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Chewy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

These cookies live up to their name. Kevin was quite thrilled about them and I, of course, loved them too!



Ingredients
1 cup butter, softened (or ½ cup shortening and ½ cup margarine)
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 ¼ to 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
11/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups quick-cooking oats
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; stir into the creamed mixture until just blended. Mix in the quick oats, walnuts, and chocolate chips.
Refrigerate dough (if using butter)
Drop by heaping spoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets.
Bake for 8-9 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.


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Chewy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

These cookies live up to their name. Kevin was quite thrilled about them and I, of course, loved them too!



Ingredients
1 cup butter, softened (or ½ cup shortening and ½ cup margarine)
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 ¼ to 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
11/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups quick-cooking oats
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; stir into the creamed mixture until just blended. Mix in the quick oats, walnuts, and chocolate chips.
Refrigerate dough (if using butter)
Drop by heaping spoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets.
Bake for 8-9 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.


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Scallops with Beet & Sauce

Contributed by Robin Fowler:

The recipe-- based on recipe I found online, an entree at a local restaurant, and a recipe from an in-flight magazine (sorry, I don't have more info on the recipe sources).


This made enough for 2 adults with leftover beets.

Peel and cut up 3-4 beets into 2" cubes. Boil them in 2 cups water, 2 T butter, 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar, and 1/2 cup brown sugar. Boil for 1 hour (sauce will cook way down).

Cook 1/2 lb. scallops in 2 T butter (about 3-5 minutes per side). Add beets and beet juice and cook for another 1-2 minutes.

Serve over orzo pasta.
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Taco Chili

When I saw a recipe for Taco Soup on a great recipe blog called For the love of cooking I new I needed to try it. The recipe ingredient list was filled with items I keep on hand and the techniques were simple. I am so glad I put this on our menu right away. It delicious and better than I imagined. With my alterations it becomes more of a taco tasting chili than a soup--namely because of it's heartier consistency. Try this TODAY!



Taco Seasoning Ingredients
1 tsp of cumin
1 tsp of oregano
1 tsp of chili powder
1 tsp of paprika
1 tsp of garlic powder
1 tsp of onion powder
1 tsp of coriander
Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste

Soup Ingredients
1/2 to 1 lb of lean ground beef
1/2 sweet yellow onion, diced
3-4 garlic cloves, minced (not pictured)
1 can of pinto (or black) beans, rinsed and drained
1 can of kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup of frozen corn
2 cans of diced tomatoes
1 4.5 oz can of diced green chilies (or 1-2 jalapenos, diced)
1/2 oz of package of ranch salad dressing mix (half a packet) (I omitted this)
1 8oz can tomato sauce
8 oz (1 cup) water (rinse out tomato cans with water and add to soup)

Directions
Heat a Dutch oven over medium heat then add the ground beef. Add all the taco seasonings and mix into the ground beef, making sure to break it up into crumbles. Add the diced onion and garlic then mix thoroughly and cook for 4-5 minutes.

Add the beans, corn, tomatoes, green chilies and ranch dressing packet, mix well then cover and simmer on low for 2 hours, stir occasionally. Taste and re-season with sea salt or pepper if needed.

Toppings Ingredients
Corn tortilla strips (directions below)
Sour cream
Sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
Green onions, diced

While the soup is simmering, heat the oven to 400 degrees. Cut a few corn tortillas into strips. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray then place the tortilla strips on it and spray them with cooking spray and season with sea salt. Bake in the oven for 5-7 minutes or until golden brown.

Ladle the soup into bowls then top with corn tortilla strips, soup cream, cheddar cheese and green onions. Enjoy.

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Taco Chili

When I saw a recipe for Taco Soup on a great recipe blog called For the love of cooking I new I needed to try it. The recipe ingredient list was filled with items I keep on hand and the techniques were simple. I am so glad I put this on our menu right away. It delicious and better than I imagined. With my alterations it becomes more of a taco tasting chili than a soup--namely because of it's heartier consistency. Try this TODAY!



Taco Seasoning Ingredients
1 tsp of cumin
1 tsp of oregano
1 tsp of chili powder
1 tsp of paprika
1 tsp of garlic powder
1 tsp of onion powder
1 tsp of coriander
Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste

Soup Ingredients
1/2 to 1 lb of lean ground beef
1/2 sweet yellow onion, diced
3-4 garlic cloves, minced (not pictured)
1 can of pinto (or black) beans, rinsed and drained
1 can of kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup of frozen corn
2 cans of diced tomatoes
1 4.5 oz can of diced green chilies (or 1-2 jalapenos, diced)
1/2 oz of package of ranch salad dressing mix (half a packet) (I omitted this)
1 8oz can tomato sauce
8 oz (1 cup) water (rinse out tomato cans with water and add to soup)

Directions
Heat a Dutch oven over medium heat then add the ground beef. Add all the taco seasonings and mix into the ground beef, making sure to break it up into crumbles. Add the diced onion and garlic then mix thoroughly and cook for 4-5 minutes.

