A Monstrous Post

What is a monster? Is it

a)  A big fuzzy cuddly bear which is reminiscent of Big Foot but misunderstood by society because of its size?

b)  A terrifying, vicious troll like creature which lives under your bed apparently?

c)   The inner turmoil one carries inside themself eventually becoming inexpressible?

d)  A cookie

Surprised I picked d)?

You really shouldn’t be if you know me well (Though am I quite partial to a) as well ever since seeing Monsters Inc )

To my food obsessed mind, a monster is no longer something scary and haunting my nights nor is it bottled up feelings (that is just frustration) – a monster is something

LARGE

HEAVY

FULL

RICH

Why else do you think we get monster sundaes and monster cupcakes?

And of course we get monster cookies. Also know as

• Cowboy cookies – do not understand because cowboys never seem to eat, all they do is ride horses + it is totally sexist
• Leftover cookies – no such thing as leftovers, don’t even understand the concept
• Kitchen sink cookies – Eww, gross what do you put in there, dishwashing liquid and steel wool? Topped with lasagne from two nights ago?

And this is why I prefer to always call them monster cookies
They certainly fit the requirements – well, at least my version (s) do…

I start off with this recipe from my very reliable source Brown Eyed Baker. It is the simple staple delicious version with candy, peanut butter and oats. Yum. But so totally done.

So I made my staple version. And 5 other versions. All for different occasion. Whenever you need to release your inner monster or feed a real one, I got you covered

My Scenario: “I’m bored and hungry” = Colossal Caramel Peanut Monster Cookies

• Use 1 1/2 cups brown sugar, cutting out white sugar completely
• Add in 1 cup (you heard me) homemade caramel sauce
• Leave out golden syrup (corn syrup)
• Use 1 1/2 cup cups chopped caramel chocolate bars (I used Boost Max Caramel baby!)
• Use 3/4 cup peanut M&Ms (I just cannot stop using them)

Scenario 1: “Step away from the TV remote” = Movie Snack Monster Cookies

• 3/4 cup sweet popcorn (caramel, chocolate, toffee) or regular salty buttery you know
• 3/4 cup lightly crushed original potato chips
• 3/4 cup chocolate covered raisins
• Use original caster sugar included recipe

Scenario 2: “Will you marry me?” = Monster Love Cookies

• 3/4 cup chopped white chocolate
• 3/4 cup dried cranberries/strawberries
• 3/4 cup desiccated coconut (cut flour back to 1/3 cup)
• Use one 11/2 cups white sugar instead of any brown sugar
• Omit peanut butter and melt 1 cup marshmallows with butter over low heat and add into mixture

Scenario 3: “Sonny, bring me my walking stick like a good lad” – Elderly Monster Cookies

• 1 1/2 cups mixed dried fruit
• 3/4 cup mixed nuts (chopped very small or omit)
• 1/2 cup desiccated coconut
• 1 1/4 cups white sugar over all brown sugar
• Omit peanut butter and add in just as much seedless jam of any flavour

Scenario 4: “That’s MY Nutella you…” – Nutella Hoarding Monster Cookies

• 3/4 cup chopped toasted hazelnuts
• 3/4 cup dark chocolate chips
• 3/4 cup chocolate hazelnut block, chopped
• Omit peanut butter and add in same amount of Nutella
• 1/2 tsp coffee essence
• Drizzle cookies with warmed Nutella

Scenario 5: “Mummy, read me another story?” – Apple Crisp Monster Cookies

• 3/4 cup chopped dried apple
• 3/4 cup fresh skinned, diced apples (lightly tossed in lemon juice)
• 3/4 cup cinnamon chips
• Add apple sauce in same quantity as peanut butter (which is omitted)
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp allspice
• Use 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
  Told you I have one cookie for every occasion!

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I also have a monstrous announcement: I am thrilled to have received the Versatile Blogger Award from Kristina of Whipped Baking! Have you visited this baking queen? No? Then you have severley deprived your senses – every dish and dessert makes me want to catch a plane and ‘drop in for a visit’ 
Thank you so much Kristina!!!

Defining this award: “It is a great way to introduce different bloggers to each other and to promote quality blogs that awardees and their readers may not have discovered otherwise.”

And here are the rules of this awesome award

1. Thank the person who gave you this award.  
2.  Include a link to their blog. 
3.  Next, select 15 blogs/bloggers that you’ve recently discovered or follow regularly.
4.  Nominate those 15 bloggers for the Versatile Blogger Award.
5.  Finally, tell the person who nominated you 7 things about yourself.  
6. In the same post, include this set of rules.
7. Inform each nominated blogger of their nomination by posting a comment on each of their blogs.

Ok so 7 more things about me – I must be boring you all so much with my life story

• I was initially doing to call this blog ‘Creme de la Creme’ but thought it was too fancy for someone like me
• I have never once chopped onions without crying – what is the secret??!!!
• I know what a pneumatophore is. Sorry but knowing what a word like that is just cool – It’s part of the mangrove tree which sits upright above the water and allows air to diffuse through it and travel to the trunk roots of the tree, providing oxygen
• I do not know how to catch a train on my own as I learnt yesterday – I am a bus girl!
• Sometimes I still have softtoys around me when I sleep (shh…)
• I am not fond of pretzel M&Ms (don’t kill me!)
• If there was one thing in the world I would want to get rid of, it would be mushrooms… ew.

So goooood, now you know a little more about my electifrying personality
Now I want to know about these fabulously versatile bloggers: I award this award to:

• Sugar Dish Me
• Donna @ The Sugared Pecan
• Georgia @ The Comfort Of Cooking
• Alchemy In The Kitchen
• Anne @ From My Sweetheart
• Cucina49
• Melissa @ The Hungry Artist
• Courtney @ Misadventures In Cooking
• Cindy @ Once Upon A Loaf
• Sharyn @ The Kale Chronicles
• Ramona @ Curry And Comfort
• Year Of Healthier Living
• Kimby @ A Little Lunch
• Soni @ Soni’s Food For Thought
• Kim @ Just Baked

Congrats guys and keep the blogging love running

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Now release your inner monsters, meet and greet a real one and have a monstrously awesome weekend all