Oatmeal M&M Cookies

Oatmeal m&m Cookies












1 ¼ cups brown sugar

1 ¼ cups sugar

1 ¼ cups butter

3 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1 ¼ tsp. baking soda

1 ¼ tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

2 ½ cups whole wheat (or white, or half of each) flour

2 ½ cups oats

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips or mini m&ms 

Cream butter and sugars until fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in dry ingredients and then chocolate chips. Scoop rounded teaspoonfuls onto an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 350* for 8-10 minutes. Makes 4-5 dozen

Oatmeal Cookies (healthier version)

I very much love oatmeal cookies. Somehow in my brain they seem healthier because of the oats. I love this recipe because it actually IS healthier. Instead of starting with a stick of butter and a pile of brown sugar, you use canola oil, milk and an egg white. The cinnamon is perfect, and I like to throw in some chocolate chips and pecans; raisins would also be delicious. I also like this recipe because it makes a small batch, one nice pan of 24. So when you're craving some cookies, whip up a quick pan of these and you won't have too much guilt or too many leftover. Enjoy!

Husband Rating: 4 1/2 stars

3/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. baking soda
1/8 tsp. baking powder
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup sugar
2 Tbsp. milk
1 egg white
1/2 tsp. vanilla
3/4 cups oats
1/4 cup chocolate chips
1/4 cup chopped pecans

In a bowl, mix together flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, sugar and oats. Stir in canola oil, egg white, milk and vanilla. Stir until completely mixed and no longer dry. Add chocolate chips and pecans. Spoon onto greased cookie sheet and bake at 375* for 10 minutes.

Makes 24 cookies


Note: These cookies don't flatten very much when they cook, so I give them a little smoosh on top before popping them in the oven. It just makes them look prettier:)

I brought some to a summer party and I thought they needed a little pizzaz if they were going to sit next to some brownies on the table so I drizzled some chocolate on top. Husband loved them this way:)

Caramel Drizzle Popcorn

I like my caramel popcorn gooey. You know the stuff in tins at Christmas that is rock solid and too sugary? Bleh. I like to drizzle this caramel sauce through the popcorn, toss it, then drizzle some more. It's not too sweet and it's always gooey, the way it should be:) I love this recipe because it doesn't call for corn syrup (who has karo on hand anyway?) and uses honey instead. The pinch of salt is perfect. Just don't get your sticky fingers on the tv remote ok?

Husband Rating: 5 stars

5 cups popcorn

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup honey

1/2 tsp. salt

4 Tbsp. butter

In a saucepan melt butter over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar, honey and salt. Stir constantly until smooth and caramel like, just before the mixture comes to a boil. Remove from heat and drizzle over popcorn. Tastes delicious warm or cold.

You could get creative and mix in pecans, walnuts, almond slivers, peanuts, chocolate chips, m&ms, dried fruit, anything!

Let me also give a quick shout out to my favorite microwave popcorn popper. It was like $12 at walmart and works like a dream. Thank you, Orville Redenbacher

Chocolate Banana Bread

Banana bread can really stand on its own two feet, it doesn't really need any help. But, if you can add chocolate to something, might as well right? I found this recipe at The Sister's Cafe and decided to give it a try. Mmm, delicious! We gobbled up the loaf so fast between the 3 of us, next time I'm doubling or tripling the recipe. Enjoy all you chocolate lovers!

Husband Rating: 4 1/2 stars (he felt giving it a 5 would be cheating on the original)

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1/3 cup vegetable oil

3 ripe bananas, mashed

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup cocoa

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 cup chocolate chips

Heat oven to 350 and grease your loaf pan. Beat eggs, sugar and oil on medium until combined. Beat in banana and vanilla on low speed. In a separate bowl stir together flour, cocoa, soda and salt. Stir with banana mixture until combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour into pan. Bake 60-70 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes, remove from pan.

Next time I'm planning to sprinkle walnuts on top, mmm!