Add the beans, corn, tomatoes, green chilies and ranch dressing packet, mix well then cover and simmer on low for 2 hours, stir occasionally. Taste and re-season with sea salt or pepper if needed.

Toppings Ingredients
Corn tortilla strips (directions below)
Sour cream
Sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
Green onions, diced

While the soup is simmering, heat the oven to 400 degrees. Cut a few corn tortillas into strips. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray then place the tortilla strips on it and spray them with cooking spray and season with sea salt. Bake in the oven for 5-7 minutes or until golden brown.

Ladle the soup into bowls then top with corn tortilla strips, soup cream, cheddar cheese and green onions. Enjoy.

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March 1 THE MONDAY MENU Tarragon Chicken Salad


Consider the salad.

Salads are amazing. When thought and care go into designing a salad, God's wonderful, rich natural flavors are layered one on top another forming a grand and glorious edible edifice that radiates with beauty, and dances upon the pallet like a ballet.

Or maybe not.

If salads were that incredible I would not be sitting here weighing over three hundred pounds trying to convince you and me both of the glories of lettuce. This is not to say, however, that with a little thought and creativity some salads can really stand out.

Personally, I like salads that eat like a meal. Cobb Salad, Caesar Salad, and of course the world famous Chef's Salad come to mind. Still, there are times when the old standards simply are not enough and I want something different, something bold. So, believe it or not, that is when I turn to chicken and make a great big bowl of my chunky Tarragon Chicken Salad.

Conversation starter: Chicken is one of the most diverse foods on the American menu, and unless you're a vegetarian, you've probably eaten a lot of chicken dishes. Go around the table and see who can name the most chicken dishes in 20 seconds. With each round cut the time 5 seconds. Dishes can not be repeated. Players are eliminated when they have the least number of responses or run out of time. The last two players have two seconds to come up with an answer.

Tarragon Chicken Salad

2 pounds poached chicken cut into 1 inch cubes
1 tablespoon Tarragon - preferably fresh and minced fine
1 cup frozen peas
1 1/2 cups finely diced celery
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup mayonnaise
Juice from one small lemon
1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and mix thoroughly. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.

Poached Chicken

2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast
1 large carrot
1 medium onion
1 stalk celery (rib or branch - not a bunch)
2 cloves garlic
4 cups chicken broth - or water
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper

Prepare vegetables by cutting them into large pieces. Peel the garlic, but leave it whole. Trim chick of any excess fat and set aside. Leave chicken breast whole do not cut it up at this time.

In an 8 or 12 quart stock pot add broth or water, salt, pepper, vegetables and garlic and bring to a boil. Add chicken and return to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium and cook for an additional 15 - 20 minutes depending on the thickness of the breast.

Remove chicken and allow to cool to room temperature before cutting. Retain poaching liquid and use as stock in other recipes.

To serve: There many ways to serve this salad. The dish can be combined with a bed of Romaine lettuce or baby spinach, grape tomatoes, and cucumbers, to make a light delicious lunch. It can also be stuffed into an tomato picked fresh from the garden, or served on your favorite bread. This salad can also be served a topping in a bruschetta, or on a cracker as tasty snack.


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Poker Night

So on Saturday night we had a poker night at our home and I may have gotten a bit carried away with the food (which isn't a shock since I always over cook). I did make a couple of dips that I have previously made and a new one. I also did some jalapeno poppers, salsa roll ups and chicken wings. I also had a burger recipe I wanted to try as well.

 
Everything came out super yummy so this is stuff we will more than likely make again and no the hubby didn't win. His friend and coworker Chris did. Woohoo Chris!

 
Enjoy!
Salsa Roll-Ups
 
What You Need!

  • 4 oz. (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) cream cheese, softened

  • 3 Tbsp. Thick 'N Chunky Salsa

  • 4 flour tortillas (6 inch)

  • 1/2 cup Mexican Style Shredded Four Cheese

  • 1/4 tsp. chili powder
 
 Make It!
 
MIX cream cheese and salsa; spread onto tortillas. Top with remaining ingredients.
(I actually mixed in the chili powder with the cream cheese salsa mixture)
ROLL up tortillas tightly. Cut each crosswise into 5 slices.

 
I'm not a huge cream cheese fan and I actually really enjoyed these myself!

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Ingredients:
  • 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
  • 1 (10 ounce) can chicken, drained (or equivalent rotisserie or freshly-cooked, chopped chicken)
  • 1 cup ranch dressing
  • 3/4 cup red hot sauce
  • shredded cheddar cheese, you decide how much
  • Frito corn chips, scoops

Directions:

 
1. Beat cream cheese, ranch dressing, and red hot sauce.

2. Fold in shredded chicken.

3. Spread mixture into pie plate sprayed with Pam.

4. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

5. Add cheddar to top and bake an additional 10-15 minutes.

6. Serve hot with Frito scoops.

**Ok a picture of this to me is not appetizing at all, but the hubby really likes it and apparently his co worker as well :)

Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Peppers


 
Ingredients:
  • 25 fresh jalapeno peppers
  • 14-16 ounces cream cheese
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 2 (16 ounce) packages bacon
Directions:
 
