Mint chocolate shortbread

Abigail picked this one out of a cookie cookbook and made them (mostly) all by herself.  They are so, so good.

3 sticks butter, softened
1 1/2 cups powered sugar
2 tsp mint extract
3 cups flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup York peppermint patty bites (In the big bag.  This was Abigail's touch.) Mmmm
1 container frosting (or half a batch of frosting from your favorite recipe) --  Dyed green

• Preheat oven to 325.  Grease a 9x13.
• In large mixer bowl, cream butter and sugar.  And mint and mix again.
• In a medium bowl, combine flour and cocoa.   Blend into butter mixture.
• Stir in chocolate chips.  Dough will be stiff.
• Press into pan and back 18-20 minutes.  (It will start to look matte, and not shiny as it is done.)
• Cool completely
• Frost and sprinkle mint candy on top.

Oatmeal chocolate chip muffins

Abigail helped make these muffins last week.  We ate them while they were still gooey warm, and a dozen disappeared in one sitting.

1 1/3 cup flour
3/4 cup oatmeal
1/3 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
Generous handful of chocolate chips (we used mini)

1 beaten egg
3/4 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup oil

This is a standard muffin recipe.  Mix the wet. Mix the dry.  Combine.  Pour into greased muffin tins.  Bake at 400 for 20 minutes, or until golden.