Book Update: In positive psychology, we studied well-being again in reference to our life-span. Apparently, there really is a mid-life crisis according to experts and women typically have one around their mid-forties and men in their late forties. I found it interesting that generally (everything is general in these studies!) women grow happier until age 25 and then they are less happy age 25-35 and then grow happy again after that. The happiest group out there? Old people. Yup. The text also mention Carol Dweck’s book “Mindset” which is awesome for any parent or teacher. It discusses the ways to help develop a growth mindset. To be in a growth mindset, one focuses on improving and not how smart they are. Students with a growth mindset are enthusiastic, hard-working and persistent workers.
Recipe: These were really good. If you like soft cookies like I do, then this is the monster cookie for you. No crunchy here. Just rich, chewy, peanut buttery M&M goodness. The whole family engulfed these cookies. I love anything with oatmeal in it! Our favorite breakfast here is oatmeal with bananas, cinnamon and ground flaxseed. Yum, yum!
Monster Cookies
yield 24 cookies
1 stick (1/2 cup) SALTED butter, soft (Or use unsalted with 1/4 tsp. salt)
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter (I used Skippy’s natural)
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 and 1/4 cup (6.25 ounces) AP flour
1/2 cup QUICK oats (sometimes you can put old fashioned through the food processor to do this)
3/4 cup M&M (I used 1/2 cup mini M&M’s and 1/4 cup regular for on top)
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1. Use parchment, silicone or baking spray for the cookie sheets.
2. In great big bowl: On medium speed cream the butter, brown sugar and sugar together for 3 minutes.
3. Add peanut butter, egg and vanilla. Mix.
4. Add baking soda and flour. Mix until just combined.
5. By hand, mix in oats, M&M’s and chocolate. Chill 30 minutes.
6. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll dough in 2 Tb. balls or large cookie scoop size. Use your hands to roll them into dough balls. Add M&M’s on top if you didn’t put them in the cookie dough batter at this point or after step 7.
7. Bake 9-10 minutes. Flatten them gently with the back of a large spoon.
8. Cool and eat.
Recipe from Sally’s Baking Addiction
