Notice the tiny flecks of sea salt on the walnuts?  I know those cookies look yummy (and they were), but I’ll be honest and share with you the real reason I made cookies:

I am too embarrassed to disclose how much of this cookie dough did not make it into the oven.  I will tell you it was the smallest batch of cookies I’ve ever made.  You see, all this past week, I’ve been forced to view the photos of other bloggers’ creative cookie exploits and the temptation of creamy, sweet, salty, chocolate-chip filled dough overwhelmed me and I just couldn’t take it anymore.  My husband doesn’t like a lot of ‘stuff’ in his cookies (that I don’t get because the cookie dough is so much better with a lot of ‘stuff’).  So this time around I stirred into the dough 1 cup of chocolate chips and then topped each cookie (prior to baking) with toasted walnuts, sprinkled with sea salt.  Salt the walnuts when still slightly warm after toasting.

Prep: Toast 1 cup. chopped walnuts at 350-degrees for 3-5 minutes until aromatic.  Watch carefully, they will scorch easily.  Allow nuts to cool slightly and then add 2-3 small pinches of sea salt. Stir and set aside.

Preheat oven to 375-degrees 

Salted Walnut Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
(basic oatmeal recipe from Nestle)
1 3/4 c. all-purpose flour
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. ground cinnamon
1/4 t. salt
2 sticks butter, softened (very important when baking)
1 1/4 c. packed dark brown sugar
1/2 c. granulated sugar
1 1/2 t. vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 T. milk
2 t. pure vanilla extract
1-2 c. semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips
2 1/2 c. quick or old-fashioned oats

Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in small bowl.  Beat brown sugar, butter and granulated sugar in large mixer bowl until creamy.  Beat in eggs, milk and vanilla extract. Gradually beat in flour mixture.  Stir in oats, chips and nuts (if added to batter).  Drop by round tablespoons on ungreased baking sheets.  Sprinkle toasted, salted walnuts on each cookie.

Bake in preheated oven for 9-10 minutes for chewy cookies.  Let stand on cookie sheet for one minute; remove to wire racks to cool completely.