ROCKY ROAD OATMEAL DROPS

1 Tbsp instant coffee crystals
1 Tbsp warm water
1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups rolled oats
1 1/2 cups semi-sweet choc chips
1 1/2 cups pecans, toasted and chopped
1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows

1. Lightly grease a cookie sheet; set aside. In a small bowl combine coffee crystals and warm water, stirring until coffee is dissolved. Set aside.

2. In a large bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add sugars, baking soda, and salt. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in eggs, vanilla, and coffee until combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Using a wooden spoon, stir in any remaining flour. Stir in rolled oats, chocolate chips, pecans, and marshmallows.

3. Drop dough using an ice cream scoop 2 inches apart onto the cookie sheet. Bake in a 350 degrees F oven about 10 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack.

These were really good. If you want to taste more of the coffee, you can double the amount you put in.

Yay for Me!

Saturday evening E and I went to the coffee shop to talk to the owner. She was really excited about getting my goodies in her restaurant! Yay!! She also wants me to sell my jams since there is a gift shop. I took her samples of some jams and Peanut Butter Brookies. She and everyone else absolutely loved them. She wanted me to start bringing her things right away. Yesterday I spent the afternoon baking and canning. Here is a pic of the Peanut Butter Brookies and Gingerbread Biscotti that I am taking down there this evening. The biscotti will go great with their Gingerbread Lattes. I don't drink coffee and even that sounds good!
I'll think of a couple more things to come up with and take them down there later in the week. The partner even asked if I could do cakes and pies. I told her I'd have no problem with that, but I'd have to figure the cost out. Some cakes and pies might be too expensive. I explained to her that I only use quality ingredients, so that can make the prices go up some. I'll have to experiment some this week. In the mean time, E and I need to do some serious exercising!!

On another note, Wayne (E's step-father) was having a heart attack Saturday. I say "having" because it was caught before it turned into a full-blown heart attack. He looked pretty bad when the rescue squad took him out. He's doing much better now and may be able to come home today. I hope he takes it easy from here on out and I hope the start eating healthier. I don't think I should be using them as my guinea pigs anymore!