Oatmeal Cookies (with chocolate chips, of course!)

Ok, I may be smiling big here, but you can't see that! ha!  Yesterday I whipped up a batch of Oatmeal cookies, and may have put chocolate chips in, in place of the raisins - ha!  Anywhoo, my daughter, Heather, today informed me they were AMAZING!  That's a word we fellow bakers/cooks/moms all love to hear  :)  So I hadn't posted this recipe last night or taken a pic but decided to do so today.  I have been quite busy, our home, which has been on the market for over a year decided it should sell, so it has, and I have approx. 2 weeks from today to pack everything, have a moving sale, and find somewhere new to live!  So, I have been busy and not really thinking about taking time for a post - but, alas, the packing sits there quite idle and I am posting on my blog instead, hey who wouldn't rather blog than pack?  Without further ado - here is the recipe for the cookies!

Heather called AMAZING Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 c. butter, softened
1 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. white sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
3 c. quick cooking oatmeal
1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

Mix together!  Stir in your chocolate chips.  Bake @350 for about 10 minutes.

Busy, Busy = Time for Peanut Butter Bars :)

My life is being turned upside down and around, this past week and in the coming few weeks.  Of course its nothing devastating like sickness or anything, so I cannot complain.  I have been busy trying to get things done and ends tied up, etc., however, the other day I did have time to make some Peanut Butter Bars and therefore, must share the recipe with you now:

Peanut Butter Bars
1 c. butter, melted
2 c. graham cracker crumbs
2 c. powdered sugar
1 c. peanut butter, I use Jif and Creamy
1 c. chocolate chips
1 c. butterscotch chips

Butter the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan ( I use my Tupperware one, because it has a lid). 
In a mdeium bowl mix together the butter, graham crumbs, powdered sugar and the peanut butter.  Stir together until well blended.  Press this evenly into the bottom of your prepared pan.
Melt your chips together until smooth and spread over the top of the peanut butter mixture.  Refrigerate.
Eat!

Peach Pie - 2nd post in one day!

So, after all of our hard work, and the delicious pizza on the grill, we needed something sweet, so I used up the ripe, fresh, peaches I had and made a peach pie, here is the recipe for it, it was fabulous, warm with a dollop of vanilla ice cream on top. 

Peach Pie
6 c. fresh peaches, peeled and sliced
1/2 c. flour
3/4 c. sugar
3 tbsp. butter
1 tsp. cinnamon

Crust:
2 c. flour
1 tsp. salt
1 c. Crisco shortening
1/2 c. ice cold water

Peel and slice your peaches.  Place in a bowl and stir in the sugar, flour and cinnamon.  Let sit.
Prepare your pie crust.  Place the first piece of crust dough into your pie plate.   Pour your peach mixture into the crust.  Place the pats of butter over the peaches.  Cover with your other piece of crust and crimp your edges.  Bake @ 365 for about one hour.  I put my pie plate on top of a cookie sheet so that the peachy goodness would spill on the cookie sheet instead of onto the bottom of my freshly cleaned oven  :)
Eat with ice cream (of course!)

Shrimp Pizza (on the grill)

Yesterday was a busy day full of lawn mowing and house cleaning.  Now everything is looking spiffy, and of course after all of that hard labor my husband and I were hungry!  And we were the only two home for supper, so I could try something new and know that I wouldn't get any whining!  P.S.  However, my husband was very skeptical, he loves shrimp but wasn't so sure it should be on pizza, however, he took all the leftovers to work for lunch today  :)
Shrimp Pizza
1 boboli thin pizza crust
olive oil
salt & pepper
1 16 oz. bag, frozen shrimp, peeled, deveined and tails removed
juice of 1/2 of a lemon
2 c. arugula (or spinach)
green onion
pizza cheese

Take the pizza crust and brush with olive oil, sprinkle with salt & pepper and put on the pre-heated grill, let cook until it starts to bubble.  Remove from grill.  Saute your shrimp, chopped green onion, and lemon juice together.  Drain.  Put on top of the crust.  Top with 2 c. chopped arugula and sprinkle your cheese over the top.  Return to the grill and continue to cook until your cheese is melted and bubbly! 

Stuck in a rut!

Okay, you know you are "stuck in a rut" when your 20-year old daughter, who really hasn't had an interest in cooking or baking, until now, is searching the internet for new things that Mom can make.   Last night we did just that, we (she & I) made the following recipe - which has no name because that part didn't print out (ha!).  We have taken the liberty to halve the recipe list for you, because we made the whole batch and it was BIG - so go ahead and double it if you are feeding say 6 or more people!  She also brought home a recipe for an Oreo Cheesecake pie -which is on the list of things to make and try (perhaps this weekend!)  Without further ado - I shall now type up the recipe whipped up last night in our kitchen and since we don't know the recipe's name - it shall now for my purposes be called Heather's Chicken Pasta  :)  Oh, and BTW - it was tasty!

Heather's Chicken Pasta
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips
1/4 c. flour
2 tbsp. butter
1/2 c. chicken broth
1/4 c. lemon juice
1/2 pkg. cavatappi noodles

Take your chicken strips and coat lightly with flour.  Saute chicken in a pan with the butter, until cooked through.  Meanwhile, have a pot of water boiling for your pasta.  When chicken is done put chicken on a plate and set aside.  Into the pan you sauteed the chicken in put your lemon juice and chicken stock and let it come to a boil.  Add a few tablespoons of butter if you desire (we did!)  Bring to a boil and then turn off the heat and let it simmer.  Meanwhile, cook your pasta as directed on the package.  Drain.  Return pasta to pasta pot, pour in your lemon sauce.  Stir to coat noodles.  Add the chicken to your pasta pot and stir to coat.  Serve!  (p.s.  when you serve, feel free to sprinkle with parmesan cheese!) (again, I did!)

Sugar Cookies (Yum)

First of all, a shout-out to my sister-in-law, Michelle, as this recipe is from her.  I made these Friday night and have not had a chance to post a blog or the recipe since then.  This morning, I am procrastinating on getting to my real job so thought what better way to keep putting it off, but to post a new blog.  We are in a streak here in Minnesota of hot, humid days, a streak that I am telling you can end right now, its so sticky out its not even enjoyable to be outside.  I mowed the lawn yesterday and I am telling you its a very good thing no one took a pic of me afterwards, the camera would have crashed!  I then convinced my hubby it was a good afternoon to hit the beach, and he reluctantly agreed  :)  Anywhoo, my daughter is here from San Diego and I will see you later today, trying to decide now what to make for her, likely some biscotti as it's her favorite, and I just found a new recipe for Coconut Lime Biscotti.  IF, I get that far today, I will post that too  :)

Sugar Cookies (Michelle Gagner's recipe)
1 c. butter, softened
1 c. sugar
1 c. powdered sugar
2 eggs
1 c. vegetable oil ( I use canola)
5 c. flour (recipe calls for 4 c. plus 1 T.) I find more works a bit better (for me anyways)
1 tsp. soda
1 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp. salt
Mix all together.  Roll into balls.  Flatten with a glass dipped in sugar.  Bake @ 375 for 8-10 minutes.