Cookies for the Teacher!

As I've mentioned earlier in the week, it's National Cookie Week AND Teacher Appreciation Week, so, being the multi-tasker that I am, decided to make yummilicious cookies for my kids' teachers!  This was a recipe I've never made before, so I was a little nervous as to how they would turn out.  But seeing as how I didn't try to make them low fat or healthy, and I used an egg, they turned out really well ;)  These are not allergy friendly I'm afraid.

The base recipe was from Family Circle Magazine...from 1994.  Now, why I have a recipe from Family Circle dating back to 1994 is beyond me.  I was still in college in '94.  Unmarried, no kids...but apparently, I was reading Family Circle.  *shoulder shrug*  I don't get it.  However, how amazing is it that I cut out a recipe from a magazine, while in college, and ump-teen years later, still have it?! (Can you say pack-rat?)  Anyway, none of that is really important.  The important part is this fab cookie!

Tropical Trail Mix Cookies - adapted from M&M's 'Jumbles' Cookie, Family Circle, 1994

1/2 cup (1 stick) softened butter or margarine *I used Smart Balance 50/50
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
1-1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup Tropical Trail Mix (except I picked out the banana chips b/c I didn't know how they would bake up)
1 cup chopped pecans
3/4 cup mini chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 F.  In a bowl, beat butter and sugars until light and fluffy; add egg.  Combine flour and baking soda; blend into creamed mixture.  Stir in trail mix, nuts and chocolate chips.  Drop rounded tablespoonsful of dough (1-1/2 inch balls), about 2 inches apart, onto greased cookie sheets or silpat mats.  Bake 13-15 minutes.  Cool 2-3 minutes on cookie sheets before transferring to wire racks to cool thoroughly.  (Which y'all know I don't do...I always eat at least one while it's so hot it burns my mouth up).  Store in tightly covered container.  Makes about 32 cookies.

These cookies were very good!  I love the hint of tropical fruit and coconut mixed in with the chocolate and pecans.  And that is PEA-CANS not PEA-KAHNS, just in case you were wondering ;)
I put the cookies in a plastic bag and found these cute little tin buckets at Target.  They were 50% off in the Dollar Bins after Easter.

Then I just added some tissue paper and matching ribbon that I already had on the top....I think they're cute.  Except for the one on the far left who's tissue paper got all balled up compliments of Mr. Three Year Old.  Oh well, at least they got good, homemade cookies!

You want another fabulous cookie recipe?  Check out this Schmaker-Doodle recipe from Schmackary's Bakery...they released a normally "top-secret" cookie recipe in honor of National Cookie Week!  It's a new twist on the Snickerdoodle and sounds sooo good!  You can find lots more incredible recipes by searching the hashtag #NationalCookieWeek on Twitter!

I'm linking this recipe up with Foodie Friday @ Little Brick Ranch; Sweet Tooth Friday @ Alli 'n Son; and Sweets for a Saturday @ Sweet As Sugar Cookies