Thursday, March 5, 2009

FOODIE FRIDAY - MONSTER COOKIE DAY!!

This is my first time participating in Foodie Friday hosted by Gollum at
Designs by Gollum.
Be sure to go by her blog to check out all of the other participants with yummy food to peruse!


When my kids were in grade school, we moved to a new town requiring them to change schools, always a traumatic experience for young kids. Mike was in 6th grade and was having a hard time adjusting. They were scheduled to go on a field trip his second week in his new school, and his teacher asked if I would make cookies for 60 kids to take on the trip. Of course, I said yes and set about making monster cookies. They were a big hit with the kids, and I guess Mike felt welcomed because from then on he adjusted to the new school without any problem.
This is what you need for monster cookies:

4 cubes margarine
2 lbs. brown sugar
4 cups white sugar
12 eggs
8 teaspoons baking soda
Mix the above well, then stir in 48 oz. creamy peanut butter
Add:
18 cups oatmeal
22 oz. M & M candies
12 oz. chocolate chips


Use a 1/4 cup measure and drop on cookie sheet. Flatten before baking at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.


Mike likes raisins in his cookies, so in the last third of the dough, I add about one cup of raisins. This recipe makes a monster amount of monster-sized cookies.

I always package them individually in sandwich bags, just as I did those for the sixth grade class field trip. These cookies freeze and/or travel well.

After that experience with the sixth grade class, I made these cookies all of the time for school and church functions. Back in those days, no one was concerned about peanut butter allergies, I guess.

When Mike went away to college, he requested monster cookies to be sent for his birthday in March. He has always been a spring break-type of traveler, so hasn't been home for his birthday very often. So, now it is family tradition since 1987 to make monster cookies to send to Mike for his birthday. Yes, he will be 41 years old in a week. It's not just Mike that needs monster cookies - Bob, Jenni, and the grandkids love their cookies, too!


All is good in the Salmagundi household tonight. I made 144 monster cookies today. Now, I just need to get Mike's mailed to him tomorrow as he is headed to Italy and Greece for Spring Break.

Does your family have a Foodie tradition that just can't be messed with????

26 comments:

Rattlebridge Farm said...

This is a great tradition--and a great cookie. I am so hungry right now, I am longing for the dough and the cookies. How delicious!!!!

Sue said...

I love how your sending your son his favorite cookies for his birthday...No matter how old they get they are still your baby. Your a special Mom.!!

santamaker said...

This is great, Sally! How neat for your family to share in this tradition. They look delish!

Anonymous said...

Hi Sally! What a wonderful story! Those cookies do look delicious! Could I have just one?
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Candy said...

Two out of two kids love them!!!
What could be better than that?
YUMMY! Candy

Foley said...

The one cookie my kids always asked for...maybe it was the M&M's.. looks delicious. Love all the photos!

Melissa Miller said...

Hi Sally,

Oh my these cookies looks so delicious!

Love that MM's are added.

I'll have to give them a try soon.
Thank you for sharing.
~Melissa :)

susan said...

I LOVE tradition--especially ones associated with food!

Anonymous said...

Wonderful cookies, Sally and a wonderful tradition.

SmilingSally said...

You can't beat oatmeal and raisins! Yum.

Scribbler said...

I have been meaning to ask you -- do you have any roots in the South? There once was a book about my father's family, written many years ago, titled "Salmagundi". I do not have a copy, and apparently impossible to find any more.

Scribbler

Chari at Happy To Design said...

Hi Sally...

So happy to have you visit! Yes, it's very, very dry at our place but this north-eastern corner of Colorado is normally arid! We've really had minimal snow this winter and we could really use some moisture! I've seen on the news about the fires around Colo. Springs...I just hate that! I've been praying for moisture!!!

Well my friend, I just loved reading the story about your Mike and his monster cookies...how adorable!!! I love that it's become a tradition to send monster cookies for his birthday! Just proof that it doesn't matter how old our children get...they're still our babies!!! hehe!!! Girl, when I was reading the recipe...after seeing 12 cups of oats...I knew that this was a big project!!! hehe!!! I'll have to give them a try...and I love, love, love peanut butter!!! Thanks for sharing the recipe and sweet story!

Have a great weekend, Sweetie!
Love ya,
Chari

Kristen said...

144 cookies?!?! Goodness honey, that is impressive. And so are those cookies; thanks for the tip about them freezing well!

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

What a wonderful tradition..and yummy looking cookies..the children are adorable..
hugs ~lynne~

Chandy said...

Love those cookies and what a great tradition! Our family is in love with my Filipino "chicken adobo" and my recipe is not shared with anyone not in the family, but there are close ones out there...

Anonymous said...

I think you need to send each of your friend bloggers a cookie since they are all packaged!! Look yummy - I am sure Mike loves that you do this for him- I wonder if he will share with his students that are with him!!?

Is it just as windy there? Some of the siding from the peak of our house has blown off. 1 piece is just hanging there flapping away but Bill doesn't dare get up on the ladder till the wind dies down- now just when will that be do you suppose!!!

blessings
mary

Fifi Flowers said...

YUM... those are one of my favorite cookies!

The Raggedy Girl said...

I wonder why that is that when I went to school in the very dark ages no one was allergic to anything. Hmm!!
Your cookies look so good. And what a nice Mom to make so many for the school kids!

Have A Fun Filled Friday
from Roberta Anne

Bo said...

Hi Sally...Monster cookies sound so good...they have all the ingredients that I LOVE! Thanks for sharing this family tradition recipe...;-) Bo

Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer said...

Oh yum...all my favorite food groups in one cookie..lol

I think I will have 2 please!

Susan

xinex said...

What a beautiful family tradition! The cookies look so good...Christine

Marilyn said...

Hi..your story on the cookies brought back memories of when I worked at a post office in a tiny little country village. Every week a young dad (he was a widower) and his 3 children turned up at the PO on a thursday and picked up a package that came in the mail. He told me one day..that his mom baked home made cookies for his children and she never missed posting them every week since there mom died. Marilyn

Elaine said...

No foodie traditions in my family but I'd like to start some. This one sounds yummy and I love it when I can freeze things.

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

What a great story! They say that food is the way to a man's heart, but it sounds like that also applies to children. laurie

bj said...

Oh, these look so so delicious. I'll be making some really soon...
hugs, bj

Beth at Aunties said...

You are such a great mom and the the cookies looks so yummy! I know they know how lucky they are to have you!
We just came home from your fair state lat last night. We went to house shop and help our son buy his first home. He graduates In May and will be making G.J. Colorado their permanent home! It was the first time we had been there. I sure hope they like Colorado because they made an offer on a home today.:)