Cookies, bars and treats!

VANISHING VANILLA WAFERS 
YIELD: VARIES DEPENDING ON SIZE OF COOKIES


1 cup butter (2 sticks) at room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 tsp salt
2 large egg yolks
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
8 oz (about 2 cups) all-purpose flour

Beat butter, sugar and salt at medium speed until smooth. Add egg yolks and vanilla and beat until well combined. Scrape sides of the bowl and add flour in 3- 4 installments mixing at low speed after each addition. Mix well until a smooth dough forms.

Shape the dough into a log (around 1.5 inches in diameter, or the size you'd like your wafers to have), wrap in plastic and refrigerate until firm (at least 2 hours). **I usually make several logs, and only bake what I plan on eating... the rest remains in my fridge/freezer for next time**

Preheat oven to 350ºF, cut logs into slices using a sharp knife (I like my wafers very thin, but you can cut them as thick as you want). Place wafers on greased cookie sheet and bake until edges are golden brown. Time will vary depending on how thin/thick your cookies are. If they are very thin I would start checking them after 5 min or so... if they are thick, they should be done in 12-15 min. Let cool in the pan on a cooling rack for a few minutes until they firm up.

Enjoy!

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OATMEAL CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
YIELD: 4-5 DOZEN

3/4 cup butter (1 1/2 sticks) at room temperature
1 cup firmly-packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon **optional**
1/4 tsp ground cloves **optional**
2 large egg yolks
1 tsp vanilla extract 
7oz (about 1 3/4 cups) all-purpose flour
2 cups rolled oats (quick or old-fashioned, uncooked)
1 cup chocolate chips (I like bittersweet or semisweet)

Beat butter on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add brown sugar, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and if using, ground cinnamon and clove. Beat at medium speed until combined, scraping the sides of the bowl from time to time. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until well combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour. Stir in the rolled oats and chocolate chips. 

Drop dough by rounded teaspoons, 2 inches apart into an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in a 375ºF pre-heated oven for 8 to 10 min or until edges are golden (cookies may seem underdone). Cool on cookie sheet for 1 min and transfer to a wire rack.