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.

Christmas Fudge

Every Christmas and New Years the family pulls out the famous fudge recipe.  There is really no other fudge that compares to it.  I personally think it is the only fudge to eat, although I am enough of a chocoholic that I won't turn down a bit of chocolate that is offered to me.  As long as I can remember we have had this fudge for Christmas, I hope you enjoy it as much as I have!

Christmas Fudge

1 lb Hershey's Chocolate bars  (I use 8 oz Symphony bar with toffee and almonds and 8 oz special dark chocolate since they have reduced the sizes it is actually 2-4.25 oz bars of each)
1 can evaporated milk
1/2 lb butter
4 cups sugar
1 16 oz package miniature marshmallows
2 oz unsweetened chocolate

Break up all the chocolate; open the marshmallows.  Set aside.  Combine milk, butter , and sugar and bring to a boil.  Boil 5 minutes (7-10 if you like harder fudge).  Take off heat and add other ingredients; stir well until all are melted and mixed.  Pour into greased 9 x 13 inch pan.  Let cool. 

Yummy!!

Banana Bars with Cream Cheese frosting

This is my most favorite banana dessert.  Soo yummy.  I could eat a whole pan, well I better not...

Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

1/2 cup butter or margarine
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (3 medium, I actually used 4 and cut the butter by 1/4)
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda

Frosting
1/4 cup butter softened   (In my laziness I usually use just the 8 oz bar of cream cheese and omit the butter)
4 oz cream cheese, softened
4 cups confectioners'sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar.  Beat in eggs, bananas and vanilla.  (I usually put the whole very ripe bananas in, they mix up just fine.)  Combine the flour, and baking soda; add to creamed mixture and mix well.  Pour into a greased 15x10x1 inch baking pan.  Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until bars test done.  Cool.
For frosting cream better and cream cheese in mixing bowl.  Gradually add confectioners' sugar and vanilla; beat well.  Spread over bars.  Yield 3 dozen.
Note:  to make these gluten free replace flour with 2 1/2 cups gluten free flour mix and add 1 tsp xanthan gum.  Very yummy both ways!

Salsa Chicken

The counterpart to Chicken and corn chili would be salsa chicken.  It is meant to be over rice but as soon as we tried it that way, we knew we had to try it in a tortilla.  Ahhh, heaven!!  This chicken is so very easy to make I just use the frozen breasts right out of the freezer it shreds so easy and tastes oh so good.  DH believes this recipe to be just as good as his favorite hole in the wall mexican restaurant.  The link to where I found it is here.


Crock Pot Salsa Chicken

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts 

1 cup salsa

1 package taco seasoning

1 can cream of mushroom soup

Add chicken to crockpot. Cover with salsa taco mix and soup.   Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.  Shred chicken and mix into sauce.  Serve on warmed tortillas with cheese and sour cream, lettuce, tomato and olives if desired.

Five Stars!

Chicken and Corn Chili

One of the things I like to do when looking for something to cook is to google it.  I find some good recipes that way.  This is one I just did a day ago.  DH says that he likes Salsa Chicken better but it is basically the same thing.  I really just liked this one.  This link is the recipe I got, and here is how I tweaked it.  I would add the chili powder and cumin to taste--DH liked it better before I added the tomatoes and beans.

Chicken and Corn Chili

4 skinless boneless chicken breast halves (I pulled mine straight from the freezer)
1 16 oz jar salsa (2 cups)
2 teaspoons minced garlic (I buy pre-minced in the bottle)
1-2 teaspoons ground cumin
1-2 teaspoons chili powder
salt and pepper to taste
1 can corn
4 cups pinto beans cooked as directed, or two cans beans
1 can green chilis
1 can diced tomatoes
2 t sugar

Place chicken, salsa and spices in crockpot.  Cook on high for four hours, turn to low for 6 hours and add beans, corn, tomato, chilis and sugar.  I was able to shred the chicken easily after 5 hours but you can pretty much do that as you mix it all together.  Great as just chili, with french bread on the side.  You can also use in a tortilla.  I give this 4 stars of 5.

The beginning of a new part of life

I quit my job this week. It was a bittersweet moment. I have been wanting to be a stay at home mom for sometime now, and finally all the cards fell into place. In doing this a seed was planted. You see I would always take treats into work. I love to cook and bake and taking the food to work was one way of avoiding eating it all as I invariably would. I am going to have to work on that part, but to digress, I have always been asked for the recipes. So on my last day I promised to take the family cookbook in, but a coworker said why don't you just start a blog. I thought, why don't I? Now here I am. I hope you enjoy. I like to experiment, use food storage and just cook yummy things so hopefully you will find something you like here too.