Last Thursday, while I was still out in Portland for the holidays, I had the opportunity to see my dad and sister perform at a benefit concert for peace. A couple of days before the concert, my dad asked me if I wouldn't mind baking some cookies for the concert's intermission. I took his request seriously and ended up making over 16 dozen Oatmeal Macadamia Nut Chocolate Chip cookies to take to the concert.

I was a little late to the concert and then got roped into staffing the merchandise table for the entire concert, so I didn't get to see how my cookies did during the refreshment time. However, during the second set, I snuck away from my post for a little while to get a drink and reclaim the roasting pan I had used to transport my cookies. Much to my surprise and pleasure, the pan was nearly empty. There was a six year old boy standing near my cookies, and when I reached in to finally taste one, he announced to me with great enthusiasm, "Those are the best cookies in the galaxy!" He gave a his head a firm nod on the word 'galaxy' as if to give it even further weight and emphasis. I smiled and said, "I'm glad you like them! I actually made them." When I said that, his eyes grew huge and he reached out to touch my arm, almost like I was a rock star or something. And then he asked if he could take a few of the leftovers home. How could I say no to that?

I heard from my mom after the concert was over that he stood next to my cookies throughout the entire intermission, announcing to everyone who came to peruse the snack table that they were "the best cookies in the galaxy." If you want to make a batch of the best cookies in the galaxy (because now I will call them that forever) you are in luck, as the recipe is after the jump. The Best Cookies in the Galaxy

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups old fashioned rolled oats
1 cup toasted and chopped macadamia nuts
1 cup dark or semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cream butter and sugars together. Stir in eggs and vanilla extract. In a separate bowl, measure out the flour, spices, salt and baking soda. Combine dry ingredients with wet and stir to combine. Stir in oats until blended. Then mix in nuts and chocolate until just combined. Bake cookies for 12-14 minutes on parchment lined cookie sheets until browned but not too dark.

This just happens to be my basic oatmeal cookie recipe and is adaptable and flexible. If you don't like macadamia nuts or chocolate chips, feel free to change the mix-ins to suit your tastes.