MLK: We're so delighted to welcome Cate Price back to our kitchen. She has a brand new book out this month, and she's brought us cookies! Take it away Cate...
Cate: We all probably have certain dishes that friends and family beg us to make again and again. These are my “special request” treats. Once you see the list of ingredients, you’ll know why I call them Kitchen Sink Cookies!

“Wait—there’s no coconut in this recipe,” I demurred as Eleanor dumped in half a bag of shredded coconut.
“I know. I like it, though.” She followed up with a mountain of chocolate chips, popping a handful into her mouth.
I peered at the paper again. “And no chocolate chips, either.”
“Details, details.” Eleanor waved a hand in the air. “Everyone knows that chocolate makes everything better.”
The batter was so heavy by this point that we had to take turns mixing it by hand because it was too dense for the beaters.
Eleanor consulted the recipe and shrugged. “Ah, rats! I knew I’d forget something. The vanilla! Never mind, I have bourbon. Should work just as well.” She pulled a flask out of the back pocket of her jeans and sloshed a glug into the bowl.
We dropped it by clumps onto baking sheets and slid them into the oven. Soon a wonderful aroma wafted through the old Victorian building that housed my store.
“This should entice the customers,” I said, breathing in deeply. “Even if they don’t taste good, they smell great.”
I was just taking the first batch out of the oven when the doorbell jangled and Martha swept in.
“Uh-oh, caught in the act,” Eleanor muttered.
“What on earth are you two doing?” Martha took a small piece off one cookie and bit into it gingerly. “Amazingly good. I think you two should make all the treats from now on.”
“Now look what you’ve done,” I said to Eleanor.
Kitchen Sink Cookies
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 Tablespoon baking soda
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 tsp salt
1 cup butter (2 sticks)
½ cup margarine (1 stick)
1½ cups sugar
1½ cups light brown sugar
3 large eggs
1 Tablespoon dark rum (or whiskey or bourbon) *
1 Tablespoon vanilla
3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 cups chopped walnuts or pecans
2 cups sweetened flaked coconut
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In one bowl, mix flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.

Stir in flour mixture. Stir in oats, chocolate chips, walnuts and coconut.

* The rum or bourbon is optional, but it does add that secret “je ne sais quoi” touch.
You’ll find this recipe, as well as a recipe for a terrific turkey chili, in the Millbury Ladies’ Home Companion in LIE OF THE NEEDLE, together with some helpful household hints.
Leave a comment today with your email to be entered in the drawing for one signed copy of LIE OF THE NEEDLE.

Please visit Cate at her website, or on Facebook.
Oh my gosh! These cookies sound wonderful! Of course you had me at the rum. I would love to win a copy of the book!
ReplyDeleteMelanie, the rum (or bourbon) is definitely the secret ingredient! Although you don't have to use it...Good luck in the giveaway!
DeleteKitchen Sink cookies are the best! So versatile with add-ins and flavors. And the book sounds FANTASTIC! EMS591@aol.com
ReplyDeleteThis is a recipe you can have fun and improvise with, and all will be well.
DeleteGoing to try these cookies! Thanks for the recipe & giveaway.
ReplyDeleteTennisace50(@)yahoo(dot)com
Hi Linda! Let me know how you like them!
DeleteGood grief! I'd have to take up running to work off these cookies. They sound so good.
DeleteIt's okay, Pat, you'll have enough of a workout mixing the batter. No guilt here!
DeleteI love finding new cookie recipes! This one sounds great! Thanks for the recipe and the chance to win yout book! This book sounds great! I would love to read this!
ReplyDeleteedtercross7304@yahoo.com
Hope you enjoy this one, Terri, and good luck in the giveaway.
DeleteThese cookies sound wonderful! Thanks for the recipe and the giveaway. Looking forward to the book.
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome, Lisa. Enjoy.
DeleteLove the cookies. The book sounds like a great fun read. grammyd01@comcast.net
ReplyDeleteI had fun writing it, Gram. There are some serious issues, too, and a murder, of course, but overall, I think you'll enjoy!
DeleteYum!!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely!
DeleteWhat luscious-looking cookies, Cate! Your excerpt has already enticed me. Now I can't wait to read the book!
ReplyDeleteOoh, I do love to be enticing!
DeleteThe cookies sound great but I don't know if I'd be able to stir all of that. Or, lift the bowl! But I can lift the book. I'd love to read it.
ReplyDeletelkish77123 at gmail dot com
Fingers crossed, Linda!
DeleteThis is a great recipe to make with a friend or two. The more arms the better.
ReplyDeleteAnd it's always fun to cook with friends. One of my favorite things to do!
DeleteWelcome to the Kitchen, Cate. Great to have you here, and thanks for the recipe.
ReplyDelete~ Cleo
Thanks very much for having me here, Cleo.
DeleteYum! Love the concept of your book. The kitchen sink cookies look delicious. jenniferbyerschambers at yahoo dot com
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jennifer!
DeleteWow, this does have everything in it but the kitchen sink. I love the excerpt, I started laughing, I've been known to do something like that once or twice. Thanks for the chance to win and the laugh.
ReplyDeletemomzillasteel@gmail.com
Glad I made you laugh, Debbie :)
DeleteLove the addition of rum to these cookies. I'll have to try them. Thank you for the giveaway!
ReplyDeletedmskrug3@hotmail.com
You're welcome, Daniele. These cookies disappear very quickly every time I make them, so it's worth the effort!
DeleteI love this recipe. I'm going to make it but no chocolate---some kind of dried fruit, maybe cherries. Thanks for the contest.
ReplyDeletesuefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Sue, that sounds good! I'm sure it will work out well.
Deletei want this book!! It takes place in my back yard. spider12344@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteWe are neighbors! (sort of) I'm about 20 minutes west of Philly. I love the Bucks County area, which is why I chose it as the setting for this series.
DeleteI have to add this book to my TBR shelf, no matter how many books I read it never seems to get smaller. Thanks for sharing such a fun recipe, I enjoy cooking so all new recipes are welcome.
ReplyDeleteI have stacks of books on my shelf, too, Taryn! And this is a tried-and-true recipe.
DeleteI like cardamom with cinnamon, so I would add some of it if I made these - going on my TBB (to be baked) list - don't bake as much since my husband was diagnosed with diabetes.
ReplyDeleteIt would be interesting to experiment and see how much sugar you could cut out of this recipe and still make it work.
DeleteHello, Cate! Thanks for the recipe. These cookies look delicious, and I love the book excerpt. Now I find myself wanting the see the chili recipe as well. I really do need to get a copy of this book, one way or another -- It sounds like a great series!
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you, Cee!
DeleteMy kind of cookie - use whatever I have on hand and no fancy rolling or shaping! Yum!
ReplyDeleteAnd I think I need to catch up with this series. Sounds like a fun read.
Yes, it's my kind of cookie, too. I'm not a very fancy baker, but I do like things that disappear off the plate. Makes me feel good!
DeleteI love these cookies and how they are the kitchen sink type. I've used M&M's for the chocolate pieces and sometimes I mix things up a bit. Than you for having this giveaway. Either way, I am excited to read the book!
ReplyDeletedebprice60@gmail.com
Deb, I made them recently for a writer's meeting, and I bought the mini chocolate chips by mistake. But it didn't matter! They were still delicious. That's what I love about this recipe!
DeleteLove that excerpt, Cate! These cookies sound wonderful. I'm looking forward to trying them! Thanks for joining us at Mystery Lovers' Kitchen today!
ReplyDeleteHi Krista, thanks for having me. I'm honored to be here, and glad you enjoyed the excerpt and the recipe!
Delete