Baked Peanut Butter Oatmeal

This is a great way to start the morning. My kids love peanut butter flavored anything and are thrilled with this recipe! We love this made with jam also, making it PBJ Baked Oatmeal-Sarah

2 T. butter, melted

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 t. vanilla

1 cup milk

2 eggs

2 t. baking powder

3/4 t. salt

3 cups old fashioned oats

• In a bowl whisk together butter, peanut butter, and brown sugar until smooth. Add vanilla, milk and eggs whisking all together. Stir in baking powder and salt. Fold in oats.
• Pour into a lightly greased 9x13 pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

*An awesome way to change this to Peanut Butter and Jelly Baked Oatmeal is by dropping spoonfuls of your favorite jelly or jam over the oats and swirling with a knife. Bake as directed.

Coconut, Chocolate Chip and Almond Cookies

I am really loving the coconut in my cookies.  These are so fantastic with the chopped almond, chocolate and coconut all in one!!!  -Kristin

1/2 c. softened butter
1/2 c. sugar
1 c. brown sugar
1/2-1 t. coconut extract (opt.)
1/2 t. vanilla
2 eggs
2 1/4 c. flour
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1 1/4 c. chocolate chips
1 1/2 c. sweetened coconut
3/4 c. chopped almonds

• Cream the butter with the sugars.
• Add the eggs and extracts.
• In a separate bowl mix together the flour, baking soda and salt.  Then add to creamed mixtures.
• Stir in the remaining ingredients.
• Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.  Let them cool on the pan for a few minutes before removing.

Maple Date Bars

Kristin and I have been talking about getting a date bar recipe up here for awhile. I thought it would take a few tries but the 1st recipe I tried was awesome! I love the lemon flavor in the filling, it adds another flavor to this wonderful bar.-Sarah

1 3/4 cup chopped dates

3/4 cup water

1/3 cup maple syrup

1 t. lemon zest

1/2 cup butter, softened

2/3 cup sugar

1 cup flour

1 cup oats

1/4 t. baking soda

1/4 t. salt

• Combine dates, water, and maple syrup in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook about 12 minutes until the consistency of jam. Stir in lemon zest.
• Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. In a bowl combine flour, oats, baking soda, and salt. Stir into butter mixture until crumbly.
• In a greased 7x11 pan press 2 cups of oat mixture. Spread with cooled filling. Top with remaining crumb mixture.
• Bake at 400 degrees about 20 minutes.

Microwave Chocolate Pudding

My mom recently gave me this recipe and I'm so glad I decided to make it tonight! It was so quick, easy and yummy!-Sarah

1/3 cup cocoa powder

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup cornstarch

1/4 t. salt

3 cups milk

2 T. butter

1 t. vanilla

• Mix dry ingredients, slowly whisk in milk.
• Microwave pudding about 8 minutes, stirring every 2-3 minutes, until thickened.
• Stir in butter and vanilla until melted and smooth.

Toasted Coconut, Toffee and Chocolate Chip Cookies

Sarah and I adapted this cookie recipe from http://twopeasandtheirpod.com/.  The chewy texture of these cookies is very addicting....not to mention the perfect combination of the toasted coconut, toffee bits and chocolate chips!  -Kristin  

1 cup flaked sweetened coconut
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
4 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon coconut extract
1 egg
1 cup Heath toffee bits
3/4 cup chocolate chips

• Preheat oven to 350 and place coconut on a large pan.  Bake 5-7 minutes until lightly toasted.  Remove from the oven and cool.
• In a bowl mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; set aside.
• In a large bowl cream the butter and brown sugar together.
• Add in the extracts and the egg.
• Beat in the flour mixture.
• Stir in the toasted coconut, toffee chips and chocolate chips.
• Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.

Creamy Alfredo Sauce

I've tried recipes for Alfredo sauces before and none of them impressed me, partly because they were just too fussy. That's one of the great things about this recipe, it's really easy and so delicious! I found this on the website amysfinerthings.com, so glad to add this to our collection!-Sarah

1/2 cup butter

8 oz. cream cheese

2 t. garlic powder

2 cups Half and Half

6 oz. shredded Parmesan cheese (the real stuff)

salt and pepper to taste

• Melt butter in a saucepan. With a whisk blend in the cream cheese and garlic powder until smooth.
• Add the Half and Half, Parmesan, and salt and pepper. Over low heat stir until combined and smooth. Thin with a little milk if it's too thick.

Gourmet Bean Soup

I adapted this recipe from tammysrecipes.com.

It is fabulous, the whole family liked it!  It has a little bit of subtle heat from the red pepper flakes that really enhance this soup.  This is a very easy soup to put together making me like it even more :) -Kristin

 

1 pound (about 2 1/2 cups) dry bean/peas/lentils blend  (I used navy, black, pinto, kidney and lentils)

8 ounces Italian sausage, torn into bite size pieces
1 large onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 can (15 ounce) diced tomatoes
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 bay leaves
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
8 cups chicken broth
1 teaspoon salt

Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving (optional)

• Rinse and sort through dry beans.
• In a large pot, combine all of the ingredients except the (optional) Parmesan cheese.
• Bring to a boil over medium heat and then simmer gently over low heat, covered, until beans are all tender (about 2 1/2 hours, but could take longer).
• When beans are tender, remove the bay leaves. Season with additional salt to taste. Ladle into bowls and sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese if desired.