Crisp, crunchy chocolate chip cookies get a fun makeover with M&M’s® milk chocolate and peanut!
Laurence J. Peter once remarked that “If a cluttered desk is the sign of a cluttered mind, what is the significance of a clean desk?”
Or so I try to rationalize my chaotic work space. Bottles of premium wine waiting to be reviewed crowd the antique table to my right. These bottles stand like towers over a messy plain of well-worn books. Pens, scraps of notes, and dusty candy mugs are sprayed across the remaining free surface of said table. My desk is another matter entirely. Candy wrappers, pens, and yet more notes are all fully entrenched along the invitingly dusty surface. A coaster rests unintentionally plastered to the cherry wood surface, holding a mug whose coffee is of an uncertain chronology.
Several phones surround me, only one of which I believe still works and…somehow a 17th-18th century cabin-crystal ended up as a paper wait on the nightstand to my left. I’m told sailors occasionally used such devices in place of oil lamps.
Don’t ask.
I like to imagine that somewhere amidst this mess lies my creativity. Samson had his hair, Achilles had his ankles…and, well, I have a messy desk. Unfortunately these are more akin to old friends who are merely there to comfort me through creative dry spells rather than the bearers of some mystic font.
One such dry spell happened a few days ago. I was sitting down to plan out a menu, and I ended up just staring at the blank page on my word processor for around an hour. So it was that I decided rather than to ‘plan food’ I would go ‘make food.’
And of course by ‘food’ I mean to today’s recipe…cookies. Yes, of course cookies. After all, what could possibly fit such an occasion better?
I had a few bags of unused M&M’s®, and figured this was as good an opportunity as any to put them to use. I decided to combine the M&M’s® in with vanilla and brown sugar to create a rustic style cookie, with the M&M’s providing both color, texture, and chocolatey flavor. I prepared the cookies as shown below, baking them for 10-12 minutes. Simple but delicious, a perfect combination.
M&M's Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
- 11/2 cups brown sugar
- 3/4 cup shortening
- 3 tbs. milk
- 1 tbs. vanilla
- 1 egg
- 13/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp. salt
- 3/4 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 cup chocolate M&M’s® - chopped
- 1/2 cup Peanut M&M’s® - chopped
Instructions
- Preheat Oven 350 degrees F.
- In a large bowl, combine the brown sugar, shortening, milk, egg and vanilla and mix well.
- Combine the flour, salt and baking soda and mix well. Add the flour mixture to the brown sugar mixture and mix.
- Stir in the chopped M&M’s®.
- Drop rounded spoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
- Bake 10 – 12 minutes or until the edges are golden.
- Cool on the baking sheet a minute or two before removing to a cooling rack.
Notes
Adapted from Pillsbury All-Purpose Flour:
- Category: dess
Once that was done, I brought a fresh cup of coffee and a saucer with cookies up to my already overcrowded desk, and sat back down to the blank page.
What are some of the ways your favorite ‘in the moment’ recipes? Or what are some of the ways you ‘get the wheels turning’ again? We would love to hear from you.
Enjoy with Love!
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Katie | Healthy Seasonal Recipes says
I love this post Catherine. I too am a cluttered desk kinda gal. love the quote! And I totally get you about the need to just cook instead of type/plan. Sometimes when I am lacking inspiration I just go to our local health food store (which has an awesome produce section) and just let the food inspire me. It never fails!
Heather Kinnaird says
cookies are always the answer! I have been having terrible writers block, but I find after a batch or two I am feeling much more creative
AnnMarie says
These are so simple and obvious but I never thought to use M&M's in my chocolate chip cookie batter. I will be trying your recipe though to get a taste from a purely creative person!
Lisa | Garlic Zest says
I can't tell you how many times I've sat -- staring at my computer, waiting for the words to come -- when they don't, I always get up and cook -- then I've got something good to write about!
Molly Kumar says
I love M&M and this looks so good. I can see making a whole batch and eating all by myself 🙂
Kriten says
These look delicious! I think I will make them for my son's spring concert next week
Camilla @FabFood4All says
These cookies look such fun, my kids would love these:-)
Tina Dawson says
Lovely writing, especially the quote! It was so beautiful to read, considering that you were describing a cluttered workspace! You got yourself a new subscriber today!
Penny says
I hate when inspiration leaves me. Making these delicious cookies would bring it back for sure. Lovely post Catherine.
allie @ Through Her Looking Glass says
Dear Catherine, I love M & Ms. These cookies are so tempting. We're having a family game night here on vacation in VT and these cookies would be the perfect crunch! Your writing is the best. I loved hearing about your messy desk, it reminds of mine! HA. XO
Dottie Sauchelli-Balin says
Dear Catherine,
These M & M Chocolate Chip Cookies are right up my alley. Love the cookies and with the M & M's it is outstanding. I like the crunch it gives the cookies. Wonderful words as always. I sometimes have a messy desk, but I at least know where everything is. Other people can't understand it. As for writers block, I love to have something crunchy in my mouth and then it just seems to flow. A piece of celery, a cracker, or even an apple. Plus now I have your cookie recipe...Thanks for sharing...Blessings
Hugs Dottie 🙂
il solletico nel cuore says
devo provare a farle da tempo! Spero di riuscirci presto! Grazie
Miz Helen says
We will love this delicious cookie! Thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and have a great day!
Miz Helen