back tracking...last july!

Have you ever been to Paradise Bakery... well literally it is that, paradise. This is one of mine and chris' favourite cafes to eat while in the US.
Last July when we flew to Iowa to pick up our Jeep we ran into Paradise Bakery in the Airport! we were so happy that Chris bought a dozen chocolate chip cookies and they were gone by the time our 18 hour drive was done! just a note, i didn't have one of those cookies. I was 36 weeks pregnant on this trip, and despite everyones pleas i made the trip with chris. We would be gone for my birthday and i was excited to spend it with Chris. Iowa was surprisingly pretty.. very green! but as we kept heading west it got uglier, and blander, and slowly we hit the 'bad lands'. it was probably the dullest through south dakota.. and when we hit Montana i was ready to shoot myself in the foot...i was pregnant and bored! what a horrible mix!
because i was pregnant we had to make frequent stops..we stopped off at Mount Rushmore! it was so crazy to see it in real life, it was beautiful!

Chris took it upon himself to eat the dude on the five dollar bill. what a weirdo!

i on the other hand thought i fit in quite nicely.... my 'gaze' proves this!

We stopped off at some zoo.....that had the worst icecream of my LIFE! but other than that it was really cool, and really hot! this is a turtle.....a big one.
chris is perhaps the strangest person i know.......at this point in the pregnancy i wasnt kissing him. ha
this pic just about sums up how i felt while prego! shelf bum....so guilty!
and now that Parks is born our trips have not stopped! i want post them next!

oh, i almost forgot the reason for my post! i was saying how i completley love paradise bakery cookies and sandwiches for that matter! anyway, i have a cookie recipe that i deem worthy of my tastebuds........these cookies are called...Worthy Oatmeal Toffee Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies.. okay, this title is rather long so lets just call them
Paradise Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Chippers

1 3/4 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/4 c. packed brown sugar
1 c. butter Crisco ( i use 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup shortening! i like the mix best)
1/2 c. sugar
2 large eggs
2 TBS milk
2 tsp. vanilla (i use 1 tsp true blue vanilla, so good)
2 1/2 c. quick oats (i use 11/2-2 cups oats and add 1/2 cup coconut)
2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 to 1 1/2 c. Toffee Bits (i use 1 cup, this is a MUST ingredient!)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat brown sugar, butter Crisco and sugar in large mixer bowl until creamy. Beat in eggs, milk and vanilla. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in oats, chocolate chips and toffee bits; mix well. Drop by rounded teaspoon (I used a small scooper to make the small "chippers") onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 9-10 minutes ( i cook about 8 min, still are soft just give them a second to set up, and give a 'wack' on the counter to get the air out) (longer if you use more then the small scoop) for chewey cookies. Cool on baking sheets for one minute; remove to wire racks to cool completely.
Pictures never do food justice....i hope these turn out as chewy and yummy for you as they do for me!