After another trip around the Sun, it’s time to celebrate Dads everywhere! Last year, I whisked you to the North Carolina mountains. Home to the little fictitious town of Mayberry where we visited Barney, Opie, and Andy, of course. Besides Andy Griffith, cake making was on my mind. That scrumptious recipe for Snickerdoodle Cake is here. FYI…Andy’s whistled theme song actually has lyrics! (Good luck trying to not whistle along…)
This year, we’re sticking close to home…the back yard to be exact. Like a lot of other folks, we’ve had our share of home improvement projects and repair jobs. A minor kitchen renovation. Fixing a cantankerous spring on a mower deck. Replacing the motor on the pool pump.
After tackling that motor with Son A’s help, I definitely have a greater appreciation for the countless hours my Pop has repaired, replaced, renovated, and restored anything and everything! (I completely understand why he weaves a tapestry of profanities over his shop…) Here’s this year’s six life lessons Pop taught me:
Lesson #1: Don’t be afraid to take on something you’re not completely confident in doing. (Just secure the electricity first!)
Lesson #2: Always bring extra tools with you. (Those extra trips to the tool box are really annoying!)
Lesson #3: There will ALWAYS be that one annoying bolt, screw, or person. (Patience is a virtue, but cussing sure helps!)
Lesson #4: Get creative to get the job done. (When cussing and elbow grease won’t work, think outside of the box!)
***Crazy side note…there are folks out walking around thinking rachets are preset to either tighten or loosen. One of Son A’s airplane mechanic classmates calls them “rachet-on’s” and “rachet-off’s.” Hmmm…I wonder how many rachets they played with in the hardware store before finding the one they needed. LOL!
Lesson #5: Help is comes in many forms. You just have to look and ask. (Yep…couldn’t pass up a chance to throw Joe in!)
Lesson #6: Great satisfaction comes from hard work. (On the same day the motor was replaced, Son A passed his first of several FAA certification tests. Hooray!)
Pop, or Buppa as the Minions call him, is a cookie monster. After a fencing project or tinkering with the garden tractor, he usually takes a coffee and cookie break. He’ll eat almost any kind of cookie, but there are a few he really likes–snickerdoodles, molasses, and oatmeal. So for Dad’s Day, we’re sending him a care package filled with this trio. Today’s post is all Pop’s absolute favorite–the Oatmeal Walnut Cookie.
Normally I like to foo-foo up recipes, but these Oatmeal Walnut Cookies are no frills. Just a good, old-fashioned cookie loaded with walnuts, oatmeal, and a little nutmeg. That’s the way Pop likes them. Simple.
Making this recipe follows a standard cookie making process…cream sugar and butter together, beat in eggs and vanilla, sift the dry ingredients together and stir into the butter mixture, and stir in the oats and walnuts. Pretty easy right? For Pop’s cookies though, I have a couple tips:
Tip #1: Use “quick-cooking oats” instead of “old-fashioned oats”. After years of using both types of oats, I learned quick-cooking oats bake a moister cookie. The reason…there’s less surface area on a quick-cook oat flake (on the left) than a old-fashioned oat flake (on the right). Quick-cook oats are smaller and don’t suck away moisture from the dough.
Tip #2: Chop your walnuts into two sizes–medium chunk and large chunk. This ensures every bite contains walnuts.
Pop’s biggest pet peeve is not being able to see or taste something listed in the name or packaging. Cracker Jacks with peanuts drive him insane…there’s only a few peanuts at the bottom of the box.
If you’re thinking of whipping up and shipping out some cookies to your Pop, packing is essential. Set a gallon-sized zip-top bag on it’s side. Stack your cookies on top of one another and place into the bag. Repeat until the bag is filled (or you run out of cookies). You’ll be able to fit more goodies in the bag to mail out. And you won’t have to worry about how those cookies crumbled.
Here’s to all of the hardworking Dads out there! We raise up a cookie to you!
Check out these other Buppa-approved cookies:
- Company’s Comin’ Cookies
- Lemon Sugar Cookies
- Mom’s Snickerdoodle Cookies
- Nutmeg Sugar Cookies
- Old-Fashioned Gingersnaps
- Snow Sprinkled Gingersnaps
Buppa’s Oatmeal Walnut Cookies
This Oatmeal Walnut Cookie is an old-fashioned cookie loaded with walnuts, oatmeal, and a touch of nutmeg. Simple and good! Just the way Dad likes them!
- Prep Time: 20 Minutes
- Cook Time: 17 Minutes
- Total Time: 37 minutes
- Yield: About 18–22 Large Cookies 1x
Ingredients
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar, packed
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt (table, kosher, or sea)
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
2–1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
2 cups walnuts, finely and roughly chopped
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease or line baking sheets with parchment paper or Silpat liners. Set aside.
Using a standing or hand-held mixer, in a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together until fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla, beating well. In a second bowl, sift the flour, baking soda and powder, salt and nutmeg together. Stir into butter mixture until almost blended. Stir in oats and walnuts until evenly combined. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl after each addition.
Using a #20 ice cream scoop or large serving spoon, drop cookies onto baking sheets about 2-inches apart. Press a walnut halve into the top of each dough ball, if desired. Bake for 13 to 17 minutes, or until golden brown around the edges and on top. Remove from the oven to cool on wire racks. Store cookies in a tightly sealed container for up to 1 week, or until eaten up!
IMNPB
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