Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Leftover dry rolled oats you say? Well, check the lid, 'cause there's chewy goodness in your future!

3cups dry oats
3/4cup packed brown sugar
1/2cup white sugar
1 3/4 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2cup all purpose flour
2 eggs
1tsp vanilla
1tsp baking soda
1tsp cinnamon
1/2tsp salt
1cup raisins

Combine the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar in a large bowl until creamy. Add the vanilla and eggs, and combine well. Add in the flour, cinnamon, salt, and flour, and combine well again. Fold in the oats and raisins, and chill the dough for 10-20 minutes.

Heat your oven to 350f. Spoon about one tablespoon worth of the dough onto ungreased baking sheets, about 1-2 inches apart. Bake the cookies for about 10 minutes, or until they are golden brown. Remove them from the baking sheet after a brief cooling off, and place on either parchment or a cooking rack. You'll be tempted, but remember they are hot, and no one likes a burned tongue! My oldest loves chocolate chip cookies and won't eat any other type of cookie, and he LOVED these! Thank you Quaker for the great, quick, and easy recipe! Hope you enjoy!

Leftover Surprise

What to do with leftover grilled chicken... What to do... What to do... Leftover grilled chicken "nuggets" with a spicy sweet dipping sauce!

1 grilled boneless/skinless chicken breast

1/4cup pineapple/mango marmalade

1tsp fresh jalapeno, diced

1Tbsp shredded coconut

Combine the marmalade, jalapeno, and coconut in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 1-2 minutes. Dice the chicken, and... Well... That's it! Hope you enjoy!

Feta Pizza

I saw what looked like a Mediterranean pizza on TV the other day, which looked ah-mazing! This lead me to thinking about how I could make my own... Feta... Chicken... Olives... Annnndddd GO!

3cups bread flour

1 packet dry active yeast

1 cup warm water

2Tbsp olive oil, plus half a cup

1 1/2tsp salt

1/2tsp sugar

2cups feta crumbles

1cup pitted Kalamata olives

2Tbsp fresh basil, chiffonaded

1/2 red onion, quartered and sliced 1/4in thick

3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, grilled then cubed

1 head garlic, roasted, plus 3 raw minced

1cup sliced or shredded mozzarella

The Dough:

Combine the yeast, sugar, water, and 1/2 a cup of the flour in a large bowl, then set aside for 20-30 minutes. The mixture will bubble and foam as the yeast feasts! Add in the 2Tbsp olive oil, the salt, and remaining flour, and combine until the dough comes together, adding more water or flour, depending on how sticky the dough is. It should be slightly sticky, yet soft and smooth. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and kneed for 5-10 minutes. Place in a large oiled bowl, cover with a moist kitchen towel or paper towels, and set aside in a warm place for 2-3 hours, or until the dough has doubled in size. Punch the dough back down some, and cut in two if you want to pizzas, or leave whole for one very large one. Place it in an air tight bag and chill overnight. Allow the dough to come to room temperature when you're ready to use it.

The Pizza:

First roast the garlic. Slice off the top portion of the head of garlic, drizzle with olive oil, then wrap in a foil purse. Bake at 350f for 30-45 minutes, or until softened.

Season the chicken with salt and pepper to taste, then grill until just before fully cooked. While the 

chicken cools, quarter half a red onion, then slice into 1/4 inch thick slices. Assuming you're using jarred olives, drain and rinse, then slice them in half. Chiffonade the basil, and roughly chop. If you're using a block of mozzarella, slice off 1/8-1/4 inch thick, and 2x2in slices.

Stretch out the dough a bit, then toss (more fun, and entertaining for the kids!) or roll out to the desired shape and thickness. Place the dough on a baking sheet sprinkled with corn meal. Remove the garlic from the wrapper, then smush on a cutting board, then spread onto the dough(s). Sprinkle some of the feta onto the dough, then the cubed chicken, then the olives, then onions, a bit more feta, and finish with the mozzarella. Bake at 450f until the crust is golden brown, or longer if preferred. While it cooks, heat the remaining olive oil over medium-low heat, and add in the 3 minced garlic cloves and heat for 3-5 minutes, taking care not to brown the garlic.

Remove the pizza from the oven. Brush the exposed crust with the garlic oil, and sprinkle the basil over the toppings. Allow the pie to cool for a few minutes, then cut, serve, and eat! Hope you enjoy!

Moo Shu Chicken

I've never gotten Chinese or any Asian dish quite right, however I'm always willing to give it another shot! This time around was moo shu chicken:

3 boneless/skinless chicken breasts, cut in thin strips

3 cups shredded cabbage

1/2 cup shredded carrots

1 cup thinly sliced scallions

2Tbsp minced ginger

2Tbsp minced garlic

3 eggs, scrambled

1/4 cup hoisin sauce

2Tbsp sesame oil

3Tbsp rice wine vinegar

8oz shiitake mushrooms, stems removed

1Tbsp corn starch

1/2 cup bamboo shoots

Salt/pepper/sake to taste

Combine the vinegar, garlic, ginger, half the hoisin, and corn starch in a medium bowl. Add the chicken, and marinate for 10-30 minutes, or longer if preferred.

