Cookie Caucus

Well, we all know what's coming tomorrow.....a very important election that could quite literally change the world as we know it.  We've been debating and choosing sides for nearly 2 years now, blah, blah, BLAH! Ok, really, not to take away from the importance of the election tomorrow, but sometimes we need a break! A cookie break, that is.

I know that the time of the caucus is far behind us, but I liked the alliteration in the title.  Over the next two days I am going to post two cookie recipes in honor of the election.  Two delicious, but very different recipes.  One, for the GOP, is Laura Bush's Cowboy Cookies.  The other, for the left wing, comes to us from the New York Times (the most reliable source for the DEMs, am I right?).

So without further ado, for all you right wingest conservative republican McCain voters, here is your
recipe!

Laura Bush's Cowboy Cookies

3 cups flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 tablespoon baking soda

1 tablespoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

3 sticks butter at room temperature

1 1/2 cups white sugar

1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar

3 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla

3 cups semisweet chocolate chips

3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

2 cups sweetened flake coconut

2 cups chopped pecans (8 ounces)

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in bowl.

In 8-quart bowl, beat butter on medium speed till smooth and creamy, about 1 minute. Gradually beat in sugars and continue beating to combine, about 2 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each.

Beat in vanilla. Stir in flour mixture until just combined. Add chocolate chips, oats, coconut and pecans.

For each cookie, drop 1/4 cup of dough onto ungreased cookie sheet, spacing 3 inches apart. Bake 17 to 20 minutes, until edges are lightly browned. Remove to rack to cool.

Makes 3 dozen large cookies.