As a quick aside, I’ve just noticed that this morning I’ve just reached 1000 comments on the blog! Thank you to everyone who’s made this blogging caper so enjoyable. Now, resuming normal transmission…

It’s starting to feel Christmassy around here. Yesterday the tree went up (I wanted to wait until the place was tidier – but I’ve pretty much given up on that possibility now that school holidays have started). I really love the twinkling lights. We also did up four batches of Emergency Cookies.

Back in September last year I posted about these cookies for the first time (thank goodness my photography has improved!). They’re from an idea I found at the Bakerella site, and adjusted to fit a Paul Newman’s 750g pasta sauce jar. I call them ‘Emergency Cookies’.

They’re great to take to a friend’s place, because let’s face it, there’s often plenty of food when everyone brings a plate. And if the food does run out, these can be whipped up in a flash.

They’re a cute gift.

They’re great if the kids want to bake something (or you need a school holiday activity) but you can’t stand the thought of them messing up the kitchen bench for the 27th time that day. My kids can make these with minimal intervention (I help take the melted butter out of the microwave). Because we might use them, I don’t usually put labels on the jars unless I know we’re giving them to someone. I’ve got labels and a circles-of-fabric-for-the-top-of-the-jar stash in the kitchen drawer.

They also taste great.

So, if you’re so inclined, the recipe is below, and a lovely recipe card and my revamped labels can be downloaded here.

EMERGENCY COOKIES

to fit in a 750g Paul Newman’s Pasta Sauce bottle

1 cup plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp bicarb soda
pinch salt
1 cup oats
1/3 cup M&Ms (more would be better if you’re feeling generous)
2 tbsp cocoa
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup white sugar

Pack it all down in layers (if there’s space I’d add more nuts or M&M’s if you have them).

When you’re ready to cook, mix all the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Then add combined wet ingredients:
1 egg (lightly beaten)
125g butter (almost melted)
1 tsp vanilla

Once it’s all combined, roll into balls about 1 tbsp each, leaving room for spacing, and bake on baking paper covered trays at 180 degrees celcius for about 12-15 mins.

I needed 2 trays because one jar made about 30 cookies.