Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 C butter or shortening
1 c brown sugar
1/2 c white sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 c flour
1 t baking soda
1 t salt
2 c oats
2 c chocolate chips (or raisins)

Sift together flour, salt, and baking soda. Add shortening or butter and beat in eggs. Add flour then oats then chocolate chips.

Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes until edges are set.

Notes: This is such a versatile cookie recipe and I use it often. I've added 1/2 c coconut to it as well as pecans. It also works well with whole wheat flour but I end up using about 1 1/3 cups instead of the half. Also, it works great to do 1 1/2 times the recipe as measurements come out msotly nice. Enjoy!

Blueberry Syrup

Blueberry Syrup Recipe

1 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup water

Place all ingredients in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat until thick (about 15 minutes).

Serve over waffles, pancakes, or ice cream.

You can substitute otehr berries- strawberries, blackberries, or raspberries.

* I used a little bit less sugar- about 1/2 cup and also added an extra couple of tablespoons water. At the end I mashed down the blueberries so it was a little bit less chunky. Flavor is amazing and this syrup is wonderful served warm over pancakes!

Dawn's Salsa

Dawn's Salsa

Dawn's Salsa
4 (28 oz) cans whole peeled tomatoes
1 (7 oz) can diced green chilies
1 bunch green onions
1 large onion
4 cloves garlic
1-4 jalapenos
1 bunch cilantro
1 t salt (to taste)

Cut stems from the leafy cilantro and add to bowl. Chop green onions and add to bowl. Pour one cup of juice from the tomatoes into food processor and add cilantro. Process to desired size then add to bowl. Microwave peppers in a wet paper towel for 30 seconds. Slice, throw away stems, and place in processor. Remove skins from garlic and place in processor with peppers and one additional cup of tomato juice. Process and add to bowl. Process tomatoes to desired size (should be a little chunky and not smooth) then pour into bowl. Process onion and add to bowl. Add salt and garlic powder to taste. Stir and refrigerate. You can halve this recipe.

Stores in the fridge for 14 days.

Makes about 3 1/2 quarts.

This is a very versatile recipe. I have added an extra onion or a couple cucumbers. Also, depending on the flavor you are going for you can add in some liquid smoke or some cumin (about 1/2 teaspoon).

Granola

Granola

8 cups quick oats
1 c wheat germ
1 1/2 c brown sugar
1 c coconut
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 t cinnamon

Mix together in a large bowl.

In a small bowl combine-
2/3 c oil
1/3 c water
2 teaspoons vanilla

Pour over oatmeal mixture and mix just until combined. Spread in a large cookie sheet.

Bake at 300 degrees for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally (about every 20 minutes). Bake until lightly toasted and coconut is lightly browned.

When cool, mix in:
2 cups raisins or any dry fruit
1 c sunflower seeds or any misc. nuts

Store in an airtight container.

Eat with milk or sprinkle over yogurt or ice cream.

Guacamole

Guacamole

3 Avocados
1 Diced Roma Tomato
2 Heaping Tablespoons Salsa
1/8th Cup Sour Cream or a heaping spoon full
Juice of Half Lemon
1 Teaspoon Garlic Granules
½ Teaspoon Salt
Pepper

Use fork to mash and smash the avacodoes until they are the texture you like it. Add remaining ingredients. Chill and serve.

Notes: Test flavors and tweak until you like it- if it needs more garlic add it, if it needs more twang squeeze in more lemon. Excellent with Chicken Tacos or plain with corn chips! ENJOY!!

Fruit Dip & Vegetable Dip

I am combining posts on this one. Neither dip photographed well so we get words.

Zesty Vegetable Dip
12 oz cottage cheese
1/2 c sour cream
2 T taco seasoning
1 4 oz can green chilies

Place all ingredients in a blender. Blend until well blended. Chill at least 8 hours.

Strawberry Fruit Dip
8 oz cream cheese (softened)
8 oz strawberry yogurt
1 12 oz package frozen strawberries (I pulsed these in the food processor so there were small chunks.).

Mix well. Chill and serve w/ fresh fruit.

