M & M Everything Cookies & On Getting Back to "Normal"

Everything cookies have been my favorite cookies for as long as I can remember having a favorite cookie.  They are crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside and have so many wonderful flavors of toasted nuts, oatmeal, coconut, raisins, and chocolate.  

On another note, it's nice to be back at it again.  I like the routine of being back to normal after a long Christmas break.  When we came home from break, they were still installing a new kitchen, laundry room, and kitchen nook/butler's pantry floor (which is awesome!), but we are just now getting the house put back together.  Plus our 5 year old and myself have been really sick with the flu over the past two weeks and my husband had sinus surgery this week.  We are all so so glad to be getting back to "normal".  

Here is glimpse into our kitchen nook where we have been eating off of the card table while sorting through everything that was piled into the dining room while the floors were done.  Tonight was our first night eating in the dining room again and it was nice to be back to our usual dinner routine.  The floors do look beautiful though and it forced us to go through more stuff and organize (two boxes of donations and two boxes of trash from today's work).  This little kitchen nook is usually an art/homework room for the boys and they are glad to get it back.  I also do most of my food photography in this little kitchen nook...So glad to get back to normal!

This is the butler's pantry across from the kitchen nook.  I really did have this counter cleaned off this week which lasted for about half a day.  You pass through here to get from the kitchen to the dining room so it's kind of a hallway too.  I love the extra storage from the butler's pantry.  

More on getting back to "normal"...I know that in our house full of boys that our normal may be a little chaotic to some.  Sure it's full of adventure, dirt-SO MUCH DIRT, laughter, and LOTS of NOISE, but I'll take our glorious chaos because I know that someday when the house is quiet I'll miss the joy that came with the chaos.

Speaking of Joy...These M & M Everything cookies will bring some Joy.  They are perfect for gift giving, although you better make a double batch if you have a sweet tooth.  
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I used red and green M & M's for Christmas.   Wouldn't these be pretty with red M & M's for Valentine's Day or spring M & M's for Easter?  One more note...you might be tempted to skip toasting the nuts, but don't, it takes the flavor to a whole new level.  
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Ingredients:

1 ¼ cups flour
½ tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. salt
¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) butter softened
¾ cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 ½ tsp. vanilla extract
1 egg
2 Tbsp. milk
1-2 cups chocolate chips*
1 cup quick or old fashioned oats
½ cup raisins
½ cup pecans or walnuts, toasted and chopped
½ cup sweetened coconut flakes
1 cup M & M's chocolate candies

1.  Toast nuts on a small un-greased pan in a 350 degree oven for 8-10 minutes.  Let cool.

2.  Turn oven temperature up to 375 degrees.

3.  Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl.  Set aside.  

4.  Beat butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy.  Beat in egg.  Gradually beat in flour mixture and milk.  Stir in chocolate chips, oats, raisins, nuts, coconut, and M & M's candies.  

5.  Drop by rounded tablespoon onto parchment lined baking sheets.  

6.  Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are crisp but centers are still soft.  Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.  

*I use less chocolate chips when adding M & M's, but if you are a chocolate lover, go all out.  

Makes about 3 dozen.

My favorite cookie scoop makes perfect cookies every time.  I got this Nordic Ware cookie scoop in my Christmas stocking one year.  
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Linking up at Do Tell Tuesday, Create with Joy, Share the Wealth, Dream, Create, Inspire

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