Today Needs Chocolate

Li'l Empress woke up on the wrong side of the crib today. Momma woke up too early, to a too cold house, and had to bring LadyBug to school early to boot. And the day just slid downward from there. By 9:15 a.m., I was exhausted. Barney was in his second round of coma-inducing play songs. And Li'l Empress was still ornery.

I took matters in hand. A little Shane and Shane, a lot of softened butter, and a bunch of chocolate. Yeah, today needs chocolate.

In case you are having a day like ours, I am sneaking in the time to post this recipe. Li'l Empress is sitting (but still ornery!) with a coloring book and grousing loudly about the fact that she has to color with the same 5 crayons she's had for oh, about 2 minutes now. Whip up a batch of these delectable treats for your gang. Maybe it'll turn your day around. If nothing else, it's given me a break from the incessant hitting of my leg by a particularly grumpy baby. Have I mentioned how ornery she seems today?

Or maybe you'll be in such a sugar-chocolate-goodness-fog that you won't care if your little one is Still. ORNERY.

Double Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 c. butter, softened
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/4 c. flour
1/3 c. cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
3 c. quick oats
6 oz. chocolate chips

• Preheat oven to 350. Combine sugar and butter till creamy in large bowl. Add egg and vanilla.
• Sift together the flour, cocoa, soda, and salt. Add slowly to butter mixture.
• Add oats and chocolate chips. Dough will be very heavy and stiff.
• Form tablespoon-sized balls and place on cookie sheet. Flatten slightly.
• Bake 10-12 minutes. Yields about 4 doz.

I used my Pampered Chef mini melon-baller and didn't flatten the cookies. They turned out soft and gooey.

This recipe is from my Mom. I believe she got it from one of her local newspapers.

Is it nap time yet?!