Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies

According to my husband, this is the only chocolate chip cookie worth making.  It certainly is very good!!
If you chill the dough before baking they turn out just like the break and bakes only better because there are no preservatives!  Enjoy!!

Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip cookies

2 ¼ Cups all purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

¾ cup granulated sugar

¾ cup brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 large eggs

1 ¾ cups (11.5 oz pkg) Nestle toll House Chocolate Chips

Preheat oven to 375

Combine flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl.  Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Gradually beat in flour mixture.  Stir in morsels and nuts.  Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets. 

Bake for 9 – 11 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.    Makes about 5 dozen cookies

Pan cookies: grease 15x10-inch jelly-roll pan.  Prepare dough as above.  Spread into prepared pan.  Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool in pan on wire rack.  Makes 4 dozen bars.

Applesauce cookies

My Mother-in-law makes these all the time, she claims they don't raise her blood sugar as much as some other cookies do.  They are only 15 carbs a piece, so take that as you may.  This version of the cookie turns out a little bit different than hers.  Perhaps it is because I like all the spice and she doesn't add any.  They are quite tasty--I like to bake them at 375 for about 10 min.  For some reason I prefer these cookies a little bit crunchy on the bottom.  They turn out just fine at 350, they just aren't as crispy.  Try it and see what you like the best!

2 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 cup applesauce
1 tsp baking soda
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup chocolate chips

Sift flour. Measure, add salt, spices and sift again. Cream shortening, add sugar gradually and continue to beat until light and fluffy. Stir soda into aplesauce. Add beaten egg and applesauce with creamed mixture. Add dry ingredients. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by teaspoonfuls two or three inches apart on greased baking sheet. Bake in 350 oven 15-20 minutes.

Fruity Breakfast Cookies

I found this recipe on the My Fitness Pal Website, it was quite yummy and low cal too--it made 22 cookies and they came out to 58 cals each.  Mmmmm!     Not bad for a breakfast on the go.

Ingredients:
3 mashed bananas
1/3 cup apple sauce
2 cups uncooked quick-cooking oats
1/4 cup skim milk
1/2 cup raisins
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp Splenda , sugar or other sweetener (I used sugar but only 2 tsps)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients in a bowl really well. Let this mixture stand for at least 5 minutes to let the oats become good and hydrated. Heap the dough by teaspoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes and let cool.  ( I couldn't help it I dove right in!)

Marinated Turkey Breasts (Manti Chicken)

This is our very favorite chicken recipe.  We make them out on our smoker, but they are just as good if not better cooked on the bbq. I use a bag of chicken breast tenders from costco-but it is just as good with turkey or chicken breast.  Dip into ranch dressing and have a salad on the side.  Yummy!!

1 cup lemon-lime soda  (I have also used ginger ale)
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup oil
1/8 tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp horseradish

Mix ingredients together.  Slice breasts length wise 3/4 inches thick  (If using tenders just put them in)  Marinate 3-4 hours or overnight in refrigerator.
Grill until meat is white and juices run clear, about 10 minutes.  6 out of 5 stars.  The best!

Biggest Loser Golden Flaxjacks

I am a big biggest loser fan.  In fact I like to exercise while watching my DVR'd shows  It is almost as though I am doing my last chance workout with Jillian and Bob.  I got the new book Simple Swaps and tried out this pancake recipe.  A little heavier than the pancakes I usually make but quite tasty--I am sure the next time I make these they will turn out much better!  I topped them with a cup of frozen mixed berries that I had brought to a boil and smushed, I let the berries boil down until they were a little thick.  Also a portion of greek yogurt.  One serving of these pancakes (2- 4") is 160 calories.  With the berries and yogurt they pack quite the punch for fiber and protein.  Give them a try!

Golden Flaxjacks

1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup stone-ground cornmeal
2 T wheat bran or oat bran
2 T flaxseed meal
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large egg whites
1 3/4 cups fat-free or 1 % milk
2 T olive oil or canola oil
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, cornmeal, bran, flaxseed meal, baking powder, and salt.  Set aside.

In a small mixing bowl or blender, whisk together the egg whites, milk, oil, and vanilla until smooth.  Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients.  Pour the liquid mixture into the well and stir just until combined.  Allow the batter to stand for about 30 minutes or overnight in the refrigerator.  Add more milk, if needed to obtain batter the consistency of thick cream.

Heat a nonstick griddle or nonstick skillet  (coated with cooking spray if necessary) to medium heat.  For each flaxjack, pour a scant 1/4 cup of batter onto the griddle.  Cook until the flaxjacks are puffed and dry around the edges.  Turn and cook the other side until golden brown.

I started these on medium heat according to my griddle.  However it was taking forever and they didn't brown.  So I actually cooked them at a slightly lower temperature than I usually cook my pancakes.  They started to be much better!   After cooking I allowed them to cool and then packaged in individual servings.  Now I can freeze and pull out just what I want for breakfast.  DH didn't even want to try these, but I think they are good!  (he isn't very adventurous!)  I think they taste best with the berries and yogurt, but let me know what you think!

Salt Dough

For primary last Sunday I taught a lesson where I got to make salt dough for the kids to play with.  Being as it is kinda fun to have a play dough recipe, and also rather fun to make I thought I would share it with you.

2 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 T oil
3/4 cup water add 4 drops food coloring if desired--I used Yellow

Knead mixture into balls until soft and smooth add 1 T water or flour if necessary.