Early Bird Gets The Cookie

I woke up at 6 this morning to make cookies. I know this may not seem early to get up and bake to some, like people living on a ranch (I'm looking at YOU, Pioneer Woman), but it's early for me. I was scared I would wake the neighbors with my mixer!

See! Proof! I put the first batch of cookies in the oven a little after 6:30. You can see the first rays of sunshine beaming through the NYC haze and into my apartment. If I'm ever up this early it's usually because I'm working out, traveling, or traveling to work out.

Why was I making cookies this early, you ask? Well, I'm traveling to Virgina tonight with my boyfriend. We're staying at his dad's place and on Sunday he is racing in a triathlon. (I can't say running in a triathlon, because he also swims and bikes...) And of course I can't show up at my boyfriend's dad's place empty handed!

Oh, whoops...that's empty MESSY handed. And yes, messy hands are what I had for this recipe, so I KNEW they would be good.

Cinnamon Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies (from allrecipes.com)

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 cup margarine

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/4 cups rolled oats

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets. Stir together the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon; set aside.

In a large bowl, cream together the margarine, brown sugar and white sugar. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Stir in the dry ingredients using a wooden spoon. Mix in the oats and chocolate chips. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto cookie sheets, leaving 2 inches between cookies.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until lightly browned. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Bake well and prosper!