Banana Walnut Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Talk about a hiatus!  

I apologize profusely for my absence...it was quite drawn out.  Of course it's not as though I wasn't cooking/baking during that time...but you know how it is.  Between taking a class, doing homework, going back to work, working overtime, switching my schedule three times in one week, and a visit from my dad and stepmom...things have been crazy.  

Speaking of crazy...Jim always says that taking Cricket for a walk is like dating the prettiest girl in your school in high school.  You just walk down the street and everyone watches you with this look on their faces like "Oh my gosh she's so stinking cute!"  Which is technically correct.  So anyway, I was taking the ridiculous little pooch for a walk last night.  Now I'm used to people stopping me to chat about my pup.  That's like a day to day occurrence.  But last night was the first official case of her actually stopping traffic.  I had pulled over to the side of the road so that we could stop at one of our neighbor's mailboxes (they actually leave treats in there for Cricket every day in case we don't see them on our walk...no joke) and I was standing on the side of the road waiting for a car to pass us.  Well it pulls up beside us and this guy awkwardly introduces himself and explains that they have a mini Australian Shepherd but his wife used to have a Sheltie and isn't Cricket just so cute and they don't usually walk their dog down this far but they would if they had known that there was a Sheltie in the neighborhood.  Weird but sweet.  Weirdly sweet.  

But anyway, I'm back and I'd like to talk to you about my very serious chocolate chip-related cookie problem.  I'm obsessed with cookies...that much is clear.  But in particular, I've reworked chocolate chip/chunk cookies over in so many ways now that really it can only be called a problem.

These are so ridiculously delicious.  The dough is dangerously good...don't even start with it.  And I think the cookies are best after they've sat for a few hours.  That's just me.  Anyway, here you go and enjoy!

Banana Walnut Chocolate Chunk Cookies

(adapted from Martha Stewart)

Ingredients

1 cup flour
1/2 cup wheat flour
1 tsp coarse salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 sticks of butter, softened (12 Tbsp or 3/4 cup)
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup mashed ripe banana
1 cup old fashioned oats
3/4 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
8 oz. semi sweet chocolate, chopped into coarse chunks

Directions

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, wheat flour, salt, and baking powder.  Set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer with paddle attachment, at medium speed beat together softened butter and sugars until light and fluffy.  Add egg and vanilla, mixing until combined.  Add mashed banana, mix on medium until incorporated.  Add flour mixture all at once, mixing on low just until combined, when flour streaks disappear, stop.

Stir in oats, chocolate, and walnuts.  Drop by spoonfuls onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 375 for 11-12 minutes or until they just start to brown.  Allow to cool on sheet for 5 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely.