop it, Beth! I'm tearing up here, and my youngest is only two :) I forgive you for hitting my emotional buttons because the cookies look great!

Caryn Caldwell said...

That is so sweet! I love the idea of meeting your kids at the door with cookies. Sounds like a great first-day-of-school tradition.

Kathy said...

What a lovely post! I just spent the week-end at my daughter's house...so that I could visit my granddaughter who just finished her first week of second grade. Love your cookies...they look delicious!

Reeni said...

Such a sweet post! Coming home to fresh baked cookies is the best! You combined the best of both worlds in these.

Jill | Dulce Dough said...

Kids grow up way to fast, don't they? What a great cookie to come home to!

Island Vittles said...

First days of school are always a little nerve-wracking, if it`s your first year or your last. These delicious cookies are perfect after a hard (half) day at school! Theresa

Patty Price said...

Your girls are so sweet in the picture, sure does go by quickly doesn't it? I love a good Dorie cookie recipe, always delicious for any occasion;-)

Sue said...

Such classic cookies to return home to:) Perfect! Enjoy your time with your girls.

A.L. Sonnichsen said...

I think I'm going to go make some cookies ... and hug all the short people in my house. Thanks, Beth!

Amy

Angela said...

Makes me sad that my kids have peanut allergies. Your kids are adorable. How does it feel to have them almost graduating?

Beth said...

I'm okay for this year, Angela. But check back with me next fall and see how I'm doing then!

Anonymous said...

Cookies are the very best way to greet kids after school. Here's to your milestone year.

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