Sunday Night Cookies

 

 I was raised by a Mormon Dad with a Sweet tooth!

This meant that every Sunday after church, we made a treat!

Sometimes we had brownies, sometimes cake, but usually, my dad whipped up a batch of cookies.

Now that I have my own home and husband, I'm in charge of carrying out the Sweet Tooth tradition.  

So now, every Sunday around 7:00pm, I get the Cookie Cravings!

I have been eyeing this recipe for weeks now.  The thought of a toffee aroma on a snowy December evening was music to my ears!  Plus, this recipe is not just your normal chocolate chip cookie, BUT it has all the ingredients you would normally have in your cupboard.  (So you don't have run to the grocery store on a snowy December night.)  Here is my version of this yummy cookie recipe that is perfect for a Sunday Evening and perfect portions too!  It makes about 15 cookies- so you can take leftovers to work or school the next morning or you can pig out!  If you are a chocolate lover, use the chocolate variation of this recipe.  If not, the classic chewy, cinnamon-y, toffee-y goodness of these cookies are sure to satisfy your 

Cookie Cravings like mine!

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup (1 cube) BUTTER

1/4 c. GRANULATED SUGAR

1/2c. + 1/8 c. BROWN SUGAR

1 EGG

1/2 tsp. VANILLA

1 cup FLOUR

1/2 cup OATS

1/4 tsp BAKING SODA

1/4 tsp SALT

1 tsp CINNAMON

Chocolate Variation

Reduce Cinnamon to 1/4 tsp

Add 1 cup Chocolate Chips

DIRECTIONS

In a Saucepan, melt butter.  Remove from heat and stir (yes, into the saucepan) both sugars until combined.  Mixture will we oily. Place saucepan in refridgerator for 10 minutes to cool.

In a Mixing bowl, beat egg and vanilla.  Add butter and sugar mixture and whisk tor one minute until all combined and mixture turns lighter brown. (it's beginning to smell a lot like Christmas...) In another bowl, Combine All dry ingredients.  Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients with a rubber spatula.  

Place parchment paper over cookie sheet. Roll dough into balls.  (I make 15. The dough feels like it needs more flour- resist this temptation and let them be gooey!) Place now full cookie sheet into the refrigerator for 30 minutes. (Let your balls stiffen up ;) You can take a break and do all that Sunday Funday stuff! Don't leave them in for too long- 50 minutes max!)

Put the chilled dough balls directly into a 325 and let the cookies bake for 12-14 minutes! They seem gooey again, but don't worry, they're done! And boy, are they delicious!

Hope you get to try them out and enjoy them this Sunday around 7:00pm!  I know I will!

Just to clarify, I was also raised by a Mormon Mom who is an excellent cook, she just has a wider range of recipes!  My Dad is the Cookie Monster in our house ;)

Lasagna recipe

Lasagna takes time and layers: the Meaty tomato sauce, 

the noodles, the mozzarella cheese and the ricotta cheese layer

Bolognese Sauce

This takes the longest so start it first and use a large saucepan

Brown 1 lb. Italian Sausage

1 lb. Ground turkey or Ground Beef

Add 1 c. small diced Onions 

Add. 1/3 c. carrots chopped very small

Once these are all cooked, I add 1 1/2 tsp. garlic 

Seasonings: Crushed red Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, s&p, Italian Seasonings-all to taste

Add 3 15 oz cans of petite tomatoes

Let simmer until all cooked

Ricotta Filling

16 oz ricotta cheese

1 egg

1/2 tsp. Italian Seasoning

salt and pepper

&

16-24 oz Mozzarella Cheese

& 

9-12 par-boiled lasagna noodles

Layer: Bolognese, Noodles, Ricotta, Mozzarella, - 3 Layers

Making top layer the Bolognese Sauce

If you want Mozzarella on top, keep covered in the oven until the last 15 minutes

Bake 375 degrees for 40 minutes

This also makes excellent leftovers!

Homemade Caramel Corn

Homemade Caramel Corn

 

INGREDIENTS:
Family Time (Enough for 5):
2 1/2 quarts of popped popcorn, or 1 Medium pot
1 cup brown sugar
1 stick softened butter
1/4 tsp Cream of Tartar
1 tsp Baking Soda

Party Time (Enough for 10):
5 quarts of popped popcorn, or 2 Medium pots
2 cups brown sugar
2 sticks softened butter
1/2 tsp Cream of Tartar
2 tsp Baking Soda

DIRECTIONS:
Cook popcorn and spread onto baking sheet(s) lined with wax paper. Optional: Add up to 1cup peanuts.
In a saucepan, combine Brown sugar, butter and tartar  and boil for 5-6 minutes.  Remove from heat and add Baking Soda.  Pour and spread over popcorn. Bake 30-45 minutes in a 200 degree oven. Break up into chunks and let cool before eating!

Enjoy!
This is one of my husband's favorite treats!

Chocolate Pecan Pie

 

If you like Chocolate Brownies, this is the pie for you!

It might as well be called Brownie pie.  It's more like a chocolate pie with a little pecans baked in.

If you're not the biggest pecan fan, chop them up small and use 3/4 cup. 

If you're the opposite, use 1 1/3c. pecans and decoratively top the pic with even more!

INGREDIENTS:
1 pkg (4oz.) Baker's German sweet chocolate
3 TBSP butter
1/3 cup sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
3 eggs beaten
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup- 1 1/3 cup coarse chopped pecans
1 unbaked pie shell 

Melt chocolate with butter in saucepan over very low heat, stirring constantly until smooth.  Remove from heat.  In a different saucepan, combine sugar and syrup and bring to a boil over high heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved.  Remove from heat; add chocolate mixture.  Pour slowly over eggs, stirring constantly as to not cook the eggs.  Stir in vanilla and pecans, pour into unbaked pie shell.

Bake at 375 for 45 minutes or until filling is puffed across top.

I suggest covering the crust edge with foil while cooking so it doesn't burn.

I can have 3 slices of this pie in a row... so beware, this is absolutely delicious!
Enjoy! -M