Cookies, Squares and the Number 4

Naomi surprises me with her enthusiasm and downright ingenuity. And, on my part I'm happy that I rediscovered a way to get her psyched about looking--something she generally abhors.

We've been looking at the number 4, so we made these cute little pictures with scrap squares & then I assigned a task of going around the house and taking pictures of objects in groups of 4. Well, she seemed a little confused at first, but 10 minutes later she came back with some really observant collections that were EXACTLY what I'd hoped she'd find.

As part of our rhythm Monday is baking day, so in the morning just after breakfast we all gather together to whip something up. Today it was cookies with chocolate chips and heath bar bits (because they jumped in my cart 'accidentally' last time we went to the grocery). & the girls don't seem to notice a bit that we used an alternate to the standard all purpose white flour--we went with spelt & the only real difference I can tell is a little extra chewiness--maybe. I've used the spelt in cookies before & there's never much notable difference, other than color, but maybe the extra chew.

Heath & Chocolate Cookies

2 1/4 cups Spelt flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1cup butter, softened

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup chocolate chips

1 cup heath bits

Convection: Preheat to 330degrees 

Standard: Preheat to 350degrees

Blend sugars, butter and vanilla until creamy. Add eggs and mix thoroughly. Add baking soda, salt and 1 cup flour and mix, add remaining flour and mix thoroughly. Add chocolate chips and heath bits. In our convection oven we baked for 8 generous minutes, leaving them on the trays to cool. In a standard oven it may take closer to 10 or 11 minutes. (remember, take cookies out before they look done or they will be too crunchy).

Enjoy!