Bunny Trail Mix Cookies

I  have told you before that I am a housewife. I get a lot of different reactions from people when they ask what I do for a living. The most common though is, “Oh, no way I could do that….I’d get so bored…..”. Anyone that says that, obviously has not met my son.

Some little boys dream of being a fireman, or an astronaut. My son dreams of being a teenager. He is in some sort of little kid denial, and he can’t wrap his mind around the fact that his days of crayons and nap time aren’t behind him yet. Crayons, to him, aren’t “cool”, and he has already graduated to markers and mechanical pencils.  I’ve tried to tell him that he starts Kindergarten this year, and Kindergartners use crayons.  His response is that in Kindergarten, they probably just all use computers all the time. See what I mean? Denial.

My son also informed me recently that I am not very cool. All hope is not lost though, for with a solemn pat on the shoulder, he told me that he knows just what I need to do to up the cool factor. His advice to me was to wear black shirts, learn to ride a skateboard, get good at video games, and say “peace”, instead of “goodbye”. Ummm….no…..not happening anytime soon. 


My twelve year old stepdaughter had a sleepover last weekend, and my son was in a frenzy. Older kids! In our house! He could hardly believe his good luck, and wasted no time in asking the girls (in a strangely deeper than normal voice), if they’d like to come to his room and check out his tool bench. Of course, the girls thought he was the cutest thing ever and said yes. My son, as nonchalantly as he could stand, took them back to his room to demonstrate his skill at manly tasks, such as sanding a piece of wood and using a screwdriver. He was in heaven.


However, my little boy is definitely his mother’s son. This was made very apparent later in the evening when he decided to impress the girls with his wit and humor. “Hang on girls, I’ve just got to go get something to drink,” I heard him say casually. He then dashed into the kitchen and ran up to me. “Psst!!”, he said out of the corner of his mouth. “What’s that one girl’s name again? Brick or Brock? Brick or Brock? Hurry up, which is it?!”. He was in a hurry to get back and was getting frantic. “BROOKE,” I said. “Oh, ok”, he replied and went back to the girls.


My son: “Hey Brick!! Knock knock?”
Brick (otherwise known as BROOKE): “Who’s there?”
My son: “Rope”
Brick:  “Rope, who?”
My son: “Aren’t you glad I didn’t say Orange?!”


You see, I cannot remember a good joke to save my life. And I am horrible with names. So regardless of how cool and wise my son thinks he is, I take comfort in the fact that he has my genes. And those genes will never allow him to be as cool as he’d like to be. That’s a good thing…it’ll keep him honest.

Now I have a joke for you of my own.

Knock knock
Who’s there?
Orange
Orange who?
Orange you wishing I didn’t put orange extract in these cookies?


I saw these cute Eastery cookies in a book I bought recently, Cookie Swap. The book is beautiful, with both decorated and undecorated cookies for every season. This recipe was definitely outside my comfort zone, not due to difficulty but because it called for ingredients I don’t usually use in cookies. I decided to give it a try though, because they looked good and hey, you never know.


Sigh…no one in my family liked them. These cookies called for orange zest (I used orange extract, I didn’t have any oranges), and that made them taste a lot different than cookies we are used to.  We are not adventurous eaters around here. If your family is weird like mine, leave the orange out and substitute a little extra vanilla. They would definitely be good that way.


INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup butter flavored shortening
1 large egg
2 teaspoons finely grated orange zest (or 2 teaspoons orange extract)
1 cup granola cereal (preferably sweetened, without raisins or other mix ins)
3/4 cup raisins
1/2 cup M & M’s

Additional M & M’s for pressing into cookie tops


Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 375. Line two or more cookie sheets with parchment paper ( I  didn’t have parchment paper so I just sprayed them with PAM and it was fine).


Combine flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl and set aside.


Place the butter, sugar, and shortening in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium speed until creamy. Add the egg and beat until light and fluffy, about 1 to 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure even mixing.


Turn the mixer to low speed and add the orange zest and vanill extract, followed by the flour mixture. Mix just until the dry ingredients are evenly incorporated.


Stir in the granola, raisins, and M&M’s.


Roll the dough between your palms into 1 inch balls and place about 2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheets. Flatten teh cookies into 1 1/2 inch discs by gently pressing them with the palm of your hand.


Bake about 4 minutes, then stud the tops of the cookies with additional M&M’s. Put back in the oven for 4 to 5 minutes, or until lightly browned. Immediately transfer the cookies to wire racks to prevent breakage.


Use the orange zest at your own risk.


Happy Wednesday!!!
 

***Congratulations to Stephanie, who won the What’s New Cupcake?, book. I hope you love it as much as I do!!***