Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies

I am ready to share the best chocolate chip oatmeal cookie you will ever make!

(props to a girl named Keely and my friend Jackie who gave me the recipe)

Also.. when posting recipes.. please add a tag to the post for example, if it's a Chinese dish, tag it as Chinese as well as whatever else the dish consists of..so people can look up all the Chinese dishes, etc..Thanks!

Ingredients:

2 1/2 c oatmeal (blend in blender until fine)

2 c flour ( I use wheat flour..can use white if you'd like..I like to pretend it's healthier)

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 c brown sugar

1 c sugar

2 eggs

2 sticks imperial margarine (I swear it tastes better with this brand of margarine)

1 tsp vanilla

1-2 c chocolate chips

1 c chopped pecans

Mix your dry ingredients, then your wet and combine with mixer. add the oatmeal last and I tend to use my "clean" hands to mix it, it works better. then, add the chocolate chips and chopped nuts.

Bake @ 350 for 8-10 minutes

Peruvian Pollo Saltado

I was super excited for this recipe I came up with.. I crave it often! we go to Ricon..I think that's what it's called (some Mom & Pop Peruvian restuarant with our friends and it delicious! just wanted to try out my own little version of what they make.. so here you go)


Ingredients:
1-2 tbsps minced garlic
1/4 of red onion cut in wedges
1/4 of white onion cut in wedges
1/4 cup of diced green onions
2 tbsps chopped cilantro
4 potatoes
3 large chicken breasts cut in small slices/pieces/strips..whatever you want
cumin
paprika
soy sauce
black pepper
white wine vinegar
peanut, vegetable oil, or olive oil ( I used olive oil)
red & green bell peppers (opt) or sliced baby carrots (what I used)
1-2 tomatoes

in a ziploc bag.. put chicken (cut up) in with a few tablespoons of soy sauce, a few dashes of cumin and paprika. marinade in fridge for 15 minutes or so. In a wok or deep pan, heat oil, a few tablespoons to coat bottom and cook marinated chicken (work in small batches to cook evenly). reserve cooked chicken in bowl. meanwhile, cut up potatoes into french fries and fry in oil (vegetable oil preferably) until golden brown. drain and set aside.

add about a tablespoon of oil (olive oil) in same pan used for chicken and add garlic until golden brown. add the onions and (opt you can add red/green bell peppers.. I opted out, since I don't like them and just added sliced baby carrots..even better!) stir and fry for a few seconds. add a few splashes of soy sauce and white wine vinegar. add a few pinches of cumin and stir. then add the sliced tomatoes and add a few pinches of paprika, stir. return chicken to pan and toss gently. add chopped cilantro and then the french fries. stir gently and serve with white rice (which I am assuming everyone can make..if not, let me know and I will post..thanks!)

Cheese Ball

Ok I'm sure most of you know how to make a cheese ball.. but I figured I'd post it in case you don't! they are super easy and fast

depending on the size of your ball you want, I used 2 packages of cream cheese (fat free..no one can even tell). add 2 triangles of laughing cow swiss cheese(they are in the cheese isle in a small round container), parsley, 1/2 packet-1 packet of ranch dip seasoning, shredded cheddar cheese, shredded mozzarella cheese (keep adding the cheese until you get an even mix)..mix ingredients until well blended. Roll up your cheeses in a ball and roll in crushed walnuts (or whatever nuts you like). wrap in cellophane and store in fridge. serve with crackers.. like wheat thins or crackers hard enough to spread the cheese on it.

Pasta Pizza

This is one of the fastest and easiest meals you can make and be creative!

For this one, I did small cheese ravioli.. but you can do any kind of pasta.

Cook the pasta "al dente". Drain and set aside. In a sauce pan, simmer pasta sauce..any kind you like..marinara, whatever! and add: italian seasoning, 1 triangle laughing cow swiss cheese spread (I use this alot), a few tbsps of heavy whipping cream and alfredo sauce.

Add pasta to pan and pour sauce over it. Then add shredded mozzerella cheese on top. Then.. add your ingredients..whatever you like on your "pizza". I added: cherry tomatoes, olives, and pepperoni. Then I sprinkled the top with parmesan cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes.

