Maybe a Cookie or a Break or Both?

Wait?!?! You're blogging about this??

  When I first started off with this blog, I thought to myself, "okay, chex mix is pretty basic, I'll just write about that." But then I kept thinking to myself, "cookies, cakes, brownies, what other dessert is there to make?!?!" But then I did some searching and found that there are A LOT of desserts out there!!!  And there are new recipes being made every single day!  But...after all this research I found that most people don't write about the basic stuff, just the fancy-schmancy stuff that takes a lot of time, patience, and ingredients! So I thought it was time to get basic, REALLY BASIC, and put my little sister to work on some "pop'em in the oven" cookies.  Yeah, I'm talking "ready-to-bake" cookies...no fuss, no mess, get-er-done dessert!  The oven warms up the house, the smell warms up the senses, and the cookies warm up our stomachs.


                            

Believe it or not Anna photo-bombed this picture, it turned out nicely though. 

The Ingredient!

 

 

 

 

The secret to keeping them fluffy is to make sure
they have time to cool, at least my sister believes this.
And if you just can't wait, turn on the fan to help speed things up a bit. 

I apologize if this post was a bit too basic or culinary boring for you, but little kids have to start somewhere.  And hang in there because I've got some unusual fall recipes coming up...really cool stuff like candy corn cupcakes, scream cheese brownies, pumpkin cheesecake, and no-fry cinnamon donut holes. Soooo excited for the fall baking season, now do you see why I took a quick break in between? Anyway, stay tuned!!!

 

Scotcheroos

Would you like one?

I absolutely LOVE to try out new recipes but unfortunately my siblings aren't always happy about this. You see, they LOVE the tried and true desserts such as chocolate chip cookies, coffee toffee bars, and all the "proven to be good" stuff.  I usually save those recipes to take to events and then I do all of my experimenting on the family!  My blog would get pretty boring if all I wrote about is how I made chocolate chip cookies, but here is a recipe that turns some basic ingredients into a yummy dessert.  Who knows, maybe it will even fall into the "tried and true" category.  You decide...

The Ingredients

*Spoiler Alert!* They turned out a bit crunchy!
I'm giving my Dad's teeth a good work-out! =)

This is probably the step where I messed up.
It's hard to concentrate, when you're taking a picture,
 reading the next step, and trying to make sure nothing sticks to the pan...

Chocolate and the "secret" ingredient - butterscotch.

Super happy that I got a picture with her even though she didn't get to try one.  

Here is the recipe.

Sometimes when I run out of time for a writing assignment, or can't think of an ending, I'll end the paper with, "After everything we've just discussed I'll let you, the reader, draw your own conclusions."  So, I'm running out of time to finish this post, guess how it well end? "After everything we've just discussed, I'll let you, the reader, decide if you want to make this or not..." =)

Fruit-Filled Oatmeal Bars

It's October!!!  And that gives me lots of fall inspiration and ideas for the beginning of the cool weather baking season! (P.S. - Stay tuned for my post about fall cookie ideas!) I realize that P.S.'s should usually be at the end, but oh well, tomorrow is Columbus Day and I have the day off school so let's take a break from proper grammar rules too! Anyway, back to baking...this recipe is sort of similar to Apple Crisp. The biggest similarity is that it also contains apples. =)

The Ingredients

I've been writing to some companies and trying to negotiate a giveaway in exchange for free advertising on my blog!  I can't wait to see if any of them respond and YOU, my faithful readers, will be the first to hear about it and benefit from it if that does happen!

Something must be happening in this kitchen, it's sooo messy!

Sometimes I make this apple filling and pour it on to waffles or pancakes.  It tastes really good!

Ingredients

1 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. quick-cooking rolled oats
2/3 c. packed brown sugar
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 c. butter
Raisin or apple filling (below) or 10 oz. jar preserves

In a mixing bowl combine flour, oats, brown sugar, and baking soda. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Reserve 1/2 cup of the flour mixture. Press remaining flour mixture into bottom of ungreased 9x9x2 inch baking pan. Spread with desired filling. Sprinkle with reserved flour mixture.Bake in 350 degree oven for 30-35 minutes or until top is golden. Cool in the pan on wire rack. Cut into bars. Makes 25.

RAISIN FILLING:

In a medium saucepan, combine 1/2 cup water, 2 tablespoons sugar, and 2 teaspoons of cornstarch. Add 1 cup raisins. Cook and stir until thick and bubbly.

APPLE FILLING: (This is the one I used!)

Peel, core, and chop 2 medium apples. In a medium saucepan, combine apples, 2 tablespoons sugar, 2 teaspoons of water, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and a dash of ground cloves. Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer 8-10 minutes or until tender.

An apple a day keeps the doctor/dentist a way...
BTW, there's hardly ever a time when we don't have apples in the fridge.  You see, my dad's a dentist and he likes to have his daily apple.

Pros: 

-I always have apples in the fridge.

-I have never had a cavity even with all this baking.

-If I ever have a toothache, there's always a dentist around to fix it.

-Dentists are known for having a sweet-tooth and that's how some of the dessert I make gets eaten. =)

Cons:
-I really can't think of anything...

Monster Cookies & a Makeover

Hi! So here I am after almost 3 weeks without posting! That's definitely a new record which hopefully I won't break anytime soon! I also have a "NEW LOOK" thanks to Heidi over at Bits of Sunshine! 

I absolutely love it and I hope you guys do too!  Thank you sooooo much Heidi, for all the time you spent on my blog.  I'm really happy that I have a new, original design!

Thank you!

 I wanted to post something worthy of this new design, so I whipped up a batch of Ree Drumond's monster cookies!  

The Ingredients

Here's the recipe! It's very similar to Trail Mix Cookies.

My blog really needed a makeover (I'm so thankful I got one), but these cookies don't!

How will these cookies turn out? Stay tuned for the next episode... picture.

Ta-Da!

So, what's changed on my blog besides the new updated design?!?!?!  If you take a look at the bottom, I now have some buttons so you can pin, facebook, tweet, or stumble it. There's also a handy dandy RSS Feed button which means that my blog can be delivered right to you every time I post a new recipe. So to sum all of this up, I basically have a new design (which I love!) along with the same amazing, simple recipes! 

And not to mention, I also have a new design for my GB2 slogan!  If you look carefully at the spoons you'll see a cross! =)