Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

There's been so much change happening in my neck of the woods. The leaves are starting to turn red. The days are growing dark by 8 pm. My organization recently moved. I suddenly like watching basketball (Go Storm!). Ashley is graduating. And in 30 days, I will be leaving my home. I've lived in the U-District of Seattle for the past six years. Let's just say I have my usual routines down -- shopping at the Farmer's Market each Saturday, eating at my favorite restaurants (Chaco Canyon Cafe, Araya's Vegetarian Place, and Pizza Pi), and getting the best vegan cookies from Starlife on the Oasis Cafe. In one month I will be moving to Fremont -- changing apartments, neighborhoods, gyms, the works. This may sound trivial, but it's been enough lately to rock my little world.

The non-profit I work for recently moved into a building right above Specialty's Bakery and Cafe. Being the only vegan in the office is torture. I am now subjected to the smell of warm cookies on a daily basis and have to constantly resist the tasty treats left on the kitchen counter.

I was inspired to make some vegan cookies that not only rocked my socks off, but gave Specialty's a run for its money. This recipe is a vegan version of Sarah's chocolate chip cookies from In Praise of Leftovers. I'm guessing that after you try these, you will also be able to resist all of the treats in your office. That, and Sarah will be your new favorite person.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 c. flour
2 c. old fashioned oats
1 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. white sugar
1 ts. baking soda
pinch salt
1 cup Earth Balance, melted and cooled
Egg replacer for 2 eggs (I use Ener-G brand)
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 bag chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350. In medium bowl, combine flour, oatmeal, sugars, salt, and baking soda. Add egg replacer, Earth Balance, and vanilla, stir once or twice, then add chocolate chips. Refrigerate dough for about 30 minutes to firm it up. Place balls of cookie dough on cookie sheets lined with parchment paper, and bake for about 9 minutes. Take them out while they still a little underdone. Once they sit for 15 minutes, they’ll be just right.