2nd Easiest Cookies Ever...NO BAKE COOKIES

Remember these old things??  I remember making No-Bake Cookies on Sunday nights in Mom's large, heavy pot (with the handles broken off). I'm never sorry when I make these...they always hit the spot. 

2 cups white sugar
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup milk
1 pinch salt
3 cups quick cooking oats
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS
1. In a saucepan bring sugar, cocoa, margarine, milk, and salt to a rapid boil for 1 minute.
2. Add quick cooking oats, peanut butter, and vanilla; mix well.
3. Working quickly, drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper, and let cool.

Easiest Cookies Ever Ever Ever

So I have gotten really lazy these days. I have needed to make goodies really quick twice these past few weeks and looking through the family cookbook, this is what I cam up with. Maybe all of you already know this trick, in which case this is a refresher. By the way, these have nothing wheat in them so most of you probably wont even think about making them. Anyway, Chalonns recipe for homemade Oreos sprung and idea in my mind. We had no cream cheese to make the filling, but I did have two Devils food cake boxes, and some leftover melting chocolates in the freezer from Christmas. It was the easiest thing ever.

Just dump a box of cake mix into the mixer. Add 2 eggs. Add 1/3 C oil. Throw the melting chocolates into the blender or food processer or Magic Bullet or whatever for a bit until they are crumbled. (About 1.5 C probably, I didnt measure) And then throw the white chocolate crumbles into the mixer and mix it all up until the cake mix has been moistened and gets thick. Then roll into about 1" balls and bake @ 350 for 8-10 minutes depending on your oven. They turn out deliciously and are oh so quick. It is my new favorite thing. Next time I am going to try white or yellow cake mix with chocolate chips I think. Or maybe I will do something healthier. Whole wheat oatmeal chocolate?

The cookies went fast between my visiting teaching girls and the friends we have had over, plus this guy who lives with me and steals my food. Needless to say there is one left so that will have to do.

Oatmeal Whole Wheat Quick Bread

Adapted from Allrecipes.com

This is very dense, hearty bread we tried yesterday. DJ described it as "old-school-working-on-the-farm-bread". Of course, I was flattered. It is so easy and pretty tasty right out of the oven with some butter and honey on it. It was good for my first bread attempt because it has no yeast and doesn't have to rise. Like I said...SOOOO EASY! (side note: it doesn't save very well, so serve it up fresh)

2 cups Rolled Oats
2 cups Whole Wheat Flour
2 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Salt
3 Tbsp Honey
2 Tbsp Vegetable Oil
1-3/4 cup Milk

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grind oatmeal in a food processor or blender. In a large bowl, combine oatmeal, flour, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl, dissolve honey in vegetable oil then stir in the milk. Combine both mixtures and stir until a soft, sticky batter-like dough is formed. Pour into greased bread loaf pan. Bake in preheated oven for about 1 hour, or until bottom of loaf sounds hollow when tapped.

*Try some add-ins or replacements like flax seed, sunflower seeds, chopped nuts, or dried fruits. Try replacing vegetable oil with extra virgin olive oil or applesauce to make extra healthy.

BLT's reloaded

Ok. So maybe I shouldn't call these BLT's. Maybe their more like a glorified veggie sandwich with turkey bacon. Honestly, when Mat and I eat these, we kind of sink in our chairs and talk about how much we love good food. Good food is so good isn't it?!

-Bread, toasted (get exciting and try some cook bakery bread)
-bacon slices cooked (i cook them on the George Foreman)
-avocado (in this particular picture my avocado was mushy and needed to be spread, usually i like thin slices)
-cheese of your choice
-lettuce/spinach
-tomatoes
-cucumbers
-sliced pepper of your choice
-condiments

Random Corn on the cob tangent that I was reminded of when I saw the picture: Have I shared our new way of baking corn? Just throw it in the oven and bake for 30 minutes at 375. It's perfect, and EASY. No boiling, and each to their own husking.

Chicken Fingers

Chicken
egg
bread crumbs
Parmesan cheese
paprika

Cut chicken into strips. Mix bread crumbs, cheese (i like lots), and paprika. Dip chicken in eggs and then cheese mixture and cook in oiled skillet. OR bake at 350 for 30 min. Above I served with sweet potato fries and cooked fresh green beans.

Chicken and Chilies

I got this off of Chalonn's friends blog "On my menu". I like it b/c its, easy, simple and tasty.

2-3 chicken breasts (or can)
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped or minced
1 cup chicken broth
1 can tomato sauce
1 can black (or pinto) beans
1 can chopped chilies
1 tsp chili powder (or less)
1/2 tsp gr. cumin

Cube or shred chicken. (As always, I'm a big fan of putting chicken in the crock pot for a couple of hours and then shredding it when I'm ready to use it. So easy.) Add all ingredients. Serve over brown rice. Top with sour cream, cheese, or avocado.

Two bean Tamale Pie (also from Jo)

1 cup chopped green bell pepper
1 med. chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp olive oil
1 15-oz can kidney beans, rinsed, drained and slightly smashed
1 15-oz can pinto beans, rinsed, drained, slightly smashed
2/3 cup veg juice or tomato sauce
1 4-oz can diced green chili peppers
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 recipe of basic cornbread (I make my own with ww flour)
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup fresh parsley or cilantro, snipped

Grease a 10 inch square baking dish; set aside. In a medium skillet cook sweet pepper, onion, and garlic in hot oil until tender. Stir in beans, tomato sauce, chili peppers, chili powder and cumin; heat through. Spoon bean mixture into prepared dish.
Preheat oven 400. Prepare corn muffin mix adding cheese and cilantro and stirring just until combined. Spoon cornbread mixture evenly over the top of the bean mixture. Bake uncovered about 25 min. or until golden. Serve warm with sour cream and salsa.