1. Cut stems off peppers, cut long ways

2. Remove seeds from peppers

3. Fill each pepper with cream cheese and top with cheddar cheese

4. Wrap ½ slice of bacon around each pepper half

5. Place on baking sheets and place in 450 degree oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until bacon is fully cooked

6. Remove and serve when cooled

 
Baked Buffalo Wings

 
Ingredients:

 
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 20 chicken wings
• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 1/2 cup hot pepper sauce (such as Frank's RedHot®)

 
Directions:

 
1. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, and lightly grease with cooking spray. Place the flour, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, and salt into a resealable plastic bag, and shake to mix. Add the chicken wings, seal, and toss until well coated with the flour mixture. Place the wings onto the prepared baking sheet, and place into the refrigerator. Refrigerate at least 1 hour.

 
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

 
3. Whisk together the melted butter and hot sauce in a small bowl. Dip the wings into the butter mixture, and place back on the baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven until the chicken is no longer pink in the center, and crispy on the outside, about 45 minutes. Turn the wings over halfway during cooking so they cook evenly.

**These were not spicy enough for me but no one complained, so they might be made again in the future.

Juicy Hamburgers

**No pics because they came out deformed looking! LOL but they were yummy and I would suggest this recipe if you are going to make handmade patties :)

Ingredients:
  • 2 lbs ground beef
  • 1 egg, slightly beaten
  • 1/2 (1 ounce) envelope dry onion soup mix
  • 2 tablespoons fresh minced garlic (or use 1 teaspoon garlic powder)
  • 1/4 cup dry breadcrumbs (or crushed soda cracker crumbs, more if needed) (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper (optional, or use Tabasco sauce add in for some heat)

 
Directions:

 
1. In a bowl crumble the ground beef with clean hands.

 
2. Add in the dry soup mix, egg, garlic, breadcrumbs or crushed soda cracker crumbs, Worcestershire sauce and black pepper.

 
3. Using clean hands mix until combined, add in more breadcrumbs or cracker crumbs if needed to just hold the mixture together (do not overwork the meat or it will be tough).

 
4. Divide the ground beef into 6 equal patties (or make 8 small patties).

 
5. Using your large finger or the back of a small spoon make a shallow dent into the center of each patty (about 1-inch wide).

 
6. Place the patties onto a large plate or a small cookie sheet; cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 6 hours or up to 24 hours to blend flavors.

 
7. Grill or pan fry the burgers as desired until cooked through (if desired sprinkle a small amount of seasoned salt on top while cooking the patties).

 
8. Serve burgers in toasted buns with choice of condiments.

 
9. TIPS FOR EXTRA JUICINESS; shape the hamburger into a ball, press 1 tablespoon cold butter into the middle then seal the meat around the ball then flatten into burger shapes ----or add in 2-4 tablespoons raw finely grated potato into the hamburger mixture then shape into patties, use no more than 4 tablespoons for 2 pounds of ground beef or the burgers will take on a meatloaf texture.
 
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ORANGE AND POPPY SEED POUND CAKE

This orange & poppy seed pound cake is a true, mid-winter, blast of sunshine. It is (yet) another recipe from the holiday issue of Sweet Cakes published by The Best of Fine Cooking magazine.
.
Dense, sweet and extremely moist, this
pound cake got rave reviews from Hubby & friends.

2 + 2/3 cups all purpose flour
1½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon table salt
1/3 cup poppy seeds
2½ cups white sugar
4 teaspoons fresh, finely grated orange zest
1½ cups unsalted butter, soft
8 ounce cream cheese, soft
6 large eggs + 2 large egg yolks (room temp)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
.
Sift the flour, baking powder and salt together (I just whisk it together) and set aside.
.
Put the sugar and orange zest in the food processor and pulse it for 20 seconds, set aside.
.
With a stand mixer (using paddle beater) beat the softened butter and cream cheese together until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the sugar and zest mixture and beat until light and fluffy (about a minute). Beat in the whole eggs, one at a time, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl after each egg. Beat in the 2 egg yolks and the vanilla.
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With your mixer on low, beat in the flour mixture, stop to scrape down the sides of the bowl a couple times. Beat until smooth.
.
Spoon the batter into TWO greased and floured 9x5x3 loaf pans (or 8 mini loaf pans). Bake on center rack of a pre-heated 350F oven for 50 minutes (my oven took 55 minutes) or 25 to 30 minutes for mini-loafs.
.
Cool in pan (on a rack) for 20 minutes, then turn out. Glaze while still warm.
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ORANGE GLAZE FOR POUND CAKE
2/3 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1/3 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon orange liqueur (I used 1 tsp. vanilla)
.
Bring orange juice and sugar to a boil, over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer until mixture thickens and reduces to ½ cup (3 or 4 minutes). Remove from heat and stir in the liqueur (vanilla). Keep brushing the tops and sides of the warm pound cake until all of the glaze is used up.
.
NOTE: This pound cake has such a fresh clean taste and because it is just a little different, it would make a great gift for someone.
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