Brown Butter Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies: Post-it sized messages

Husband - even when you make me nuts, I'm glad it's you who makes me crazy.

This June, Husband and I will celebrate 12 years of marriage, and this October, we'll celebrate 19 years of being together.  19 years is almost half my life, and it's a good chunk of time to spend with another person.  I left Parents' home at age 18 and never went back, so in some ways, I've been with Husband longer than my own parents.

This means, ahem, that we have our fights, our disagreements, our squabbles.  I accept that in any relationship, conflict and tension is par for the course, and that usually, such fights blow over.  I liken the tempers in the house to tropical storms that often are ferocious, but once over, the skies are blue and clear.

I'd say that Husband and I have pretty open communication, and although I'm not a "yes" wife, I'm a nice wife.  I think Husband wishes I were much more of a yes wife, but hey - that's just not where I am.  He's not a "yes" husband either, so let's just say that opportunities for mini explosions are there.

Most recently Husband has been miffed because of my continual refusal to use this cheap bolt on the front door.  We have a sturdy deadbolt (which is difficult to break in demonstrated by the lock smith who failed to open both my garage and front doors) and above that is a simple slide lock that we installed when the kids were young so that they couldn't just fling the door open.  It's still high enough that even Daughter #1 can't reach it yet.  I've always thought of it as a way to prevent the kids from getting out and not as a way to deter people from coming in, as it's not Fort Knox strong.

However, Husband insists that it needs to be bolted and time and time again, I've forgotten/failed to slide the upper lock and this is majorly frustrating to Husband. Upon his return from work, he'll walk over to the front door, see that it's not bolted and come and find me and ask, "Did you see the front door lock?"

"Yeah, I locked it of course."

"BUT NOT THE TOP!  Why can't you bolt the top?"

Instead of being the good wife and saying, "Okay.  I'll try harder to remember to bolt it next time" my response continues to be, "That's not the important one to lock. It's not going to keep anyone out."

Husband generally throws his hands up in the air and stomps off frustrated at his lack of a "yes" wife.  I know, I should, but now it's become more of a way for me to torture the Husband at his expense.

Yesterday, Husband came home, noticed the unlatched top slide and called from the foyer that I hadn't slid it into place, to which I responded, "Okay okay, I'll try and remember," while keeping my fingers crossed.  However, when I went up to bed, I noticed something stuck to the door and went over to investigate.  On the door, near the lock was a small yellow post it with the words, "Lock me plz."

At first I was stunned.  A POST IT WITH INSTRUCTIONS?  However, I didn't respond, and merely went upstairs and didn't comment to husband.  Today, however, I carefully thought of what my response should be.  Clearly the doorlock is the single most annoying thing that I do, so I needed to find the single most annoying thing Husband does.  Believe me, the list was extremely long, but I wanted to keep things short and sweet.  I decided to put a post it, on the bed, and it said, "Don't eat here please."  (Husband's desire to snack in the bed has made me completely bonkers.  I can't stand it.)

Today, Husband came home from work, and I heard him bellow again about the front door "WHY ISN'T IT LOCKED?  Didn't YOU SEE THE NOTE?"  I heard him go upstairs, and then I went upstairs as well and then I heard, "YOU THINK YOU ARE SO FUNNY, don't you?"

Well, ahem.  Yes I do.  Snort.

Smaller than a post-it note, with more of a message than a post-it note, with a longer lasting effect than a post-it note, are these cookies.  I basically took the Brown Butter Cranberry Cookies and switched out the cranberries for chocolate chips to see what I'd get.  What I got was way better than a post it sized message. Packed with flavor, not too sweet, with complex notes and a crispy finish - these cookies are yummy.  I love the oat texture, the flax seed interest, and the chocolate richness.  Perhaps if Husband had taped one of these to the door, he'd get a "yes" wife.  I'm sure I won't be putting these in the bed however. That'd just defeat the purpose of my own note.

Brown Butter Whole Wheat Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Makes 5 dozen

Ingredients
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup (2 sticks) butter cut into pieces - either melt and turned into brown butter or room temperature butter
1 cup light brown sugar
½ cup white sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups old-fashioned oats
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (you can also try dark choocolate or bittersweet chips)
¼ cup ground flax seeds (optional)

Method
Preheat oven to 350.

Make brown butter if desired.  Heat a heavy pot or skillet over medium heat and add butter pieces.  Whisk frequently to ensure even melting of the butter. After about 5 to 6 minutes of melting, the butter will foam up and subside.  At this point, watch the butter carefully to see if the bottom of the pan is becoming covered in brown specks and the color of the butter has turned from yellow to warm brown.  The difference between brown butter and burnt butter (which is used in other recipes) is about 15 seconds.  Set aside and allow to cool for 30 minutes.

Whisk both flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon in another bowl set aside.

Using an electric mixer, beat brown butter (or regular butter) and brown and white sugars until light and creamy.  Add eggs one at a time, scraping down sides of bowl and beating well after each addition.  Add vanilla extract and beat again.

Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture, carefully so that flour gets mixed into dough.  When flour is just mixed, add oats, chocolate chips, and flax seeds.

Using a tablespoon measure, scoop out dough, separating them 2 inches apart on a parchment lined cookie sheet.  Press down balls of cookie dough to help spreading process.  Bake for 15 to 18 minutes until golden brown.  Transfer to wire rack and let cool.

Printable recipe

In case you also want to leave notes for your spouse.  These colors might make such a form of communication more appealing.  

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