Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

I am going to make these today. The Prince is home sick again, I think this is like day 5. But they sent him home yesterday (I think he was fine, but his teacher said he wasn't himself, like what calm & quiet???). We took him to the Dr. for blood work, cuz he has been too tired for our liking, everything was fine thankfully, he just needs to get more rest (like 12 hours a night isn't enough???).

Well anyways we are going to make cookies & I'll probably have to throw in some chocolate chips because that's the only way the rest of the family will eat oatmeal cookies...


Oatmeal Raisin Cookies:

Ingredients:

3/4 cup butter or margarine

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1¼ cup flour

1 tsp. baking soda

3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. salt

3-3/4 cups oats

1 cup raisins

Diretions:

Preheat oven to 375° (190° C). In a large bowl, beat butter and both
sugars with electric beater. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until creamy.
Sir together, flour, soda, cinnamon and salt. Gradually add to sugar
mixture, mixing well. Stir in oats and raisins. Drop by teaspoonful onto
ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.
Cool slightly and remove from sheet to wire rack. Cool completely.


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Awesome Applesauce Loaf & Muffin Mix

I have had this recipe in my books for a while, but I just discovered there was a website link on it this morning!!! My kids love this bread & I keep the mix on hands at all times.

Awesome Applesauce loaf & muffin mix

Friday Feast #3

So I am a day late...just trying to cram in some blog time before I have to go paint more...

Friday Feast

Appetizer
Where on your body do you have a scar, and what caused it?

Under my nose, I did a dive over the handle bars on my bike onto a concrete driveway, ouch.

Soup
What is something that has happened to you that you would consider a miracle?

Both of my children!

Salad
Name a television personality who really gets on your nerves.

There are sooooo many that just get on my nerves. I think that I'd have to say the guy from Oxi Clean... or Tony Little. Anyone who is louder & more obnoxious than I am shouldn't be on TV!!!


Main Course
What was a funny word you said as a child (such as "pasketti" for "spaghetti")?

I called my Grandpa "Bakka" which is the Spanish (spelling not right) word for cow... who says Sesame Street was a good thing....And water was Aqua... maybe I am latin american....????


Dessert
Fill in the blank: I have always thought ______ was ______.

DIY was sexy!

check out the other feasters

Royal Treasures

I was just asked to write about this food site Royal Treasures. I had never been to the site before, but their product sounds fantastic! How can you go wrong with a motto of "Chocolate is nature's way of making up for Mondays." Based in Graham North Carolina this "bakery" seems to have very focused company plan. Do a couple things really well & customers will follow. According to the website their business started like many food business do, in their home kitchen. It's amazing how sometimes a simple gift from your kitchen can turn into a thriving food business!

They have truffles available individually or in baskets. They have 4 levels of gift basket available for order online, but of course if you want something special they can accommodate you.

The Royal Treasures website also has brownies and Pecan Pies available. There are 8 varieties of brownie to choose from, how about some Triple Chocolate, or my favorite kind of brownie Peanut Butter...YUM!

I think my only complaint about the website is the photos are a little on the not mouth watering side, and I'd like to see pictures of all the brownie varieties. But over all Royal Treasures is a website worth visiting!

Easy Sloppy Joe Pot Pie

I got this one from a Betty Crocker email. I know we've had it before & even the kids liked it!


All the great taste of classic sloppy joes in an easy one-skillet pot pie.
No one will miss the buns!
Total: 45 min
Prep: 15 min
Bake: 30 min
Makes 6 servings
1 pound ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
1 can (15 1/2 ounces) original sloppy joe sauce
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (4 ounces)
1 cup Original Bisquick®
1/2 cup milk
1 egg

1. Heat oven to 400ºF. Cook beef and onion in ovenproof 10-inch skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until beef is brown; drain. Stir in sloppy joe sauce. Sprinkle with cheese.
2. Stir remaining ingredients until blended. Pour over beef mixture.
3. Bake about 30 minutes or until golden brown.
1 Serving: Calories 420 (Calories from Fat 215); Fat 24g (Saturated 10g);Cholesterol 100mg; Sodium 820mg; Potassium 530mg; Carbohydrate 29g (Dietary Fiber 1g); Protein 23g % Daily Value: Vitamin A 16%; Vitamin C 10%; Vitamin D 6%; Calcium 18%; Iron 14%; Folic Acid 6% Diet Exchanges: 2 Starch
Betty's Tips: Before baking, sprinkle with a tablespoon of sesame seed.

