Before I say anything else, I want to tell you that the cookies did not turn out bad. They just didn't turn out how I expected.

The recipe had promised "The Ultimate Oatmeal Cookie". A soft, chewy cookie with oatmeal and bittersweet chocolate and toasted pecans. How could you not want to make this cookie? The recipe didn't seem all that different from other oatmeal cookies I'd made in the past. The major difference was using only dark brown sugar. I'm pretty sure I followed the directions word for word. I did get impatient waiting for the butter to soften (we have no microwave), but I didn't think that would make such a drastic difference. Maybe my oven runs hotter than it says? Maybe because I did them in two batches instead of one?

You're probably wondering what could have possibly gone wrong with these cookies.

It's just that they weren't the thick chewy cookie that I thought they'd be. After days debating whether or not I REALLY needed to make them, I was a little disappointed with the end result. They taste just fine. I love the combination of the bittersweet chocolate and the oatmeal. They're just not what I had expected them to be. They fall somewhere between slightly chewy and crunchy, and it's hard to distinguish the pecans from the rest of the cookie.

So now I'm left craving that chewy oatmeal cookie I was expecting. I may have to give it another go and see if I can get it right the second time. Even if I don't, I'm sure I can find someone who won't mind helping me take care of the failed end results.