Cute Ideas for Moms!

I haven't tried these out yet, but saw them at the Family Fun website (here) and couldn't resist sharing!

Butterfly Cheese Sandwich


Ingredients

1 pat butter or margarine
2 slices bread
2 slices cheese
Vegetables (such as celery, carrots, cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper)





Directions

Melt butter in frying pan
Assemble the sandwich, as you would a normal grilled cheese sandwich, with the exception of putting the rounded tops of the bread at opposite ends. then grill.
Cut the sandwich in half so the rounded tops go out to the sides, cut out 2 small triangles from each side's middle to form each wing.
Place celery stick in the middle, with cherry tomato as head, carrots as antennae, and slice carrot or peppers to make spots on wings.
----------OR------------
**Put out the vegetables in bowls and let the kids decorate their very own butterfly!**


Strawberry Shortcake Snake

Ingredients
2 cups all purpose flour
6 tablespoons confectioners' sugar (plus a little extra for berries)
4 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
1 quart strawberries
Whipped cream
M&Ms
Green fruit leather


Directions:

Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Sift together the flour, 2 tbs confectioners' sugar, baking powder, and salt into a large mixing bowl. Cut in the margarine with pastry cutter. Once the dough is crumbly, slowly stir in the milk. Turn the dough onto a floured working surface and gently roll or pat the dough into a 1 inch thick rectangle (It should measure about 6 by 8 inches) for best results handle the dough as little as possible.
Slice the rectangle into 4 1 1/2-by 8-inch strips. Place the strips on an un-greased baking sheet, then mold and curve them into S-shapes to resemble snakes. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the bottoms are golden brown. Transfer the baked shortcakes to a wire rack to cool.
Slice all but 4 of the berries lengthwise into a mixing bowl. Toss with the remaining confectioners' sugar.
Carefully slice the cooled shortcakes in half lengthwise, arrange the sliced strawberries on the bottom half of each one cover with shortcake top. "Frost" with whipped topping and sliced strawberries as scales. Add whole strawberry for head, dab small amount of whipped cream to hold M&ms in place for eyes, and add a fruit leather tongue. Serves 4!

Granola Bars

Here are some simple granola bars! Mmm... my kids devour them in less than a day. They are great for a breakfast or a snack. I found the original recipe at All Recipes but altered it a little bit. :)

These are my pictures! :)

Granola Bars

2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup wheat germ
1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup all-purpose flour or whole wheat flour
3/4 cup raisins, chocolate chips, or nuts (optional)
1/2 c coconut

3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup honey
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup vegetable oil (or 1/4 c oil and 1/4 c applesauce- this is what I used and the bars are stay moist for longer)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Generously grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.

2. In a large bowl, mix together the oats, brown sugar, wheat germ, cinnamon, flour, raisins and salt. Make a well in the center, and pour in the honey, egg, oil and vanilla. Mix well using your hands. Pat the mixture evenly into the prepared pan.

3. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes just until the bars begin to brown at the edges. Cool for 5 minutes, then cut into bars while still warm. Do not allow the bars to cool completely before cutting, or they will be too hard to cut.

Soft Pretzels

Soft Pretzels Ingredients
1 1/4 cups water
1 tablespoon yeast
1/4 cup brown sugar
4 + cups flour

Dipping Solution
1/4 cup baking soda
1 1/2 cups hot water

melted butter

Directions
Dissolve yeast into warm water. Add sugar, then flour & mix well---do not knead as this toughens the dough. Mix just until combined well. Let rise until doubled, at least 20 minutes. Roll into long ropes. Twist into pretzel shapes, then dip into prepared dipping solution (baking soda dissolved in hot water). Place on well-greased cookie sheet and bake at 500°F for 4-6 minutes until golden brown. Dip face of pretzel into melted butter and sprinkle with kosher salt.

Our family LOVES these pretzels- they are as good as the soft pretzels you get at Sam's Club. Sorry, no pic right now but next time I make them I will post one! Also, you can subsititue whole wheat- I did about half and half and they were excellent. They did need a bit more time to rise but worked very well.