Crockpot Cream Cheese Chicken

4 pounds Chicken without skin -- ready to cook
2 tablespoons Butter or Margarine -- melted
1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 ounce Italian Salad Dressing Mix -- low salt
1 can Condensed Cream of Chicken soup
8 ounces Cream Cheese -- cubed
1/2 cup Chicken Broth (I used canned)
1 large Onion -- chopped
2 tablespoons Chicken Broth -- to cook onion (I used margarine)
2 cloves Garlic -- minced (I used the stuff in a jar in oil)

Brush chicken with butter and layer in crock pot with dry Italian
seasoning mix sprinkled on each layer. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours.
About 45 minutes before done, brown the onion in the chicken broth and
then add the cream cheese, soup, salt & pepper and remaining chicken
broth to the saucepan. Add the minced garlic and stir all ingredients
until smooth. Pour sauce mixture over chicken in crockpot and cook an
additional 30-45 minutes. Remove chicken to platter and stir sauce before
putting in gravy bowl.

Friday Feast #2

Feast One Hundred & Thirty One
Appetizer
What sound, other than the normal ringing, would you like your telephone to make?

I think it should grrrrr like a tiger. Or break into the Cartman version of come sail away...

Soup
Describe your usual disposition in meteorological terms (partly cloudy, sunny, stormy, etc.).

I think I am mostly cloudy lately, but I'd like to think of it in terms of partyly sunny!!!

Salad
What specific subject do you feel you know better than any other subjects?

MY HUSBAND. Some times I think (I know) I know him better than he does (after 17 years together I've had plenty of time to study).

Main Course
Imagine you were given the ability to remember everything you read for one entire day. Which books/magazines/newspapers would you choose to read?

I think I would read the Wall Street Journal, about 100 blogs on various topics ($, parenting, writing, crafting), everything I could find on home improvement & landlord tenant law in NY.

Dessert
If a popular candy maker contacted you to create their next confection, what would it be like and what would you name it?

That is a tough one. I have just discovered that the perfect candy currently exists Hershey's Take 5 - it has chocolate, peanut butter, caramel, peanuts & pretzels. That is like all of my cravings wrapped up in one little package! But then I do make to die for truffles...

The only thing better would be dark chocolate dipped potato chips & they'd be called PMS Salvation!

Cinnamaon Apple Biscuits

This sounds like a yummy thing to make on a cold Sunday morning! Guess I'd better go clear off the counter!


Cinnamon Apple Biscuits
bake at 425*F Yields 16 biscuits
Ingredients:
2 c pre-sifted flour
3 tsp active baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/4 c crisco
3/4 c milk
3 TBSP softened butter
1-3 apples, finely diced
1/4 c sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

Grease baking sheet or muffin cups.
Sift together flour, baking powder and salt.
Cut in shortening (coarse crumbs).
Add milk and stir just until gathers into a ball.
Turn onto lightly floured board.
Knead 10 times lightly.
Roll out 1/2-inch thick - in rectangular shape.
Spread with butter, sprinkle with apples, sugar and
cinnamon
Roll up like jelly roll.
Cut into 1-inch slices
Arrange on baking sheet or in muffin tins.
Bake at 425* for 15 minutes
Remove from sheet or muffin cups IMMEDIATELY

Friday Feast 130

Feast One Hundred & Thirty

Appetizer - Have you been sick yet this winter? If so, what did you come down with?

Not really, I have had a few sniffles, but otherwise we have all been surprisingly healthy.

Soup - What colors dominate your closet?

Red & Jean


Salad - How would you describe your personal "comfort zone"?

hmmm...curled up on the couch with my kiddos, or being online, other than that I don't know...

Main Course - On which reality show would you really like to be a contestant?

Clean Sweep, trading spaces, Flip this house, This Old House

Dessert - Which holiday would you consider to be your favorite?