Strawberry Shortcake

It's that wonderful time of year again, when strawberries are under $4 and actually look red and delicious! I was so delighted when at the grocery store last night I noticed a carton of strawberries for a glorious $1.50. They are fat, red and mmmm so sweet! This isn't a traditional shortcake, but it ends up being spongy and soaks in the delicious strawberry juice. It only makes an 8x8 pan, so double if you have a crowd.

Husband Rating: 4 stars

Cake:

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter, softened

2 eggs

2 1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 cups flour

1 3/4 tsp. baking powder

3/4 cups milk

Preheat oven to 350 and grease your 8x8 baking pan. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, beating about 4 minutes each time. Stir in vanilla. Combine flour and baking powder and add to creamed mixture, beating well. Stir in milk until batter is smooth, pour into pan. Bake 35-40 minutes or until top is golden brown and springs back. Cool and serve.

Strawberry Topping:

1 carton strawberries

2 Tbsp. (or to taste) of sugar

Wash and slice strawberries. In a bowl, mash until strawberries are a juicy liquid. Add sugar. I like my strawberries a little more tart, but add sugar until it tastes good to you. Pour over cooled cake and serve with whipped cream.

Apple Crisp

This is so delicious I made it twice in the last month! The topping is crunchy and the apples are perfectly soft. Scoop some ice cream over the warm apple crisp and you're in heaven! This tastes as good as an apple pie, but half the effort. This only made an 8x8 pan full, so double if you are feeding a crowd. I used apples that had been sitting in my fruit basket for too long and needed to be used, so they were a variety of types. Granny smith will give you that sour flavor, but any kind is good here.

Husband Rating: 5 stars

3 apples
3/4 cups packed brown sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup oats
1/3 cup butter, softened
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
3/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Peel and slice apples. Preheat oven to 375 and grease your 8x8 pan. Spread apples in the bottom of the pan. In a bowl stir together brown sugar, flour, oats, butter, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. Sprinkle over apples. Bake for 30 minutes. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whip cream.

Chewy Granola Brownies

I'll admit I was a little nervous throwing this recipe together. I have a box of granola in the pantry, but I'm the only one who dares go near. I got this idea from our dear friends at bettycrocker.com, so when I had to make a dessert for a friend who just had a baby, I thought it was the perfect chance to give it a go. I used Kashi granola with almonds, it kept its crunch and was delicious. Betty Crocker has the "supreme brownies" in a Turtle variety, that's what I used here. It included walnuts in the batter and it comes with a package of caramel to squeeze on top. If you just have regular brownies, throw in some extra nuts and use ice cream caramel to drizzle on top. I wasn't at home when husband tried the brownies, but he mentioned as soon as I walked in the door how delicious they were. I told him later it was granola, he said he would never have guessed and I'm "allowed" to make them again. Success!

Husband Rating: 4 1/2 stars

1 box brownie mix
Ingredients called for in brownie mix (egg, water, oil)
1 1/2 cups granola
1/4 cup chocolate chips
4-5 Tbsp. caramel

Mix brownie batter according to package directions and spread into 13x9 baking pan. Scatter granola on top of brownie batter evenly. Sprinkle with chocolate chips. Drizzle with caramel. Bake according to package, until brownies are done. Enjoy!

Ice Cream Cheesecake

I learned this recipe in my high school home ec. class and I still love making it. It always gets ooohs and aaahs when I serve it to guests. I love it in the summer, since it's ice cream, but it makes an impressive holiday dessert as well. The secret is how simple and fast this recipe is. I love make-ahead recipes when we have company over. I make the cake the night before and then I can spend all day cleaning and cooking the main course. I topped with frozen berries above, but garnishing with chocolate syrup or chocolate shavings always looks impressive.

Husband Rating: 5 stars
Father-in-law grunt of approval recipe!!

1/2 gallon carton of vanilla ice cream
1/4 cup melted butter
1 package of graham crackers, crushed
1 can (12 oz.) frozen lemonade concentrate

This recipe makes 2 pies, double or half as needed. Soften ice cream in a large bowl. Stir in lemonade and mix until smooth. Crush graham crackers, add melted butter and stir. Place cracker mixture on the bottom of 2 pie tins and press until firm. Spread ice cream mixture over top and refreeze. Garnish, cut and serve!


