Vermont Maple Pecan Cookies



 

 

Vermont Maple Pecan Cookies

 

6  Cups  Old Fashioned Oats

2  Cups  shredded unsweetened  Coconut

5-1/3  Cups  Flour (can use part Whole-Wheat Flour)

2  teaspoons  Salt

2  teaspoons  Cinnamon

4  Cups  Brown Sugar

2  Cups  Butter

1  Cup  Real Maple Syrup (I prefer the Grade B Maple Syrup from Trader Joe's)

1/4  Cup  Light Corn Syrup

4  teaspoons  Baking Soda

1/2  Cup  Boiling Water

2  teaspoons  Maple Extract

4  Cups  chopped toasted Pecans (please chop them smaller than I did; I was in a hurry)

 

 

Preheat oven to 300* (you can use this preheat time to toast your Pecans).

 

In a very large bowl (Tupperware works great), combine the Oats, Coconut, Flour, Salt, Cinnamon, and Brown Sugar; whisk to combine.

 

In a large saucepan, combine Butter, Maple Syrup, and Corn Syrup.  Heat over medium heat until butter is melted, stirring occasionally; remove from heat before continuing to the next step, or you will have a big mess all over your stove.

 

In a small bowl, combine the Boiling Water and Baking Soda.  Dissolve well, then pour over the Butter mixture, stirring well.  Stir in Maple Extract; stir into dry ingredients.  Add in Pecans and mix well.

 

Using a large cookie scoop (about 3 Tablespoons measure), scoop cookies onto well-greased baking sheet, placing about 2-1/2 inches apart.  Flatten slightly.  Bake at 300* for 12-14 minutes, until golden brown and set, but not crispy.  Cool on baking sheet 5 minutes; transfer to cooling racks.  Makes about 6 dozen.

 

"Finally,

be ye all of one mind,

having compassion one of another,

love as brethren,

be pitiful,

be courteous,

Not rendering evil for evil,

or railing for railing,

but on the contrary, blessing,

knowing that ye are called to this,

that ye should inherit a blessing."

1 Peter 3:8 & 9

 

 

 

Well, it happened again.

 

It always does this time of year.

 

The weather changes, and this Central-Valley-born-and-raised girl tells her husband "Ok, we can just pick up and move to Vermont now."  There is just something in the turning of the leaves, the misty mornings, the clear, crisp evenings, the smell of wood smoke, and the time change that makes me long for a location where autumn is more obvious.  (Don't ask me how I'd feel about the mud in March, though.)

 

For some reason, my very soul begins to long for that which I've never had.  And then I think of Abraham, who "looked for a city, ...whose builder and maker is God".  As I type up this post on the last day of October, the day on which sin and evil is so celebrated, a day when my heart is longing to be removed from the darkness around me, I look to the Father and for the day of Jesus Christ's return, and I find that what I am really longing for is for the day when "the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord."  And so, I am comforted by these words, for Jesus is coming soon!  Keep looking up!

 

 

 

Recipe adapted from relishmag.com .