In the desperate search to discover new activities to do with our children, my husband has taken up baking -- with a vengeance. In the past two weeks he has baked six different batches of cookies. (He would have baked more, but I wanted him to spend some time with me!)

All except one of his batches (they just don't work if you only put in half the flour!) turned out terrific, even the ones where the page of the cookbook blew over when he wasn't looking and he combined two recipes in one! Here are some of his best efforts.

These cookies can be baked by men, women or children. Hope you enjoy them as much as we did!

Oatmeal-Chocolate Chip Cookies

These were universally loved.

1-1/4 cups margarine, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1-teaspoon vanilla
1-1/2 cups unbleached flour
1-teaspoon baking soda
1-teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
3 cups old-fashioned oats
1 (12 oz.) package (2 cups) chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Cream together margarine and sugars. Beat in egg and vanilla. Add flour and spices and mix well. Stir in oats and chocolate chips. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 8 - 10 minutes. Cool on cookie sheet for 1 -2 minutes; then remove to wire rack to finish cooling.

Best Peanut Butter - Chocolate Chip Cookies

These are our favorites and brought great praise to the baker due to their (slightly) more complicated nature. We thought they were delicious although one of our Shabbos guests (who will never be invited back!) pronounced them dry.

6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
1-cup margarine, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1-cup smooth peanut butter
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups unbleached flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 (12 oz.) package (2 cups) chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Melt semisweet chocolate until smooth and allow to cool slightly. Cream together margarine, sugars and peanut butter. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Add flour and baking soda and mix and until well combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Carefully stir in melted chocolate to create marbleized effect (do not completely combine). Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for approximately 20 minutes. Cool on cookie sheets for 1 -2 minutes; then remove to wire rack to finish cooling.

Double Chocolate Cookies

These are very rich -- for those times when nothing but chocolate will do.

1-cup margarine, softened
1-cup brown sugar
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2-1/2 cups unbleached flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1(12 oz.) package (2 cups) chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Cream together margarine and sugars. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Add dry ingredients and mix until well combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for approximately 20 minutes. Allow to cool 1 minute on cookie sheet; then remove to wire rack to finish cooling.

Marble Cookies

These got mixed reviews. They were not as rich or as interesting as the others, but sometimes plain is good.

1/2 cup (4 ounces) semisweet chocolate, chopped
1/2-cup margarine, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup tofutti sour cream
1-teaspoon vanilla
2 cups unbleached flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Melt chocolate and allow to cool slightly. Cream together margarine and sugars. Beat in egg, sour cream and vanilla. Mix in flour and baking powder until well combined. Stir melted chocolate through batter to create a marbleized effect. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for approximately 20 minutes. Allow to cool 1 minute on cookie sheets; then remove to wire rack to finish cooling.