Chewy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Chewy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

This cookie stays soft and chewy!  My kids love them!

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
3 cups quick cooking oats
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a large bowl cream together butter and both sugars.  Beat in eggs, one at a time.  Then stir in Vanilla.

2. In a small bowl combine flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and cloves.

3.  Combine the dry ingredients into the wet.

4.  Mix in oats and chocolate chips.

5. Cover and chill dough for at least an hour.

6.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Place parchment paper on cookie sheet.  Roll dough into 1 inch balls.  I use a cookie scoop to do this…..makes my life of making cookies much easier!

7.  Place each cookie ball approx. 2 inches apart.

8.  Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until the bottoms are light brown.  Allow to cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes.  Then transfer them to a wire rack to completely cool.

~Enjoy!~

Black Bean Salsa

Black Bean Salsa

Make this salsa a day ahead!  Crowd pleasing!

INGREDIENTS:

1 Can black beans (drained and well rinsed)
2 Cups of frozen corn, thawed
2 tablespoons Olive Oil
3 Tablespoons Lime Juice (or more to taste)
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 teaspoons chili powder (you can add less or more to suit your taste)
2 medium Tomatoes, diced
1/2 cup green onions, chopped
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped

DIRECTIONS:

Make this at LEAST 3 hours ahead of when you need it.  I prefer making it the day or evening before.

Add all ingredients in a large bowl and toss together.  Chill for a least 2 hours or make the day/evening before.

Serve with Tortilla Chips!

~Enjoy!~

Mountain Dew Cake

Mountain Dew Cake

My whole family loved this cake. It is a spongy cake. My husband said it reminded him of lemon pound cake.

INGREDIENTS:

1 box Lemon Cake Mix
1 box Lemon Instant Pudding Mix (3.4 oz)
4 Eggs
2/3 cup oil
1 can Mountain Dew (12 oz.)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Spray bundt pan with cooking spray. Next flour the bundt pan. Remove excess flour. Set aside.
2. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
3. Mix together the lemon cake mix and instant pudding.
4. Add eggs, oil and mountain dew.
5. Mix until well blended and thick.
6. Bake in a 325 degree oven for 45-50 minutes.
7. Let cool for 20 or so minutes before removing from pan.
8. SERVE! You can serve this cake as is, which is really good. Add a glaze. Or sprinkle with Powdered Sugar.

~Enjoy!~

Breakfast Wreath

Breakfast Wreath

INGREDIENTS:

1 can Crescent Rolls (I used Garlic Crescent rolls)
6 eggs, scrambled
8-10 slices Bacon (cooked)
1 cup Colby jack cheese, shredded
Roasted Red Peppers

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2.  Line a pizza pan with parchment paper.  Almost forming a “star”.  I like to kind of create it where the center looks like a square.

3. Next comes the scrambled eggs.  Just place them around the wreath.  It doesn’t have to be pretty.

4.  Then put some roasted red pepper all over it.  (this can be omitted if you don’t like roasted red peppers).

5.  Then the bacon comes next. I take a slice of bacon and break it in half  and place one piece on top of where the crescent roll will fold over.

6.  Top with cheese.  Fold over each crescent roll and tuck in to the underneath.

7.  Bake at 375 degrees from 15 to 17 minutes.

8.  Serve hot by itself or with Salsa.

Note:  You can add just about anything you want to this wreath.

~Enjoy!~

Not Your Ordinary Egg Salad

Not Your Ordinary Egg Salad

Very easy and according to my husband and daughter REALLY good!

INGREDIENTS:

6 eggs (hard-boiled)
3 tablespoons Mayonnaise
1/2 cup celery, diced
1 Tablespoon Vinegar
1/2 tsp. Worcestershire Sauce
1/4 tsp. Onion Powder
1/8 tsp. Pepper

DIRECTIONS:

1.  Using your prefered method, hard boil eggs.

2.  In a bowl combine the rest of the ingredients.  Add eggs.  Stir until completely mixed together and serve.

Note:  I like to make this the night before.  That way the flavors combine just a bit more.

~Enjoy!~

 

Let’s Get Cookin’ Top 5 Recipes of 2012

Let’s Get Cookin’ Top 5 Recipes of 2012

As 2012 comes to an end, I want to thank you all so much for visiting my little cooking/baking spot on the web.  It really does mean a lot to me.  I started this blog out for my 4 kids.  For them to always have a place to come and find my recipes.  And recipes of friends and family.

I love baking and cooking and look forward to posting and cooking up new things to add to my little nook in 2013.

Here are the Top 5 recipes of 2012.

Have a AWESOME 2013!

1.  Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies-These are up 2 from last year.

2.  Next Up-My Peanut Butter Fudge!  (This is very yummy! I need to make this again soon!)

3.  Next up, Homemade Pudding Pops.  These came in at #2 Last Year.

4. Smores Dip!  Kids love this stuff!

5.  “Spooky” Halloween Bundt Cake- That really isn’t all that spooky!

And a couple of my personal favorites from 2012….

