Back on the Wagon with Half an Egg

I'm back from my Christmas hiatus and visit to the east coast, which included Christmas, New Year's, a blizzard and 50 degree temperatures.  And a lot of eating with my family, which means I do bend to their tastes, which has become more apparent to me now than ever.  I probably eat more processed and packaged food while I am home than I do the rest of the year.  I have made few in-roads with that.  I do still only drink fair trade coffee when I am home and made a few remarks about what my parents were feeding my niece and nephew.  But, perhaps it is not my place to say.  I did cook for my parents once -- the roasted beef and barley soup I featured a few posts ago, but my brother wouldn't eat it, he claimed it was too wet (duh, it's soup!).

But, I am back now and have to get back on the wagon--cooking the way that is important to me and making choices that reflect that.  And maybe figuring out a few ways to make my ways more appealing to my family my next visit home.  Yesterday I made my Mother's tuna noodle casserole, but with only organic, sustainable or local ingredients.  It was just as good, just as easy.  (Yes, I said tuna noodle casserole was good.  I love the version my Mother makes, except I use peas instead of carrots.  I know, it is crazy, but it is comfort food to me.)

Now I am baking cookies instead of working on my syllabi for the semester that starts Tuesday.  I found a new recipe for oatmeal peanut butter cookies.  I love oatmeal cookies and peanut butter cookies, so combined it is a no-brainer.  Except for one thing--the recipe must have been to make enough for a bakery to sell.  So, I wanted to cut it in half, but that left me with a dilemma--the original called for three eggs.  Do I use one?  Or two?  Or, do I do what I do in almost every situation (and about which I actually teach in my ethics classes) refuse to see it as a dilemma--isn't there a third choice?  Of course -- use half an egg!

Now you are thinking, is this woman really suggesting I use half an egg?  This woman who writes about ethics and food certainly can't be suggesting I waste something like half an egg!  No, I am not suggesting you waste something like half an egg.  Actually, I am suggesting you save that half an egg and use it in something else tomorrow.  Really.  That is what I am suggesting!  Half an egg can be used in an egg wash, an omelet, scrambled eggs, french toast, frittatta, or, in a small-batch baking recipe (I have included one of my favorites below).

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies (this is the regular sized recipe for the cookies I baked today, photo above)
3/4 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup peanut butter (creamy, regular not all natural)
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/2 eggs (yes, really!)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups oatmeal
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
9 ounces chocolate chips (I used 9 ounces since that is the size package my fair trade chocolate chips come in)
white sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a bowl cream together butter and peanut butter, add brown sugar, egg and vanilla.  Mix well.  Combine oats, four and baking soda.  Add and mix well.  Stir in chocolate chips.  Drop by rounded teaspoons onto baking sheet.  Flatten with fork or juice glass dusted with white sugar.  Bake 12-13 minutes.  Let cool on sheet for 2 minutes before transferring to wire rack.

Small Batch Oatmeal Cookies (for that darned half an egg!)
3 tablespoons flour
3 tablespoons oatmeal
3 tablespoons white sugar
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
pinch of cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 tablespoons softened butter
half an egg :)
3 tablespoons raisins or dried cranberries or chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with parchment or a silicone baking liner (or, in a pinch, lightly grease the baking sheet).  Combine dry ingredients except for raisins.  Stir.  Add egg, butter and vanilla.  Stir to combine.  The dough will be stiff.  Add raisins.  Divide dough in half, separate by 4 inches on the baking sheet (they will spread during baking) and bake for 15 minutes.

Now I had better look over those syllabi!