Christmas - Given the number of decorations & my feelings about the holiday itself. Followed by Easter, simply because I love chocolate & spring (& the message of course)!

Valentine's Day Chocolates

OK, so it is coming fast now!

Which is putting me in the mood to wear red & browse the Internet for CHOCOLATE!

I have found a yummy looking site in my travels the Chocolate Covered Company, how can you go wrong with a name like that...

In browsing the site I discovered Chocolate Dipped Berries. My favorite food (when I can get to the chocolate shop & have the $) is chocolate covered strawberries, theirs look fantastic! I also discovered chocolate covered blackberries, gooseberries, cherries, and grapes. You can get then in different chocolates, coatings, colors, assortments, the only limits I can find are that of you credit card!

They even have a Sugar Free Product Page. There are 4 options for ordering sugar free online, but it states that a "majority of our items online can be Special Requested to be Sugar Free. Please contact one of our representatives." With the quality of "sugar" free chocolate improving greatly with it's increase in popularity I bet these are yummy as well, maybe just not AS yummy as the regular stuff.

Granted their "you can't eat flowers" slogan works for me on so many levels, their price tag being equal to that of roses does not. So this website is for truly decadent occasions, where you want to spoil yourself/significant other seriously. Don't look for a frugal/thrifty option here! This website is all about luxury!

Beer, Cheese, Potato Soup

It is a good day to make soup! It is 7 degrees outside with a wind chill of -10. BRRRRRR.


Beer, cheese, potato soup

Serving Size : 8

2 medium baking potatoes
1 can beer -- (12 oz)
1 cup canned diluted chicken broth
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup half and half
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 jar process cheese spread -- (16 oz)
1 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
6 slices bacon -- cooked and crumbled
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese -- (2 oz)
chopped fresh chives

Wash potatoes and pat dry. Prick each potato several times
with a fork. Bake at 400°F for 1 hour or until done. Let cook completely;
peel potatoes, and cut into chunks. Set aside. Combine beer, broth, and
Worcestershire sauce in a 3-qt saucepan. Cook over medium heat for 4 to 6 minutes
or until hot. Combine half and half and cornstarch; stir well. Add
cornstarch mixture, cheese spread, milk, and red pepper to beer mixture; stir
well. Cook, stirring constantly, 4 minutes or until thickened and
bubbly. Add reserved potato chunks; cook 2 minutes or just until thoroughly
heated. To serve, ladle soup into individual serving bowls. Top each serving
with crumbled bacon, shredded cheese and chives.

Carinval Links I don't want to lose!

Babylune Root Vegetable Casserole.
One of the Carnival postings... Love the root vegetables. I am trying to eat more healthy as well as "cheaply" this should fit the bill, wonder if the kiddos will like it!


Chicken Mole from Keewees Corner.

Deep Dish Chicago Style Pizza

A Readable Feast has a yummy looking deep dish Chicago style pizza recipe up... I do love a deep dish pizza....

Carnival of the Recipes is up!

Thrifty Mommy hosts this weeks Carnival!

Mexican dishes galore! Gracias! This looks like a positively delicioso carnival!!!

Chicken Enchiladas with Chocolate Enchilada Sauce

I recieved this recipe in my Hershey's Kitchens Sweet Ideas emailing Chicken Enchiladas with Chocolate Enchilada Sauce

Sounds like a yummy Valentine's Day meal!!!

Sweet & Sour Meat & Rice

This sounds yummy. I think the only thing I would change would be to use regular rice & add more water or broth to it. Last time I drained the pineapple juice in a measuring cup & added the appropriate amount of water for the serving size I was using (IE: 1 cup uncooked rice = 2 cups liquid


Sweet and Sour Meat and Rice


16 oz extra lean ground turkey or beef

1 cup crushed pineapple, packed in fruit juice, un drained

1 3/4 cups tomato sauce

2 TBSP brown sugar

1 TBSP soy sauce

1 1/2 cups chopped green pepper

1 cup chopped onion

2 tsp. dried parsley flakes

1 1/3 cups uncooked instant rice


In a large skillet sprayed with butter-flavored cooking spray, brown meat.

Spray a slow cooker container with butter-flavored spray.

