foodie friday. back to school baking!

does anyone remember those old black and white episodes of leave it to beaver, i used to watch them on nick at night when i couldn't sleep. the kids rush in from school with their back packs and lunch boxes and the mom ( June cleaver) is there waiting with fresh baked cookies and milk waiting for her boys, they share what happened at school "the beav" always got into some kind of pickle that day. They enjoy their snack with their mother who has just cleaned the house while wearing pearls and heels her hair perfectly in place. these cookies remind me of that kind of moment. they are over the top comforting and so at my best effort i made these for my son on his first day of school. he however fell asleep in the car and i looked no where near June cleaver status in yoga pants, a tank top and flip flops but hey i tried! and when his cranky little butt woke up and after his twenty minute meltdown we enjoy cookies together, he with his milk and me with my diet coke!
i have heard to these referred to as monster cookies, or cowboy cookies but i simply call them everything cookies cause they have everything in them...duh!

pre-heat oven to 350. degrees
take out a stick of butter while getting other things so it softens. always let butter soften at room temperature when baking do not microwave to melt it unless recipe specifies!

ingredients:
1 stick butter ( softened)
1/2  cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cups creamy peanut butter
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup quick oats
3/4 cups m&ms 
1/4 cup chocolate chips
1/4 cup dark chocolate chips
1/4 cup butterscotch chips.

you could also add: nuts, peanut butter chips or coconut

combine white and brown sugars with butter with a mixer, add the peanut butter and keep mixing. add egg and vanilla and keep mixing on slow speed. add baking soda and flour and stir until combined.
hand mix in oats, m&ms, chocolate, dark chocolate and butterscotch chips.

on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper ( always line with parchment paper when making cookies) scoop med to large cookies, i use a ice cream scooper so they are all around the same size. push them down slightly with your fingers because these cookies do not spread on their own. these cookies are extremely dense yet fluffy at the same time!
cook 9-10 minutes but NO longer you want them to stay soft and you don't want the oats to over cook and make the cookies dry. 

happy baking!

xoxo,
just janelle