Raisin Crunch Cookies

1 1/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
1 stick (1/2 cup)
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup raisin bran cereal
1 cup coconut
1/2 cup raisins

Pre heat oven 350*
Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda and oats in a medium bowl and set aside.

Beat butter and sugars in large bowl. Add in egg and vanilla and continue mixing until smooth.

Gradually add dry ingredients, mixing well between each addition.

Mix in cereal, coconut and raisins.

Bake 12-14 minutes until golden brown.

Quick, delish and somewhat healthy. Enjoy!

A Wonderful cake recipe

http://parispastry.blogspot.com/2010/06/le-cake-orange.html

I was surfing around this blog last week and came across a recipe for Le Cake Orange. I made it today and all I can say is it is heavenly.
Be sure and check out her blog for the recipe and give it a try. You will not be sorry.

You can go your own way...

My husband and I spent the day relaxing a little more before picking back up our busy schedules that will kick back in on Monday. I have learned a few relaxing tips over this holiday season though that I plan to continue throughout the year.

I am not making any New Year's resolutions this year, not in the traditional sense anyway. I did pretty well with most of the resolutions that I made last year but I have decided to continue on the path I have decided upon and remind myself frequently to be AWARE. Aware of my blessings, aware of my surroundings, aware of everything going on in and around me. I believe this will help me stay centered and focused on the 'right now' and let the past and the future go their own ways. The present is what I have and what I need to be spending all of my energy on.

Dinner tonight was Low and Slow Italian sausages, roasted brusells sprouts and sweet potato fries. My none veggie lover husband even enjoyed it.

What was your first dinner of the new year? Any resolutions?

2011 HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Our Christmas was really nice. For the first time in many years we had a White Christmas. It was beautiful. We spent the day relaxing, hanging out and of course eating plenty of good foods.

We watched tons of Christmas movies this season. Still my all time favorite is A Christmas Story. Who could ever get tired of Ralphie? I tried to find or put in a Christmas movie every chance I had even if I was up cleaning or doing something else. Something about one of these holiday movies playing in the background soothes me...it's weird.

We decided we wanted to pass on the 'traditional' holiday meal that we have ALWAYS had and we had meatballs, stuffed shells, salad and a loaf of bread with garlic butter. It was delicious and a really nice switch from the usual.

I have a tradition that I started a few years ago. Every year sometime between Christmas and New Years I read Raphael, The Herald Angle. It's copyright is 1957. My great, great grandmother gave me the book when I was young. It is a wonderful short story that you can read in an hour or so. If you can find it, I highly recommend it.

We did really well on avoiding the commercialism of the holiday. I didn't purchase any new decorations. We didn't spend a lot eating out or on mind less shopping trips. My husband and I set a limit on each other and agreed we both wanted something that was useful and needed. For our friends and relatives we either gave gift cards or food gifts. Keeping it simple and focusing on the true meaning of the Holiday is very refreshing. I hope everyone was able to feel that and that we may all remember to try and keep that Holiday spirit throughout the entire year!

SNOW DAY!!

We live in Southern Illinois and really don't get snow all that often so it was a real treat to wake up on a Sunday morning to find everything covered with beautiful white snow!
If you have snow where you are...go out and have some fun it. I made this snow angel for a friend in Florida that has never seen snow.
Now I'm off to make some Christmas goodies.

A great Cookie Recipe

I have to take 40 cookies to work tomorrow for a cookie exchange, plus I wanted a few for here to freeze for Christmas Eve. Most of the recipes I wanted to do only made 3 or 4 dozen so I pulled out my Grandmothers 1953 copy of Better Homes and Gardens cookbook and found this recipe.
It's a simple recipe, made 75 cookies and they are really tasty.

SOUTHERN CREAM COOKIES
1 CUP SHORTENING
2 CUPS SUGAR
3 WELL BEATEN EGGS
1 TEASPOON VANILLA
1 CUP SOUR CREAM
5 CUPS FLOUR
3 TEASPOONS BAKING POWDER
1 TEASPOON SALT
1/2 TEASPOON BAKING SODA
1 1/2 CUPS CHOPPED WALNUTS
3 TABLESPOONS SUGAR
1 TEASPOON CINNAMON

Cream shortening and sugar; add eggs, vanilla and sour cream; mix well. Sift flour with baking powder, salt and baking soda; add to creamed mixture. Add nuts.
Drop from teaspoon onto baking sheet. Grease the bottom of a small glass; dip into cinnamon sugar mixture; lightly press cookie flat.
Bake in 350 oven for 10-12 minutes or until edges turn a golden brown.
Makes 6 dozen cookies.

Dreaming of Thanksgiving Dinner...

I LOVE Thanksgiving. It is one of my favorite holidays because it centers around food, fun and family. It's a day to relax, enjoy and appreciate all that you have to be thankful for.

Our menu this year...
Roasted Turkey
Mashed Potatoes
Sweet Potato Casserole
Corn
Deviled Eggs
Parker House Rolls
Pumpkin Pie

The only new recipe that I'm doing this year is the parker house rolls. I found a recipe in this months Food Network Magazine. I'm not the best bread baker, especially with a new recipe soooo wish me luck. I'll let you know how they turn out.

What's on your menu for the Holiday?