New Kitchen

It's been awhile since I've posted a recipe because our family moved over 2000 miles to the Seattle area last week. We are renting a house in a really nice neighborhood and this means I have a new kitchen to cook in! I'm still getting used to it. So far I've made rice, tater tots, brownies, and those Peeps nests you can see on the counter (that I will post). I have been dying for an open kitchen with an island and white cabinets and it is exactly that. I just need to add some barstools and curtains. There are 3 things I don't love. 1. The lack of cabinet space. I had a lot more room in my previous kitchen. We bought some shelves for the garage so I can put my bread machine, blender, food processor, and other small kitchen appliances on them because there just isn't room in the kitchen. 2. I haven't figured out a way to keep my two year old out of the pantry. It's an accordion style door, so he can just pull it right open and he's constantly getting stuff out. 3. Whoever invented the sink has never cooked or done dishes. It has one big deeper side, and one tiny raised side, and the tiny side has the disposal!  I have yet to find a grocery store I like. I was very satisified with my ALDI and Walmart Neighborhood market in Fort Worth. So far I've been to Fred Meyer and QFC (which are essentially Krogers) and Walmart (not a Super Walmart so no bakery, meat, deli, and sparse produce). I'm thinking of trying Costco. Hopefully I can figure it out soon and post new recipes!

I'm standing in a living area that is empty. I still have to figure out how I'm furnishing it. I don't want to spend a lot to furnish a rental.

Stupid sink.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Coconut Chewies

I love these cookies! These are the first cookies I've ever made with coconut and they are so good! I've been making this dough and freezing it in balls. You can read more about that here. The original recipe did not have chocolate chips, but I like to add them. :) 

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Coconut Chewies
adapted from melskitchencafe.com
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 cup butter, softened
2 tsps vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/2 cups flour
1 cup shredded, sweetened coconut
1 cup quick oats
1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl cream together the sugar, eggs, butter and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto a greased or lined (silpat or parchment) baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 9-11 minutes, until the cookies are set but not overly browned.