Mona’s Mother’s Best Friend’s Favorite Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies: A Recipe for Comfort and Connection

Lately, life has felt like a whirlwind, leaving little time for the quiet moments and connections I cherish, including with all of you. It’s during these fast-paced, sometimes challenging periods that I find myself drawn back to the simple, comforting act of baking. There’s something inherently grounding about measuring ingredients, mixing dough, and filling the kitchen with the aroma of freshly baked treats. Today, I want to share a batch of cookies, not just any cookies, but a recipe that has brought a smile to my face and a sense of warmth during a particularly “manic” June. Consider this my virtual offering, a sweet gesture to reconnect and remind us all of the simple joys.

A Manic June and an Unforgettable Detour

June often feels like a month in overdrive, with its long, bright days bleeding into short, warm nights. The birds, ever punctual, start their morning serenades outside my window promptly at 5 am, signaling the relentless pace. This past month has been especially demanding, with more projects than usual piling onto my plate. Just when I thought things couldn’t get more eventful, I found myself unexpectedly on crutches last weekend. The origin of this dramatic turn of events? Not some daring mountain adventure or a cycling mishap, but a far more relatable, and frankly, amusing tale involving exquisite food and the irresistible pull of Instagram.

The scene was the serene Mount Engadine Lodge, nestled amidst the stunning Rocky Mountains. After a delightful dinner of succulent bison short ribs and perfectly crispy, cheesy polenta – a meal so good it almost deserved its own photo shoot – I kept jumping up from the table. My mission? To capture a glimpse of the lodge’s famous moose population in the marsh between the lodge window and the majestic peaks, bathed in the setting sunlight. Each rustle, each shadow, convinced me a photo opportunity was just around the corner. It was during one of these enthusiastic leaps that I managed to injure myself – a torn tendon or something similar in my knee, as I would later discover. So, when asked how it happened, my grand tale isn’t of conquering peaks, but rather, of being conquered by enthusiasm for wildlife photography, good food, and social media. Typical, indeed!

A Glimpse of Serenity: Canmore and Spray Lakes

On the upside of this somewhat comical incident, I discovered that the emergency room at the Canmore hospital is remarkably quiet on Saturday mornings. The staff were efficient, and despite the circumstances, the overall experience was as pleasant as a hospital visit can be. Moreover, the drive to Canmore itself was a beautiful silver lining. Passing by the breathtaking Spray Lakes, with its turquoise waters reflecting the towering mountains, offered a moment of unexpected tranquility and stunning scenery, a gentle reminder of nature’s enduring beauty, even when you’re hobbling along on crutches.

The Irresistible Allure of a Name: Mona’s Mother’s Best Friend’s Favorite Cookies

I wasn’t actively searching for a new cookie recipe, not with my current situation and the general chaos of life. However, as any true food enthusiast will understand, the name alone was utterly irresistible: “Mona’s Mother’s Best Friend’s Favourite Cookies.” How could I possibly resist such an endearing, specific, and wonderfully old-fashioned title? It conjured images of shared secrets, well-worn recipe cards, and generations of baking love. This gem, as expected, hails from an old “Best of Bridge” cookbook – specifically, Enjoy!, the cherished yellow edition that has graced countless Canadian kitchens. These cookbooks are legendary for their reliable, crowd-pleasing recipes, and this one promised to be no exception.

The original recipe, I must confess, didn’t call for chocolate. But in my humble opinion, oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, especially when done right, are the very best kind of comfort food. They possess a perfect balance of chewy texture, wholesome oats, and decadent chocolate pockets that melt in your mouth. Adding chocolate chips seemed like a natural, essential upgrade. Furthermore, the inclusion of coconut was an even stronger incentive to lean into this delicious combination, promising an extra layer of moisture, chewiness, and tropical flavour. What I love most about a great drop cookie recipe is its incredible versatility. It’s a blank canvas for whatever you love or whatever you happen to have in your pantry. Feel free to adapt, experiment, and make them truly your own!

Crafting Your Own Batch of Comfort: The Recipe

Despite my current state – hobbling around on a swollen leg, trying to master the delicate art of maneuvering crutches (which, I assure you, provides endless entertainment for anyone within eyesight) – the urge to bake these cookies was strong. Mike has been a lifesaver, cooking dinner twice this week (hot dogs and egg sandwiches, a testament to simple, hearty fare). Last night, my dinner consisted of Rice Krispies. It’s during these times, when life feels a bit upside down, that a simple, reliable recipe for something delicious becomes a true anchor. These cookies are precisely that kind of anchor.

Ingredients:

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1 cup shredded unsweetened coconut (or sweetened, to your preference)
1 cup chocolate chips (semi-sweet or milk chocolate work best)
Optional: ½ cup chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans are great)

Instructions:

Preheat Oven & Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. This typically takes 2-3 minutes with an electric mixer.
Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Stir in the vanilla extract.
Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt.
Gradually Add Dry to Wet: Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
Stir in Oats, Coconut, and Chocolate Chips: Fold in the rolled oats, shredded coconut, and chocolate chips (and any optional nuts) until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
Scoop and Bake: Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between cookies.
Bake: Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the centers are just set. They may look slightly underbaked in the middle, but they will continue to firm up as they cool.
Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Enjoy! Store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days.

A Resident Cookie: More Than Just a Treat, Sometimes Even Dinner

This isn’t just another cookie recipe; it’s the sort of reliable, adaptable formula that has the potential to become a true resident cookie in your household. It’s perfect for everything from impromptu camping trips to carefully packed lunchboxes, and it’s guaranteed to be a hit at end-of-year school parties. Its hearty nature, combined with the comforting flavors of oatmeal, chocolate, and coconut, makes it incredibly versatile and universally loved. It’s the kind of cookie that evokes nostalgia and creates new memories with every bite.

And yes, as I’ve learned firsthand this week, on some days, when life has delivered a few too many unexpected twists and turns, these cookies can even step in for dinner. There’s no shame in finding comfort and joy in simple things, especially when you’re navigating challenges on crutches. Baking these cookies, even with a swollen knee, was a small act of self-care, a way to bring a little sweetness back into my days. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the best recipes are the ones that not only taste good but also make you feel good, offering a moment of peace, a sense of accomplishment, and a delicious reason to share a smile.

So, whether you’re dealing with a manic month, recovering from an unexpected injury, or simply looking for a new go-to cookie, I wholeheartedly recommend giving Mona’s Mother’s Best Friend’s Favourite Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies a try. They truly are a recipe for comfort and connection.