So Excited!

I was so excited when Andrea sent me the email about this blog! I LOVE to cook. I love that i get new ideas because I hate feeling like I get stuck in a rut. So here are a couple from me! I am so excited to try everyone elses!

Rachel

Potatoes that Taste better Than the Chicken!

This is a great Sunday Dinner Meal! If your hubby is a meat and potatoes kind of guy this is a pleaser for sure!

Potatoes that Taste Better than the Chicken

*12 Tbsp. Butter

*12 tbsp. oil

*4 lbs potatoes, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces. (Yukon gold are recommended but I can never find them)

*1 whole 5-6lb chicken, wings removed (I never remove them because some people like the dark meat and I feel it keeps it moister)

8 tsp rosemary

8 tsp thyme

10 tsp minced garlic

1. pre heat oven to 450

2. Butter a medium roasting pan with 6 tbsp. butter and 6 tbsp oil. Place potatoes in a single layer in roasting pan. (mine always takes more room) Season Chicken inside and out with salt and pepper. Place Rosemary, Thyme, and garlic inside cavity of chicken. Using kitchen twine ( or kite string in my case!) tie legs together to enclose. Rub chicken with remaining oil and butter. Place chicken on top of potatoes.

3. Transfer roasting pan to oven and roast for 40 minutes. Turn Chicken onto its other side and continue roasting another 40 minutes. Add 4 Tbsp water to pan, continue roasting until juices run clear and the internal temp reaches 165 degrees, 20 -40 min more. ( I NEVER have rotated my bird. I would rather have just the bottom be a little soggy than chance 2 sides being that way. I just cook for the 80 min. and then add water and cook more. I would plan on a little extra time just in case. The first time the oven I used took longer.)

Pineapple Chicken

5-6 Chicken Breast
Wheat Hamburger Buns
1 Fresh Pineapple
1 Bottle Lawry's Teriyaki with pineapple juice (by the bbq sauce in store)

Marinate Chicken in Ziploc with Marinade all day.
Grill
Serve on Wheat bun with slice of Fresh Pineapple

Lettuce Wraps with Thai Peanut Sauce!

These are soooo good! I think they rival pei wei or PF Changs. If your kiddos LOVE peanut butter they will like this. Gav wasn't sure until I told him it had peanut butter dip. This is one of his favorites!

*4-6 Chicken Breast Minced ( I just dice in small pieces. ** It is easier to cut chicken when still a little frozen. I set it out and wait and hour and then chop. Then make sure it has enough time to thaw all the way)

*¾ Red Onion, chopped finely

*4 cups Shredded Green Cabbage ( I just buy the bag already chopped)

* 2 cups shredded Carrots ( I buy already shredded bags at the store)

*2tbsp minced or powdered Ginger

*8 tsp minced Garlic

Soy Sauce

Lettuce Cups, washed and chilled ( Cut Iceberg head in half and piece cups apart. I do it while they are a little wet and put in zip locks with paper towels)

Cooked Rice, 2 cups

Saute Onion in hot oil until tender. Add chicken and saute until no longer pink. Add rest of the ingredients except soy sauce and saute about 2-3 min. until tender. Sprinkle with soy sauce as desired for flavor. ( I just make sure it changes the color of the chicken. Not to much some people don’t like soy)

Don’t let the cabbage get soggy!

Peanut Sauce~ I make this first and set out

* ¼ C. Creamy Peanut Butter

*1 Cup Sugar

* 3 Tbsp soy sauce

* 4-6 tsp minced Garlic~ I add 6 I like Garlic

* 3 Tbsp water

* 2 Tbsp oil

*** for a little kick I set out Thai Chili paste and put it on top to the peanut sauce in my wrap***

spoon mixture into lettuce cup and spoon a little sauce on top. Fold up and eat! I love with peanut sauce a little soy and a little Thai chili paste! But create your own.

Peruvian Alfajores

AlfajoresCookies:

1-1/2 cups unsalted butter

1 cup confectioners' sugar

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup ground almonds

3 cups flour

Manjar Blanco Filling:

5 cups whole milk

1-1/8 cups sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla

1. Prepare the Manjar Blanco filling. Put the milk, sugar and vanilla in a medium saucepan and let it come to a boil. Continue to boil the mixture, stirring occasionally, until thickened, approximately 45 minutes. The Manjar is ready if you put a bit on a plate and it does not run.

