Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

     I like to eat frozen cookies.  Weird, I know.  Tonight I had a craving for cookies.  I made these and they turned out delicious.

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies:

1 1/2 sticks melted butter
1 c sugar
1 c brown sugar
2 eggs
1 t vanilla
2 c flour
1 c oats
1 t baking soda
1/4 t cinnamon
2 c chocolate chips

In a large bowl, mix butter, sugars, egg & vanilla until smooth.  In a separate bowl, mix the dry ingredients.  Add to the wet ingredients until combined.  Place large spoonfuls on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 9 minutes.  Cool on a wire rack.

Quote For Today

     "The most cheerful people I have met, with few exceptions, have been those who've had the least sunshine and the most pain and suffering in their lives.  The most grateful people I have ever known were not those who traveled a pathway of roses all their lives, but those who were confined to their homes, some to their beds, and had learned to depend on God.  The gripers, on the other hand, are usually those who have the least to complain about." M. R. Dehaan

The Stick

     A few weeks ago, my daughter & I went camping.  She found this huge stick and she carries it with her everywhere.  She herds the chickens in at night with the stick, she uses it to pull back the zucchini leaves and cucumber leaves to check for produce that is ready to be picked and she uses it to play pretend.  Whenever I see her with the stick, it reminds me of the quote, "Speak softly and carry a big stick."  It makes me laugh!

Egg & Cheese Breakfast Burritos

     This morning, I made these burritos for breakfast.  They were simple to make, tasted delicious and they used up some leftovers out of my refrigerator.

Egg & Cheese Breakfast Burritos:

6 eggs
2 T oil
1 T parsley
salt & pepper to taste
1 T minced onion
1/4 c cream
1/2 c shredded cheese
1/2 c leftover mashed potatoes
flour tortillas

In a skillet, heat the oil over medium heat.  Meanwhile in a bowl, whisk the eggs, parsley, salt, pepper, onion and cream.  Pour into the hot skillet and scramble.  Set aside.  Flatten the potatoes into a large pattie and fry each side in the skillet until golden brown.  To assemble the burritos: place scrambled eggs in the center of a tortilla, add shredded cheese and top with some of the potato.  Fold up the burrito and eat immediately.  You can serve with salsa and sour cream.

Drying Chives

     My chives have been flourishing this summer.  When they get long and beautiful, I cut them and tie them together in a large bunch with twine.  I hang them up in my kitchen and wait for them to dry.  When they are completely dried, I crumble them up and place them in a glass jar with a lid or in a plastic bag.  Dried chives are so nice to have on hand for soups, casseroles, pizza, seasoning meat, etc..

Flavored Whipping Cream

     Whipping cream tastes good by itself but when you add different flavors to it, it can really make your food taste even better.  Vanilla in whipping cream tastes really good mixed in fruit salad, cocoa in whipping cream tastes great on top of hot chocolate or a warm brownie.  Maple in whipping cream tastes divine on top of a pancake or French toast.  Lemon juice in whipped cream gives pie a fresh citrus taste.  Be creative.  The possibilities are endless.

Flavored Whipping Cream:

1 c heavy cream
1 1/2 t flavoring of your choice
1/2 c sugar

In a mixing bowl, beat the cream and sugar until it reaches your desired consistency.  Fold in the flavor and serve immediately.

Chicken Zucchini Pizza

     Yes, I am still on a zucchini kick.  It is coming out of my ears so I have to be creative.  I made this pizza for dinner last night and everyone thought it was delicious.  This pizza tastes especially good dipped in ranch dressing.

Chicken Zucchini Pizza:

1 recipe of your favorite pizza dough
1 T cornmeal
1 c cooked & diced chicken
1 T olive oil
1 T Italian seasoning
1/2 c sliced olives
1 small zucchini sliced into rounds
1 1/2 c shredded cheese

Grease a pizza pan and sprinkle with cornmeal.  Roll out the dough and brush on the olive oil.  Sprinkle on the Italian seasoning, shredded cheese, chicken, olives and zucchini.  Bake at 500 degrees  for 10-12 minutes.  Cut and serve immediately.

Kielbasa Rice Dinner

     Here is a delicious dinner that will use up peas from your garden.  I like to serve it with biscuits, cottage cheese and a salad.

Kielbasa Rice Dinner:

1 pkg kielbasa (sliced into rounds)
1 T butter
1 c rice
1 1/2 c water
1 can cream of celery soup (or 1 c homemade)
2 c peas
1 c diced mushrooms
1 c shredded cheese

In a large pot melt the butter.  Add the cream soup and water.  Bring to a boil.  Add the rice & kielbasa and simmer for 18 minutes.  Add the peas & mushrooms and cook another 15 minutes.  Stir in the cheese right before serving.

Apricot Smoothie

     Over the weekend, I found a small stand that was selling organic apricots.  I stopped and bought some.  They are so sweet and delicious!

