Receive the Greatest Gift
These cookies were made with much love and a story of a legacy. It began in 2007 when my husband, James a firefighter allowed me to come to his station once a month and bake these cookies for the firemen. James and I had been separated in our marriage and God was using something as simple as a cookie and my willingness to bake them to bridge the gap and heal our family. I continued doing this for a year, and indeed God did restore our marriage and we renewed our wedding vows in March of 2008. With the work of rebuilding our almost destroyed family for a year, we thought we were on our way to a long life together but circumstances proved otherwise. On March 8, 2009, James was hit and killed as he traveled to work by a drunk driver. God and His grace provided and protected our daughter and I through this season. One of the blessings and evidence of His love is the legacy of these cookies! You have been chosen to receive these in memory of James and the power of Jesus. God continues to heal us and this is one way, by telling of His faithfulness and power. So, enjoy this sweet treat and know you are part of something bigger!
I would like to remind you that you don’t know what will happen tomorrow, your life is like the morning fog, it’s here awhile and then gone (James 4:14). So today if you hear His voice, don’t harden your heart but respond to His love for you (Hebrews 3:15). A sincere prayer of repentance and acknowledgment of Jesus Christ as your Savior will give you assurance of heaven just like my husband is enjoying right now! I have tremendous peace knowing this life is not what it is all about, God has a bigger plan for my today and tomorrow as He does for you. Give your life to Jesus today and live the abundant life He promises (John 10:10) and have the assurance of heaven when you die (Romans 10:9).
Here is the most amazing chocolate chip cookie recipe ever! Please be sure to follow it exactly (noting the tips to a perfect cookie). This recipe was used hundreds of times to serve with the message of hope to Martin County and other firefighters. The legacy of this cookie is this: Love God and Love others. What a great way to express God’s love to someone with a fresh baked chocolate chip cookie and a glass of milk!
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
¾ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 ½ sticks unsalted butter (room temperature, not microwaved!)
2 tsp vanilla
1 egg
1 bag (12 oz.) Publix Jumbo semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 2/3 cups oatmeal, ground to a flour
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a medium bowl, mix together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Cream butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, vanilla and egg together in bowl mixer. Add flour mixture to bowl mixer until well blended. Slowly add chocolate chips and oatmeal until thick dough.
Scoop cookie dough using an ice cream scooper onto a lightly greased cookie sheet (9 per sheet). Bake at 375 degrees for 7 minutes, turn cookie sheet and bake for additional 7 minutes. Remove from oven and allow cooling on cookie sheet for about 10 minutes. Remove from sheet and place on cooling rack.
Yield: 14 cookies
Tips:
Do not use milk chocolate chips, or regular/mini sized semi sweet chips. Trader Joe’s semi sweet chocolate chip chunks works well too if you are not local to Publix Supermarkets.
Use Old Fashioned Oats (Publix or Quaker brand) and grind with food processor to a flour.
Use Insulated Baking Sheet for even cooking and rising. 9 cookies fit on a 13.5″ x 16″ sheet.
Measure accurately, pack brown sugar and lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups and level.
Use ice cream scoop for perfect shape and size. Scoop and scrape excess into bowl so cookie is perfectly round on top and flat on bottom.
To make the cookies “bite sized” use a mini-ice cream scoop and bake 6 min at 375 then turn cookie sheet and bake an additional 6 minutes.
DON’T FORGET TO POST YOUR SPECKLE STORIES (how God used you and these cookies to love someone into heaven 🙂