To say that my husband loves to hike is a vast understatement. It's been six years since he lost 60 pounds by eating less (and healthier) and moving more~imagine that:) He has never looked back, and he is an inspiration to me to get more physically fit. He is fit and fabulous!
He hikes locally (there's so many beautiful, great trails that we have access to), and sometimes a bit further up the coast to Big Sur. He has even hiked to the top of Mount Whitney a time or two! I try to join him when I can, and last year the two of us hiked to the top of Upper Yosemite Falls in Yosemite. It was tough for my kness on the way down, but oh so beautiful! This year our goal is Half Dome in Yosemite.
I spotted these cookies in Phyllis Hoffman's "Celebrate" Valentine Special magazine, and thought they would be a good fit for my hiking Valentine. They're sweet, but have plenty of healthy elements for energy on the trail. I think he will also appreciate their manly size:)
Trail Mix Cookies
1 cup sugar
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup all-vegetable shortening
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup oats
3/4 cup oat bran
1/4 cup wheat germ
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups m & m chocolate candies
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup chopped peanuts
1/4 cup chocolate covered sunflower seeds
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a large bowl, beat sugars, butter, and shortening until fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla, beating until combined. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder and baking soda; add to butter mixture, beating until blended. Stir in candies, peanut butter, peanuts and seeds.
Place 4 tablespoons dough together on an ungreased baking sheet, and flatten into one large cookie. Repeat procedure with remaining dough. Bake 16-18 minutes, or until golden brown.
Makes 10, 5 1/2-inch cookies
Such a tasty cookie, which can even be eaten while sitting in a recliner:)
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Finally, a good reason to eat cookies! I think I love this recipe! It does look good, kind of crunch and chewy? Thanks for sharing and good luck with the next mountain! :D
ReplyDeleteHehe these look lovely and I think I'll take your suggestion and eat one in a recliner! ;)
ReplyDeleteI have been away from home for 3 weeks and haven't had a chance to visit anyone! It was fun to make January go quickly but I have missed visiting! Glad to be back. These look so yummy and with lots of snow here I am in the baking/nesting mood!
ReplyDeleteMonster cookies are a gave of my kiddos. And maybe me, lol!
ReplyDeleteOoh - these look so delicious! I rarely had monster cookies and barely ever did I have them with yummy oat bran and wheat germ. ^^
ReplyDeleteI think it is awesome that your husband has lost 60 pounds and has kept it off for six years! These *hiking cookies* look delicious.
ReplyDeleteyeah for your hubby! that's great. and the cookies look yum...i love those chocolate covered sunflower seeds.
ReplyDeleteThese look like great cookies!
ReplyDeleteHiking is a great pasttime. We live at the base of a beautiful mountain. Hubby runs up it several times a week.
I hiked with him until I had 8 back sugeries! Now I just walk slow! We enjoyed hiking Mt Timpanogos, what an incredible hike.
Thumbs up to your hubby! I better bribe my hubby with these delicious looking cookies so he'll be inspired to go hiking too!
ReplyDeleteYum! Beautiful and delicious cookies. I must make them! I miss hiking - it's pretty far to get to good trails from here, plus the kid kind of dampers our ability. ;)
ReplyDeleteI love addition of oats,oat bran , wheat germ, I always look for ways to add those to baked good,it looks like one delicious monster cookie. :-)
ReplyDeleteUn mega extra cookies j'adore
ReplyDeleteJe te souhaite un bon jeudi
Valérie.
With all of the sweets that I make from my kids, putting some healthy things into them sounds perfect. Those cookies look so good and how fun that they are so big!!
ReplyDeleteMy hubby has recently been diagnosed with high blood pressure, so we're working on getting him healthy again. Those cookies sound like an excellent treat.
ReplyDeleteAli x
Love those cookies! Can't never get enough oats!
ReplyDeleteI'm so impressed by anyone who has lost that much weight. Sounds like you (and he) have had some wonderful hikes!
ReplyDeleteLove ginormous cookies... yours look very tasty!
ReplyDeleteOoh, I love desserts that contain healthy stuff, but still taste amazing. I've had a similar cookie and loved it, but yours looks and sounds better. Love the photo with the two cutie pie 'munchkin' hands holding the cookie! I must make a batch of these for my one nephew who has a full set of baby teeth :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Lisa, but I had to chuckle; Those are my husband's hands which are actually verry big:) I do think he's a cutie pie though~lol!
DeleteSue, I do envy all your stupendous hiking nearby! These look yummy and congrats to your husband for such huge life changes. Joni
ReplyDeleteROTFLOL! Upoin closer inspection, I now see man fingertips. Minus my contact lenses or glasses, they look like little fingertips..I think because the nails are cut down so short! Please tell him I'm so sorry, even though my mistake is a tiny, little bit funny ;)
ReplyDeleteActually we both thought it was very funny!
ReplyDeleteYum, those cookies sound really good. I have always thought a cookie with all the trail mix ingredients would be really good! I'm pinning that one for the future!
ReplyDeleteTrail mix in cookie form.......brilliant
ReplyDeleteWhat a cookie! I can't resist any cookie that's got chocolate, peanut butter or oats in them.
ReplyDeleteHi Sue! What an awesome blog you have! I'm so glad you stopped by and said "hello" on my blog so that I could come by and enjoy visiting yours!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Jenni
Wow, that's incredible that you husband lost 60 pounds! These are perfect for him, or for anyone :) I love your blog, it feels so homey and your recipes look amazing! I'm officially a new follower! Can't wait to see more!
ReplyDeleteYou have not failed me yet on any recipe I've made from you (and I've made several) and I think these look perfect to pack in lunches... and to nibble on in the recliner :D
ReplyDeleteThese look SOOO yummy! I'd have to omit the chocolate chips (I'm not a fan of chocolate) but everything else in them looks DELISH and I love big cookies ;-) Good luck on Half Dome! Very exciting adventure! My daughter was trying to get me to go for a while, but I never did. She climbed Half Dome once while she was away at summer camp and she loved it. Thanks for the fun recipe Sue!
ReplyDeleteYum! These looks so good. I have such a sweet tooth today!
ReplyDeletethese cookies look interesting - quick question please - why isn't the peanut butter added with the butter, shortening, & sugar. It seems strange to add at the end but maybe there is a reason. Thanks!!!!
ReplyDeleteHmmm, yes your idea does make sense (and is the usual), but I just followed the recipe, and it worked out great. Maybe the peanut butter doesn't get so pulverized when it is hand-mixed in at the end, which might be preferred.
DeleteThanks for your comment and your interest!