Oatmeal and Chocolate Chip Cookies and lots of snow!!

The weather forecast predicted snow and boy did we get snow (the worst in 18yrs)!! It started last night and by 10pm we had over 6 inches of snow. My boys were out in the garden at that time having snow ball fights; I opted to watch them from the warm confines of the conservatory. I awoke during the night like an excited child to look out of the window and it was still snowing heavy. This morning we were greeted with over 14 inches of snow, a real winter wonderland. Unfortunately due to all this snow, London and southern England are in travel chaos and transport has come to a standstill and schools are closed. My hubby commutes to the city everyday and is having to work from home, as there are no trains running and we don’t even know if the trains will be up and running tomorrow, as there is more heavy snow on its way. I still haven’t braved it outside but instead decided to bake some Oatmeal and Chocolate Chip cookies which are already disappearing off the cooling rack!! These thick and chewy cookies are super quick to make and will be perfect with a cup of hot chocolate in this bitterly cold weather. The recipe comes courtesy of Rachel Allen’s Bake book.

Oatmeal and Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

110g (4oz) butter, softened

110g (4oz) caster sugar

110g (4oz) soft brown sugar

1 egg

2 tbsp water

1 tsp vanilla extract

250g (9oz) porridge oats

110g (4oz) self-raising flour

1 level tsp salt

110g (4oz) chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 180oC (350oF), Gas Mark 4. Cream the butter in a large bowl or in an electric food mixer until soft. Add the sugars and beat until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the egg, water and vanilla extract while still beating. Reduce the speed and gently mix in the oats, flour, salt and raisins to form a dough. Using your hands, roll the dough into walnut sized balls and place slightly apart on two baking trays. Bake in the oven for 12-25 minutes or until light golden brown but still slightly soft in the centre. Allow to cool on the trays for a minute before transferring to a wire rack to cool.

Snow pics of my garden.