my own personal brand of heroin [and TWD]

I've been obsessing. Sometimes things are so good that you just can't get enough! Here's the list that's kept me smiling lately:

1. Champagne with friends just because we like the bubbles

2. My Asics Gel Nimbus running shoes that are keeping my feet blister-free

3. The 4 H&M summer dresses from the "garden collection" I just bought for $150

4. Feeling fancy in Maybelline's Color Sensational "Are You Red-dy" lipstick

5. The return of "Glee" (and Sue Slyvester) to Tuesday nights

6. Chateau de Bonhoste 2009 Bordeaux Blanc (it's $12!)

7. Colorful tulips in my flea market blue Mason jar vase

8. Kiehl's Creme du Corps super rich body moisturizer

9. Green Giant Just-for-One broccoli and cheese sauce frozen veggies

10. These ridiculously addicting cookies from Runner's World magazine (via Champagne Bubbles)

I've been making Camilla's "Oatmeal Cranberry Chocolate Chip Piles of Deliciousness" since she shared them with me for three reasons: 1. Her personal trainer told her about them (so they must be healthy?) 2. They came out of Runner's World magazine (so they can't be bad for you?) and 3. They're everything I love mixed into one cookie (chocolate, oats, nuts and dried fruit).

I made a batch last Friday and then another batch on Sunday night because I can't stop eating them, and with only 1/2 cup of sugar and egg whites I really don't believe they're bad for me. Plus, the recipe makes a "reasonable" amount of cookies and the tablespoon scoop of dough makes a perfectly bite-sized cookie.

So then I opened Baking: From My Home to Yours for this week's Tuesdays with Dorie recipe and... holy crap. They're basically the same cookies I've been baking non-stop for weeks! Dorie's "Chockablock Cookies" have the same basic ingredients - sugar, flour, eggs, oats, chopped nuts, chopped dried fruit, and chopped chocolate.

What's great about the Runner's World cookies (and Dorie's as well) is that you can add in whatever you like. I've followed the recipe with chocolate chips and Craisins, I've tried it with dark chocolate chunks, flaked coconut and dried cherries, and the last time around I used coconut, chopped dark chocolate (Lindt chocolate with a touch of sea salt to be exact!), chopped walnuts and raisins.

Since the recipes are so close I'm sharing my Runner's World addiction for my TWD post. And with less sugar and just egg whites they might be a little healthier, so feel free to stuff your face a little more! I'll have to give Dorie's original version a shot next time.

p.s. I love to eat these out of the freezer for a real treat. I put the batch in a gallon-sized ziplock and freeze them. Might sound weird, but they're delicious!

Runner's World Oatmeal Cookies with Cranberries and Chocolate Chips

RunnersWorld.com

2 cups rolled oats

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

3/4 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/3 cup canola oil

3 egg whites

2 tsp. vanilla extract

3/4 cup dried sweetened cranberries (or raisins or dried cherries)

1/2 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips (or dark chocolate chunks)

add ins: 1/2 cup flaked coconut, 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 F. Coat 2 large baking sheets with cooking spray (or parchment paper).

In a large bown, combine the oats, flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. In a medium bowl, whisk the brown sugar, oil, egg whites, and vanilla extract until smooth. Stir in the cranberries and chocolate chips. Add to the flour mixture; stir until just blended.

Drop the batter by scant tablespoons onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 10 minutes, or until the cookies are golden brown.

Cool the cookies on racks. Store in an airtight container.