2. Cream butter with confectioners' sugar until fluffy.

3. Stir in remaining ingredients.

4. Wrap and chill 30 minutes (if you leave it longer, just let it warm up to the point of being able to be rolled out).

5. Roll dough out to 1/4" thickness. Cut in 2 1/2" circles and place on parchment lined cookie sheet. They won’t expand much, so you can place them pretty close together.

6. Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes.

7. Cool cookie sheets between batches and cool cookies on wire rack.

8. When cookies have completely cooled, carefully spread some manjar blanco on one cookie and top with another cookie. Other alternatives to fillings: chocolate nutella.. yum, also dulce de leite (you can buy in a can.. or you can put a can of sweetened condensed milk in a pan full of water and boil for 3 hrs) I added the manjar blanco with a little of the dulce de leite.. super yum!

9. Dust tops with confectioners' sugar and enjoy immediately.

Thanks to Laura for introducing me to these yummy Peruvian cookies!

chocolate cake truffle

Ok these are delish and super easy..

thank you Cari for introducing these to me!

we had these at Bunco and they were a hit.. everyone loved them

start with a box of chocolate cake..or any kind and follow recipe on the box..or if you like homemade cake..then do that.

once the cake is done, put in a bowl and mix with 1 package of cream cheese and form into balls

melt a bag of baking chocolate and dip balls into melted chocolate.. cool on wax paper

melt some white baking chocolate and put in ziploc bag, cut a small hole in the corner and drizzle the top

presto, you have yourself a yummy truffle

Ok, I'm beginning to think nobody is into these recipes.. so if you are by any chance .. let me know.. or if you're not, then make a comment of something you want to learn to make and I will do it.. thanks!

Fruit Arrangement

This was inspired by fruit arrangements..which costs about $75-$90!

so I figure.. I will do one for free..this one I did for a friend's baby shower

I started out with a small round watermelon. use a melon baller and scoop out balls and put in a bowl until the watermelon half is empty.. then scrape out excess watermelon scraps and save. turn the empty watermelon upside down and put on cake platter. cut melon balls in half.

line the watermelon half with strawberries around the edge. with a flower cookie cutter, cut out flowers in a pineapple, save.

starting from the bottom of the watermelon half, using skewers cut in half putting the sharp end into the watermelon, use grapes as stem and add strawberries. then, on another stem, adding grapes, then your pineapple flower and watermelon ball half.

for one of the stems I did grapes and then manderin oranges for the top!

be creative and use different colorful fruits! this is great for occasions and get togethers, so people can just pull out a skewer and eat the fruit!

Poppy Seed Spinach Salad

This spinach salad recipe is the best I've come by and everyone loves it!

(this recipe is thanks to a girl named Tara)

Poppy Seed Dressing:

• 1c olive oil
• 2/3c apple cider vinegar
• 1tsp salt
• 3/4c sugar
• 2tsp poppy seed

*blend ingredients in blender/hand mixer for about 3 minutes..add poppy seed last and pulse in.

Salad

• 1 bag spinach
• 1/2 red onion
• feta cheese
• 1-2 avacados
• red or yellow grape tomatoes
• carmelized slivered almonds:

add about 1 1/2 c almonds to 1c sugar and roast on pan on med heat on the stove until sugar carmelizes. stir frequently then place on wax paper to cool. one cool, break up and add to salad!

add desired amount of dressing to prepared salad and you will be in heaven :)

Fruit Salad

This fruit salad is super easy and quick..nothing to it!

just gather whatever fruits you like:

in my case, what fruits you had in the fridge at the time..

2 mangos

1 carton strawberries

1 carton blueberries

grapes

2 gala apples, peeled

1/2 can pineapple chunks

1 tbsp honey

1-2 tbsp sugar

1-2 tbsp lime juice

1-2 tbsp pineapple juice

cut all fruit into small pieces (except blueberries) and put in a bowl. add honey, sugar, lime juice and pineapple juice

serve with whip cream or cool whip!