(I know, I need a better camera!)

BTS Mini Cupcakes

I'm not a fan of the name "better than sex" cake. Perhaps the person who named the cake was horribly lonely or a had a lame love life because frankly -- it's not. I've also heard it referred to as "better than baseball cake" which fits the bill better, but most food is better than baseball. I will just use the initals BTS and you can fill in the blank. Better than sushi? Better than sunshine? Better than Seattle? Better than Sandra Bullock? Better than Sunday? Anywho, I brought these cupcakes to a party and the platter was scarfed down. They are just so adorable kids AND adults can't resist them. I love my mini muffin tin, and you can buy mini wrappers now -- too fun! I prefer whipped frostings for this recipe, they squeeze out easier.

Husband Rating: 5 stars

1 milk chocolate cake mix
(ingredients called for in cake mix)
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1 tub whipped milk chocolate frosting
2 Heath bars, broken into pieces

48 mini muffin cups
1 ziploc bag

Combine cake mix ingredients according to package directions. Pour 1 TB of cake batter into each mini muffin cup. Press one chocolate chip down into the center of each muffin cup. Bake for 6-7 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. Let cupcakes cool. Place frosting in a ziploc bag and cut a small hole in the corner. Swirl frosting on the top of each cupcake. Sprinkle with Heath cany pieces.

Smothered Brownie Ring

I created this for a goodbye party for some of our friends who moved to Virginia. I didn't realize until I got it on the plate how very holiday it looks. It got rave reviews, so I'll be making it again for holidays this time. I used my fluted pan and turned the brownie ring upside down. The brownie only filled half the pan, so for a fuller look I might use 2 brownie mixes next time. Betty Crocker products are coupon heaven, so be on the lookout. My favorite are when Albertsons has their massive Betty Crocker sale and the bettycrocker.com website has coupons for each item. I stock up once a year and enjoy Betty Crocker goodness all year long. Yaay!

Husband Rating: 4 stars

1 Betty Crocker Supreme Brownie Mix, Triple Chunk flavor
(eggs and oil called for in mix)
1 cup milk chocolate frosting (about half of a jar)
2 Reeses peanut butter cups

Make brownie mix as directed and pour into greased fluted baking pan. Bake according to package directions. Remove pan from oven and let cool for 10 minutes. Turn upside down and remove brownie ring onto plate. Microwave frosting for 10-15 seconds or until smooth and slightly runny. Drizzle over brownie ring. Chop peanut butter cups into wedges and sprinkle over the top of brownie ring. Best when served warm. Enjoy!

P.S. I had leftover homemade peanut butter cups I used for the top. Reeses is just as good.

Homemade Peanut Butter Cups

I'm eating one of these melty amazing cups right now! I think I even got some chocolate on my laptop- worth it! Thanks for everybody who stopped by my table at the boutique, check back often for more yummy recipes you can make with your kids. Coordinate your peanut butter cups with the holidays. Add pink heart sprinkles for Valentines, the little red and green trees for Christmas, orange and black for Halloween . . . you get the idea. I used multi-color sprinkles for an all occasion party. Enjoy!

Husband Rating: 5 stars
(in fact, nobody has ever NOT liked these, they are a winner!!!)

1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup creamy peanut butter, divided
1 TB butter, softened
4 Hershey's milk chocolate candy bars
Colored sprinkles

Break Hershey's bar into pieces and combine pieces, chocolate chips and 1/2 cup peanut butter in a microwave safe bowl. Melt in the microwave, stir until smooth.
In another bowl stir together 1/2 cup peanut butter, powdered sugar and butter until smooth. Roll into 48 tiny balls.
Line a mini muffin tin with mini muffin paper cups. Drop a teaspoonful of chocolate in each muffin cup. Fill each cup with a ball of peanut butter. Top with another teaspoonful of chocolate, enough to cover the peanut butter. Decorate with sprinkles. Refrigerate for 20-30 minutes until set.
Makes 48 peanut butter cups