Apricot Smoothie:

1 c apricots (peel the skins off)
1/2 c plain yogurt
3 T honey
1 c milk
dash of cinnamon
1 T flax seed
2 c ice

Blend the ingredients in a blender until smooth.  Drink immediately while it is cold.

Balance

     The other night, I was experiencing some anxiety.  This happens to me sometimes.  I have found some relief by using essential oils.  I put some Doterra balance oil in my lotion and rubbed it on my hands and arms.  I got into bed and was talking to my husband about my anxiety and telling him how I have found relief by using essential oils.  There was silence for a while and my husband rolled over and said, "I am glad that you found relief but I don't understand how smelling like a pine tree can get rid of your anxiety."

Calzones

     Calzones taste SO good!  If you like bread and pizza, you will love calzones.  You can create them to fit individual tastes.

Calzones:

1 1/4 t yeast
1 c warm water
1 T sugar
1 1/2 t salt
2 T oil
2 c flour

In a large bowl, stir together the yeast, sugar and water until dissolved.  Add the remaining ingredients to form a soft dough.  Knead for 10 minutes.  Place the dough in a greased bowl and let rise for 1 hour covered.  Punch the dough down and divide into 8 pieces.  Roll each piece into a circle and fill half of the dough with desired toppings.  (tomato sauce, sausage, cheese, olives, mushrooms, etc..)  fold the dough over and pinch to seal.  Place calzones on a baking sheet sprinkled with cornmeal.  Poke a hole in the top of each calzone to let the steam escape.  Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.  Bake at 375 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until golden brown.  Serve with marinara sauce or ranch dressing for dipping.

Gardening

     I have learned a lot about gardening this year.  Yesterday, I started a smash book about my garden. I wrote down everything that I planted in my garden and where it is located as well as useful tips that I have learned a long the way.  For example:  (Do not plant tomatoes and corn so close together.  Corn needs more water than tomatoes do.)  I think that this smash book will be really useful in years to come.  If you have never heard of smash booking I encourage you to google it.  It is really fun!  My daughter and I enjoy having craft time together and smash booking is something that we both enjoy.  Have a blessed Saturday!

Fried Zucchini

     I don't think that I have ever eaten anything fried that I didn't like.  That is not to say that it is good for my body but every once in a while I indulge in something fried.  Fried zucchini is one of those indulgences.

Fried Zucchini:

3 medium zucchini
onion salt & pepper to taste
1 c flour
1 large egg
1 T water
2 c oil

Heat the oil in a skillet over medium high heat.  Slice the zucchini into rounds and set aside.  In a small bowl, beat the egg & water.  In another small bowl, mix the flour, onion salt & pepper.  Dip the zucchini rounds in the egg mixture and then into the flour mixture.  Do this step twice before frying.  Gently place the rounds into the hot oil until they are golden brown on each side.  Place them on a towel lined plate to soak up some of the grease.  Serve by themselves or with ranch dressing.

Coconut Blueberry Cake

     This cake smells so good while it is baking.  Sometimes I like to eat it for breakfast.  Shhh don't tell.

Coconut Blueberry Cake:

2 c flour
1 c sugar
2 t baking powder
1/4 t salt
1/4 t cinnamon
2 eggs
1 c milk
1/2 c oil
1 1/2 c blueberries
1 c coconut

In a large bowl mix the dry ingredients.  In a separate bowl, beat the eggs.  Add the milk & oil.  Gradually stir into the dry ingredients.  Fold in the blueberries.  Pour into a greased 13x9 pan & sprinkle with coconut.  Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes.

Naughty Chicken

     One of my chickens likes to eat eggs.  This has been very frustrating to me because I have to race the chicken (my daughter has named this chicken Henrietta) to see who gets to the eggs first.  My concern is that this chicken will teach the other "ladies" to do the same.  I put three golf balls in the nesting box to discourage the egg eating.  We will see how that turns out.  In the meantime, I am  refreshing my memory with how to butcher a chicken.  Henrietta may become soup very soon..

Easy Baked Ravioli

     Here is a really quick dinner to make when you don't have a lot of time to cook.  I like to serve this dish with bread and a salad.

Easy Baked Ravioli:

1 pkg large ravioli
1 jar spaghetti sauce
1 c shredded cheese

In a large glass pan, pour in the spaghetti sauce.  Layer the sauce with the ravioli and sprinkle the cheese on top.  Bake at 350 degrees until done.

Cooking Zucchini

     If you are like me, your garden is abundant with zucchini.  It is kind of a love/hate relationship that I have with my zucchini.  I LOVE having fresh produce at my fingertips.  I hate it when I feel like it is taking over my life.  So far, I have made zucchini bread, zucchini cookies, zucchini brownies, zucchini stir fry, etc..  Today, I wanted to give you a simple recipe for cooking your zucchini to bring out its flavor.  I hope you like it!