No-Bake Peanut Butter Balls *Energy Bites*

Fresh Strawberry Syrup Sauce

Thanks Again.  And please comment away in 2013!

~Enjoy!~

//

Easy Double Layer Pumpkin Pie

Easy Double Layer Pumpkin Pie

It is also a No Bake Pie!!!

INGREDIENTS:

1- Graham Cracker Pie Crust (2 extra servings size) 10 inches
8 oz. Cream Cheese, Softened
1 (8 oz tub) Cool Whip
2 Tablespoons Sugar
2 Tablespoons Milk
1 can (15 oz) pure Pumpkin
2 packages Instant Vanilla Pudding (3.4 oz size)
1 and 3/4 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice ***See Note***
1 cup of milk

DIRECTIONS:

For the Cream Cheese Layer:

In a medium bowl cream together softened cream cheese, milk and sugar until well combine.  Mix in half of the tube of  cool whip until smooth.

Pour into graham cracker crust smoothing out and set aside.

For the Pumpkin Layer:

In another medium bowl mix together the pumpkin, Pumpkin Pie Spice, both packages of instant vanilla pudding, and a cup of cold milk.  Mix until Thick and pour on top of cream cheese layer.  Evenly spreading over the cream cheese layer.

Refrigerate until firm.  At least 4 hours.  I prefer 8 hours.

***Note***If you do not have Pumpkin Pie Spice on hand you can use 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger and 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves.

~Enjoy!~

 

Let’s Get Cookin’ Craft: Glitter Ornaments

Let’s Get Cookin’ Craft:  Glitter Ornaments

Something a little different for Let’s Get Cookin’.  I needed some different gifts to give this holiday season and still be on budget.  These fit the bill perfectly.  You can find the bulbs at Hobby Lobby and this week (in my area) they are 50% off!

Needed Items:

Clear Glass Bulb Ornaments (a package of 12 cost $7.99 at Hobby Lobby, I got them 50% off so wait for the sales)
Mop and Glow
Fine Glitter
Ribbon

 

Putting it together:

1. Start by taking the metal cap off the ornament.

2.  Put a good tablespoon or so of mop and glow in the ornament and gently swoosh around.  Not to fast because you don’t want the mope and glow to bubble.  Make sure the mop and glow is coated all over the inside of the bulb.

3.  Turn bulb over and let the excess mop and glow drip out.  After it has all dripped out you may want to use a Q-tip to get the excess mop and glow that stuck to the rim.

4.  Using a funnel put in your fine glitter.  And use MORE than you think you will need. Making sure to coat the whole bulb with the glitter.

5.  Pour out excess glitter and replace the cap and add ribbon and your done!

These are just some of the ones I have done….

Chewy Goo Goo Bars

Chewy Goo Goo Bars

Since Goo Goo Clusters are a Tennessee Candy…..I thought I should make something since we live in the Great state of Tennessee.  Where 2 out of 4 of my children were born.

INGREDIENTS:

For the base:

1 (18.25 ounce) box Yellow Cake Mix ( I used Pillsbury Moist Supreme Classic Yellow)
1 egg
1 stick butter, melted

5 to 6 Goo Goo Clusters, chopped (If you have a hard time finding Goo Goo Clusters search your local Dollar Tree! I was able to pick them up for $.25 cents each!)

For the Gooey Topping:

2 eggs
8 oz cream cheese, softened
4 cups powdered sugar

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.  Spray a 9 x 13 baking pan with cooking spray and set aside.

2. Mix the cake mix, one egg, and melted butter.  This will form a pretty thick dough.

3.  Using your hands press it into the prepared baking dish.

4.   Chop Goo Goo Clusters. Spread chopped Goo Goo Clusters evenly over the dough. You might want to purchase one or two extra….who knows how many chunks of those clusters will make it into your mouth while you chop them up.

5.  Mix powdered sugar, cream cheese and last 2 eggs until smooth.  Pour pretty evenly over top of the Goo Goo Clusters. It doesn’t have to be pretty.

6.  Bake at 300 degrees for 45-50 minutes.  I actually let mine go for 52 minutes and they were fine.  Cool for at least 3 hours…or chill overnight in fridge.  Cut into squares and serve.

Note:  These are gooey…..if left out the tops will spread out…I would keep them stored in the fridge until ready to serve.

These little bars are yummy and OH SO RICH!!!!!

 

 

~ENJOY~!

Strawberry Brownies

Strawberry Brownies

I had such a wonderful response (via pinterest) with my strawberry cake mix cookies.  I thought why not make them into brownies.  And it is SO easy!

INGREDIENTS:

1 (18.5 oz) box Strawberry cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 cup oil

Glaze:

Powered Sugar
Milk or water

DIRECTIONS:

1. Combine cake mix, eggs and oil.  The batter will be thick.  Spray a 9 X 13 baking pan with cooking spray.  Using your fingers press dough into pan.

2.  Bake at 350 degrees for 12 to 14 minutes.  Or until edges of the brownies are light brown.

You can let them cool and eat as is.  Or glaze them right out of the oven hot!  Or let cool then glaze them.

 

~Enjoy!~