when i grow up: cowboy cookies

When I was a kid, I wanted to be an astronaut. And a farmer. Naturally when I wasn't exploring space, I'd be sitting on my favorite horse where the green grass grows, watchin' all my corn pop up in rows (thanks Timmy).

And yes my address is Manhattan, but can't you picture it? Chickens laying fresh eggs (and all the delicious baked treats that come from them), a garden around back with every herb you can imagine, and horses ready to ride through fields of tall hay - it's my dream.

I got a taste of it in high school when I spent every free minute at a hunter/jumper barn outside of Pittsburgh dressed in chaps and worn out Ariats, mucking stalls and riding any pony I could get my hands on. I suppose it's like any childhood sport or hobby that you miss as you get older - but the smell of saddle leather, fly spray and sawdust always reminds me of a big thing I'm missing (and will continue to miss) in my Manhattan life.

Well until I flee to cow country. And buy my farm. And my horses. And ride around every day, feeding chickens from my saddle bag and wearing my cowgirl hat to the grocery store.

In the meantime I daydream with The Pioneer Woman and salivate over Hannah's country life from my concrete kitchen closet, baking things like Cowboy Cookies to keep the dream alive. Oh, and I nuzzle the NYPD horses whenever I get the chance (just remember to smile pretty at the cop on board).

These won't tele-port you to the nearest horse farm but they are pretty delicious (coconut in an oatmeal cookie? fantastic!) so give them a go and tell me - what's your dream?

Cowboy Cookies

adapted from Saveur

3/4 cup flour

3/4 tsp. baking powder

3/4 tsp. baking soda

3/4 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. salt

6 tbsp. unsalted butter, softened

5 tbsp. sugar

7 tbsp. light brown sugar

1 egg

3/4 cup rolled oats

3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 chopped walnuts

1/2 sweetened flaked coconut

Heat oven to 350F. In a bowl, whisk first 5 ingredients, set aside.

In a large bowl, beat butter with a handheld mixer until smooth. Add sugars, beat until fluffy. Add egg, beat until smooth. Add flour mixture, beat to form a dough. Stir in oats, chocolate, walnuts and coconut. Form dough into 24 balls, divide evenly between 2 parchment-lined baking sheets. bake until cooked through, 16 minutes. Let cool.