Cooking Zucchini:

1-2 medium sized zucchini
salt & pepper
butter
water

Wash and slice your zucchini into bite sized pieces.  Put the slices in a saucepan and generously salt and pepper.  Dot the zucchini evenly with butter. Pour enough water in the pan to cover halfway up the zucchini.  Cover and bring to a boil.  When the water boils, turn off the heat and let the pan rest covered for 5 minutes.  Stir the zucchini and serve while hot.

How To Get Gunk Off Shoes

     My grandma used fingernail polish remover on a cotton ball to remove gunk off of shoes.  It sounds weird but it works great.  I use it for cleaning the rubber on my converse and it makes them look brand new.  You should try it.

Body Scrub

     Sorry I haven't posted in a while.  We went camping and I had no service to post.  Today, I wanted to post a body scrub recipe.  Body scrub is so easy to make.  It is wonderful to put in a pretty jar and give it to a friend. You can use different essential oils to make the fragrance of your scrub your own.  Have fun with it!

Body Scrub:

1/2 c coconut oil
1 t almond oil
10 drops orange essential oil
7 drops lemon essential oil
7 drops lime essential oil
1/2 c  sugar

In a bowl, mix the ingredients well.  Scoop into a glass jar with a lid.  To use:  massage into damp skin and rinse.

Oat Banana Snack Cookies

     I am on a sugar detox right now.  It has been hard but I feel so much better.  I have been looking for every recipe that I can find that is sweet without sugar.  Today, I bought a Mother Earth Magazine from the store and it had a recipe for these snack cookies in it.  It only has three ingredients and there is no sugar in them.  The recipe calls for walnuts but I prefer pecans or almonds instead.

Oat Banana Snack Cookies:

2 mashed bananas
1 c oats
1/4 c nuts

In a bowl, mix the bananas and oats.  Fold in the nuts.  Scoop tablespoon sized scoops on a baking sheet & bake at 350 for 15 minutes.

Spinach Bacon Quiche

     I am looking for egg recipes because my chicken are laying and we have a surplus of eggs.  I made this recipe for breakfast yesterday.  It was so good!

Spinach Bacon Quiche:

4 large eggs
1/2 c cream
salt & pepper to taste
1 T parsley
1 t dried minced onion
1/2 pkg cooked bacon
1 large handful spinach

In a large bowl, whisk the eggs & cream until smooth.  Stir in salt, pepper, parsley & onion.  Dice up the bacon and spinach and add to the egg mixture.  Mix well to combine.  Pour into a greased pie pan and bake at 375degrees for 20-25 minutes.  Cut into pie wedges and serve hot.

Mushroom Sauce

     This sauce tastes really good served over meat.  I like it on my steak but it tastes great on chicken, pork, etc..  It is delicious served over white rice.  You can use it in place of cream of mushroom soup in a recipe.  (If you decide to use it this way, chop the mushrooms into small bits instead of slicing them)

Mushroom Sauce:

1lb fresh mushrooms (sliced)
2 T butter
salt & pepper to taste
1 c heavy cream
1/4 c flour
1 c beef broth

Sauté the mushrooms in the butter until they are golden.  Remove mushrooms and set aside.  In the same pan, whisk in the flour and slowly add in the beef broth.  Cook the liquid down until it is the consistency that you like.  Add the mushrooms in to the beef broth & slowly pour in the cream.  Add salt & pepper to taste.  Serve while hot.

Mincemeat Brownies

     This recipe came from my grandma.  You can purchase mincemeat in most grocery stores in the baking section.

Mincemeat Brownies:

1 c flour
1 1/4 t baking powder
1/4 t salt
1/4 c butter
1 c brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 t vanilla
1/2 c mincemeat

In a large bowl, mix together flour, baking powder & salt.  Set aside.  In another bowl, cream together the sugar, butter, egg, vanilla & mincemeat.  Add to the flour mixture and pour into a greased baking pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Bean Dip Salad

     This recipe was given to me by a friend. She made this dip while I was at her home and wrote down the recipe for me.  It is very addictive.  This salad tastes delicious with chips, crackers or by itself.

Bean Dip Salad:

2 c cooked sweet corn
2 c cooked black - eyed peas
2 c cooked black beans
1 can green chilies
2 c diced tomatoes
1/2 c chopped green onions
1/2 c chopped green peppers
1 chopped garlic clove
1/2 t salt
4 oz. Italian Dressing

Mix all of the ingredients together in a large bowl.  Pour into a strainer and let sit over a bowl for one hour in the refrigerator.  Discard the juice.  Serve by itself or with chips.

Quote For The Day

      Here is a quote for today:  "You cannot hang out with negative and expect to live a positive life."  Isn't that the truth!  Have a blessed Wednesday.

Trail Mix

     This recipe is really easy to throw together last minute as you are heading out the door to go hiking.  Sometimes I like to keep some in the car for a quick snack while I am running errands.

Trail Mix:

pumpkin seeds
dried cranberries
almonds
chocolate chips
peanuts

Mix ingredients together in a large bowl.  Store in Ziplock baggies (about 1 cup of mix in each baggie).