Heat the oil in a large pan or wok over medium heat. Add in the chicken, and cook until just before it's cooked completely, then remove and set aside. Scramble the eggs in the same pan with the remaining oil, then remove and set aside. With the remaining oil in the same pan, cook the mushrooms until softened, then add the garlic, ginger, salt, pepper, and sake. Cook for 1-2 minutes, being careful not to burn the garlic. Add in the cabbage, carrots, and bamboo, and cook for another 3-4 minutes, or until the cabbage has softened. Add the remaining hoisin sauce, taste, and add more if needed. Add the chicken and egg back in, and cook for another 2-3 minutes, or until the chicken is completely cooked through. Serve with Asian pancakes and plum sauce. Hope you enjoy!

Drunken Chicken

I don't know where it came from, but I wanted to make chicken made with Jack Daniels, however we didn't have any, but the bourbon we did have would do! So, off to Publix I went to get a pieced chicken (because a full chicken was not on my list of things to babysit):

1 whole chicken, pieced
1/2 cup bourbon
4Tbsp molasses
1/2tsp salt (to taste)
1/2tsp fresh white pepper (to taste)
1/2tsp garlic powder (to taste)
1/2tsp onion powder (to taste)
Pinch of cayenne (if you want some heat)

Heat your over to 400f. Rinse the chicken under running water, place in a deep baking dish, and pat dry. Rub each piece with olive oil, then season with a bit of salt and pepper. Place in the dish in your oven and bake.

While the chicken cooks, pour the bourbon and molasses in a small sauce pot. Once the sauce begins to bubble (SAFETY NOTE: Follow any and all safety precautions! Lighting alcohol on fire can be very dangerous, so be extremely careful, or just plain don't do it!) light with a long lighter to quickly burn off the alcohol. Add in the rest of the ingredients, tasting as you go, and simmer over low heat for 10-20 minutes, or until it will coat the back of a spoon. It will be the consistency of honey.

Just before the chicken is completely cooked (any sooner and you run the risk of the sugars burning, and no one likes the taste of burned sugar!), brush some of the sauce over each piece. Do this 2-3 times. Once the chicken has reached proper temperature, remove the dish fro the oven and allow the chicken to rest some before slicing or serving. I also made simple buttermilk biscuits and steamed broccoli. Hope you enjoy!

Chapati Bread

I picked up some delicious hummus from Publix yesterday, and I wanted something crispy crunchy to go with it. A friend introduced me chapati a few months back, only they didn’t have any at the store, so…

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup (or about) water

1/4tsp salt

1Tbsp olive oil

(That’s it! Seriously!)

In a large bowl, combine the salt and flour. Add half the water and mix by hand to start bringing the dough together. Add the rest of the water as needed until the dough is moist, but not wet and sticky. Remove the dough and place on a floured surface, then kneed for about 5-10 minutes. The dough will now be smooth and soft. Pour half the oil in the bowl and use the rest to coat the dough. Place the dough back in the bowl, and cover with a moist towel. Let the dough rest for 30 minutes or so.

After the dough has rested, roll the dough into a long log, then cut into 10-12 1½ inch pieces. Put all but one of the pieces back in the bowl and recover to keep them from drying while you work. Roll the first piece into a ball, then press into a disc. Roll the disc out until thin, but not see-through. Place the rolled disc on a paper towel, and repeat with the rest of the chunks. Heat a skillet, I used my cast iron, over medium heat, but don’t add any oil. None will be needed. Once hot, lay a piece of dough in flat. The dough will almost immediately begin to change color. Once it starts to blister, flip. Now for the cool part! The disc will begin to puff up like a balloon! Gently pressing around the edges with your spatula or a clean dish rag will help this. Once it stops inflating, which will only be about 10 seconds, remove from the pan and set aside to cool. Repeat with the rest of the rolled out dough.

These little guys are so versatile! They can be eaten as a snack, a side dish, a vessel for some yummy curry, chopped and put on a salad…. The options are endless! Hope you enjoy!

I'm seeing red... For breakfast!

So the boy loves pancakes, and his favorite color is read. Why not combine the two? Result: red velvet pancakes!

1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2tsp baking soda
1/2tsp vanilla
3/4 cup sugar
1/2oz red food coloring
1 egg
1/2tsp cocoa powder
3/4 cup oil (canola, vegetable... just not olive!)
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2tsp vinegar

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and cocoa with a sifter, and set aside. In a large bowl, combine the vinegar, oil, food coloring, and vanilla. In a small bowl, combine the sugar and egg, then pour into the large bowl, and mix well. Add half the flour mix and half the buttermilk, and combine well, then repeat.

Melt some butter or heat some oil in a large pan. I made my pancakes about 2" across. The major difference I found with making these versus regular pancakes was that waiting until the bubbles had popped resulted in burned cakes...


For the topping:

1 box softened regular cream cheese
1Tbsp honey
2tsp buttermilk
1tsp vanilla

Place all the ingredients in a medium bowl, and whip until creamy and lightened. Place a dollop on a few cakes, and eat! Hope you enjoy!