In prepared container, combine un drained pineapple, tomato sauce, brown sugar, and soy sauce.

Stir in green pepper, onion, and parsley flakes. Add browned meat and uncooked rice.

Mix well to combine. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours. Mix well before serving.

Beignets

Since I was in a "get my hands dirty in some dough" mood I made a batch of these (as well as the pizza hut dough). I only fried up a small bit to try & they are fantastic. The rest of the dough is in the fridge waiting for the Prince to come home from school. Then I can fry some up fresh for him. I don't know how long the dough keeps in the fridge though.

BEIGNETS (french market doughnuts)

1/2 cup boiling water
2 T shortening
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 t. salt
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1/2 package dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water
1 egg, beaten
3 3/4 cups sifted flour
powdered sugar

In a large mixing bowl pour the boiling water over the shortening, sugar and salt. Add the milk and let stand until warm. in a small bowl dissolve the yeast in the warm water and add to the milk mixture with the egg. Stir in 2 cups flour and beat. Add enough flour to make a soft dough. Place the doube in a greased bowl turning to grease the top. Cover with wax paper and a cloth and chill until ready to use. On a light floured surface roll the dough to 1/8 inch thickness. Do not let dough rise before frying. Cut into 2-inch squares and fry, a few at a time, in deep hot oil. Brown on 1 side, turn and brown the other side. Drain and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve hot. Makes 30.

Cream Filling & Chocolate Glaze for Boston Cream Pie

I believe the idea here is to use a regular yellow cake mix for the cake part

CREAM FILLING FOR BOSTON CREME PIE & CHOCOLATE GLAZE
1/3 c. sugar
2 tbsp. cornstarch
1/8 tsp. salt
1 1/2 c. milk
2 egg yolks, slightly beaten
2 tsp. vanilla

Mix sugar, cornstarch and salt in 2 quart saucepan. Stir in milkgradually. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until mixturethickens and boils. Boil and stir 1 minute. Stir 1/2 of hot mixtureinto egg yolks in saucepan, boil and stir 1 minute. Remove from heat,stir in vanilla. Cool to room temperature.

CHOCOLATE GLAZE:
2 (1 oz.) squares unsweetened chocolate
3 tbsp. butter
1 c. powdered sugar
3/4 tsp. vanilla
Heat over low heat until melted. Remove from heat. Stir in 1 cuppowdered sugar and 3/4 teaspoon vanilla. Stir in 1 teaspoon hot waterat a time until desired consistency (about 2 tablespoons of water isneeded).

Pizza Hut Original Pan Pizza - copycat

Not sure when I got this one from (I really should copy that too!!!). I haven't made it yet, but I am going to. Maybe I'll make a pan of bread sticks with some of it and use the rest for pizzas.

Pizza Hut Original Pan Pizza

1 1/3 cups Warm water (105F)
1/4 cup Non-fat dry milk
1/2 tsp Salt
4 cups Flour
1 Tbsp. Sugar
1 pkg. Dry yeast
2 Tbsp. Vegetable oil (for dough)
9 Oz. Vegetable oil (3 oz. per pan)
Butter flavored Pam

Put yeast, sugar, salt, and dry milk in a large (2 qt.) bowl. Add water and stir to mix well. Allow to sit for two minutes. Add oil and stir again. Add flour and stir until dough forms and flour is absorbed. Turn out on to a flat surface and knead for about 10 minutes. Divide dough into three balls. In three 9" cake pans, put 3 Oz. of oil in each making sure it is spread evenly. Using a rolling pin, roll out each dough ball to about a 9" circle. Place in cake pans. Spray the outer edge of dough with Pam. Cover with a plate. Place in warm area and allow to rise for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

I just made this, the pizza & sticks are in the fridge watitng for dinner time, I used to rest of the dough to make cheese balls, YUM! I cut the remaining 3rd into about 8 pieces, rolled each one flat into a circle then put in some bacon bits (real crumbles) & a piece of colby-jack cheese (I use 8 oz blocks so one slice short-ways cut in half & stacked with the bacon bits in the middle like a sandwich). I put them in a pan to rise, then I tossed them in the deep fryer (375) until they were golden...DH will be in heaven!!!