How to Make a Good First Impression

After my roommates and I moved into our little house we wanted to make a good first impression with our surrounding neighbors. Naturally we made them cookies, because that's what I know best. 

Instead of your traditional oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, I baked them into bars. I found this recipe and loved the way they turned out. Hopefully our neighbors did too. 

(Tip* spray your fingers with cooking spray and use your hands to get the dough evenly spread out on the pan!) 

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars
yields 32 bars 

Ingredients:
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/4 cups brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups oats
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375. In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter, sugars, eggs and vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Gradually add the flour mixture to the mixing bowl and beat until combined. Fold in the oats and chocolate chips. Spread in a rimmed 10 x 15 baking pan or jelly roll pan, using a spatula or your hands to press into place. 

Bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool, but cut the bars while they are still somewhat warm so a knife will go through them more easily.

One of our sets of neighbors never answered their door after three attempts to deliver their cookies. Their loss, our gain because we were quick to enjoy their plate of cookies! 

Annie