Why ya gotta call it short.... bread?

Nothing quite soak up the yuck causing tummy acid like carbs! I went in search of the perfect bread recipe, only to discover I AM OUT OF BREAD FLOUR!!!!!!!!!! Ok. I can make due... Bread... Shortbread! I'm feeling ever so slightly better, and willing to risk a night praying to the porcelain goddess for forgiveness for my mistake! Here goes nothin'!

2 3/4 cup flour

3/4 cup white sugar

2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature

3/4tsp vanilla extract

1/8tsp salt

Combine the sugar and butter with a mixer or in a stand mixer until creamy. Add the salt and vanilla and combine well. Add in half the flour and combine, then the rest, just until the dough starts to come together. Lightly flour a cutting board or counter and form the dough into a disc. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap, and chill for about an hour or until firmed. Roll the dough out, again on a lightly floured surface, into rectangle about 1/2 an inch thick. Cut to 2-3 inches long by 1 inch. Place on a greased baking sheet, sprinkle with sugar, and bake at 350f for 20 minutes, or until the edges begin to brown some. Remove, cool, eat! Hope you enjoy!

Costs: This was another "from the pantry" creation, but if I remember right it was all about:

Butter: $2-3

Flour: $4

Sugar: $3

Vanilla: $4

Salt: $2

Breakfast Pizza

My youngest has a recent fascination with pizza, and really what's not to love?! While I was putting him to bed one night, we were talking about what we should have for breakfast the next day. Of course he asked for pizza, but I was able to get him to agree to egg pizza (which is easier for a toddler to say than frittata)!

6 eggs
6 small breakfast sausage links, cooked and sliced into 1/4 inch slices
1/2 white onion, diced
1/2 cup frozen spinach, thawed and drained
2 tomatoes, diced (canned is fine)
1 1/2 cups boiled potatoes, slightly under cooked
1/2 cup shredded cheese: cheddar, Colby jack or something similar
Salt and pepper to taste

Combine the sausage, potatoes, spinach, tomatoes, onion, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, then add into the vegetables and blend well. In a medium oven safe pan, or cast iron skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Also preheat your oven to 350f. Pour the egg mixture into the pan and cook until the eggs set on the bottom. Place in the oven until golden brown. Remove and sprinkle with the cheese, and eat! Hope you enjoy!

Toast Sticks

My boys love french toast sticks! But, have you ever read the ingredients?...... Eww..... So, feeling like a little purist, off I set on making them a home made version:

Bread:
1 cup warm water
3 cups all purpose flour
1/4tsp salt
1 packet yeast
1Tbsp olive oil



Combine 1 cup of flour, the salt, and yeast in a large bowl or stand mixer with a dough hook. Once well combined, add the rest of the flour, adjusting as necessary depending on how wet or dry the dough becomes. Once combined, remove and kneed for about 5 minutes. Place in a large oiled bowl and cover with a damp cloth. Place the bowl in a warm place until the dough doubles in size. Punch the dough down and place on a lightly floured cutting board or counter and let it sit for another 10 minutes.
Roll the dough out to about 1/4 inch thick. The shape you roll in out to depends on what shape loaf you intend to make. If you want a french baguette, roll it out to a rectangle then starting with a long side roll the dough over and seal with a little water at the seams. Heat your oven to 375f. Grease a cookie sheet, sprinkle a little corn meal, and place the dough on the meal. Lightly score the top of the bread on the diagonal about 2 inches apart and bake until browned.


Now for making the french toast:

3 eggs
2tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup whole milk
1Tbsp butter
1/4 cup brown sugar

Cut the cooled bread into sticks 3-4 inches long, by 1 inch wide, by 1 inch high. Whisk together the eggs, milk, and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Toss a few of the stick to coat and let them soak for a few minutes. The soaked up mixture will create a custard effect in the middle of the sticks when cooked, making the inside oh so creamy and yummy! Repeat these steps for all the sticks. Melt the butter over medium low to medium heat. Add a few of the sticks and cook each side for about 3 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from the pan and immediately sprinkle each side with some of the brown sugar. The heat from the stick will almost brulee the sugar, making them nice and crunchy! Drizzle with maple syrup of honey if you like! Hope you enjoy!


The price:
All of these ingredients were already on hand! Yes at one time we paid for them, however given they were all bought for different things, this meal was essentially free!!

Peach Frozen Yogurt

Peaches on sale, plus a lonely tub of vanilla Greek yogurt, plus an ice cream maker, equals..... Peach frozen yogurt!

32oz tub vanilla yogurt

1/2 cup fine sugar

3-4 peaches, peeled and cubed

This was profoundly easy! Peel and chop the peaches. Using a spice grinder, pulse the sugar until powdery. Set up your ice cream maker, and assuming yours works the same way mine does, turn it on and pour in the yogurt. Pour in the sugar and allow it to mix in. Add in the peaches in small batches, using care not to overfill the machine. Mine takes about 20 minutes for soft serve. Remove from the machine, place in an air tight container, and freeze for 1-2 hours, and serve! Hope you enjoy!