I still make goodie bags for my kid’s birthdays.  I can’t seem to shake the habit that every celebration needs a little something extra…a little treat to take home…a  little bauble that keeps the party going…

This week it was College Girl’s birthday and cookies became the obvious choice! Mostly because I know her housemates love cookies, but also because the chocolate birthday cake I made over the weekend was hardly the stuff of triumphant leftovers. (I say this because of a sinkhole that appeared in its center and was subsequently artfully filled with frosting by Working Girl!) Sigh… What is it with me and cakes???

But these cookies saved the day, and they are definitely worthy of any girl’s midnight snacking binge!  They are kind of crispy, kind of chewy, and the oatmeal chocolate chip combination is a classic! (In the meantime I have seen some “never-fail” “best-ever” cake recipes on some of your blogs, and believe me, I am taking note!)

Gather Up:
1 ½ cups brown sugar
1 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
2 cups oats
1 ½ cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In the bowl of an electric mixer beat the brown sugar, butter, vanilla and egg on medium speed until well blended.

Add oats, flour, baking soda and salt. Mix well.

Stir in chocolate chips.

Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet, about 2 inches apart.

Bake 10-11 minutes until turning golden brown. Let sit for a minute and then remove to a cooling rack.

Makes 3 ½ dozen cookies.