Easy Lacy Oatmeal Cookies

A Light, delicate tasty cookie

1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
Dash of salt
1 stick butter; softened
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups Quick cooking rolled oats
Heat oven to 375. Grease cookie sheets. In medium size bowl, beat butter, sugar, salt and vanilla until light and fluffy. Stir in oats; mix well. (Dough will be crumbly). Drop by a scant teaspoon (about the size of a grape) 2 inches apart onto a parchment lined or greased cookie sheet. Flatten slightly. Bake at 375 for 7 - 9 mins. or until golden around edges. Cool for 2 minutes. Remove from cookie sheet and allow to cool completely on cooling rack.
Makes approx 3 dozen.

Sweet Broccoli Salad

This so good!! I could and have made a meal out of it!! Lighter version in parentheses


1/2 pound bacon

5 cups small broccoli florets  (chopped into very small pieces)

1/3 cup onion diced into tiny pieces
1 cup mayonnaise (Light or fat free)
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1/4 cup sugar ( or sugar substitute)
3/4 cup raisins or craisins or dried cherries
1/2 cup sliced almonds or sunflower seed kernels

In a mixing bowl, combine the mayonnaise, vinegar, onion, sugar and raisins. Add the broccoli and toss the coat with the dressing. Refrigerate for 1 hour.

Just before servings, fold in the almonds /sunflower kernels and the bacon pieces. Serve immediately.

Seasoned Ritz Crackers

1 stick melted butter,
1 packet Ranch dressing mix,
¼ c. grated Parmesan,
1 tbsp. red pepper flakes
1 tsp. garlic powder.
1 box Ritz crackers

~Directions

Toss box of Ritz crackers with all 5 ingredients onto a baking pan.
Bake in a preheated 300 degree oven for 15 minutes
Take out and Savor the Flavor!

Pecan Pie Cobbler

1 Box refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on box
2 1/2 cups light corn syrup
... 2 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted
4 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
6 eggs, slightly beaten
2 cups coarsely chopped pecans
Butter-flavor cooking spray
2 cups pecan halves
Vanilla ice cream, if desired
1. Heat oven to 425°F. Grease 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with shortening or cooking spray. Remove 1 pie crust from pouch; unroll on work surface. Roll into 13x9-inch rectangle. Place crust in dish; trim edges to fit.
2. In large bowl, stir corn syrup, brown sugar, butter, vanilla and eggs with wire whisk. Stir in chopped pecans. Spoon half of filling into crust-lined dish. Remove second pie crust from pouch; unroll on work surface. Roll into 13x9-inch rectangle. Place crust over filling; trim edges to fit. Spray crust with butter-flavor cooking spray.
3. Bake 14 to 16 minutes or until browned. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. Carefully spoon remaining filling over baked pastry; arrange pecan halves on top in decorative fashion. Bake 30 minutes longer or until set. Cool 20 minutes on cooling rack. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

Slab Peach Pie

Ingredients:

• 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 6 cups fresh sliced peaches
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 rectangular pieces of pie dough rolled out to approximately 11×14-inches*(I used premade pie crusts )
• 1 egg, beaten

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 400-degrees F. Position oven rack in bottom third of oven.
2. In large bowl, whisk together brown sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, ginger and salt. Add peaches and lemon juice; toss to coat. Set aside.
3. Fit one piece of pastry dough into an ungreased 9x13x1-inch sheet pan (quarter sheet pan). Allow access overhang. Do not trim. Pour peach filling into crust and spread evenly.
4. Place remaining piece of dough on top.** Pinch edges of two crusts together to seal, tuck under any extra pastry crust, as needed. Use a knife to cut vents across top of pie crust.
5. Brush crust with beaten egg. Optional: evenly sprinkle top with about a tablespoon of sugar.
6. Bake for 35-40 minutes, until bubbly and golden brown. Remove from oven and set aside to cool completely before slicing. Serve with vanillia icecream

Death By Chocolate Fudge Bundt Cake

Ingredients

• 1 (18.25 oz.) chocolate cake mix
• 1 (3.4 oz.) package instant chocolate pudding mix
• 2 cups sour cream or plain greek yogurt
• 3 eggs
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

Grease and flour a 10-inch bundt pan

In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat all ingredients (except chocolate chips) until well blended  

Fold in chocolate chips.

Spoon batter into prepared pan.(it will be thick) 

Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour. Mine needed an hour

Cool for 15 minutes in the pan before turning out onto a wire rack to cool complete

Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake W/ Lemon Glaze

This was my oldest Grandson Cole's first ever cake to make... using blueberries that we went and picked ...so easy to make... he did a great job ..

• 3 large eggs
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup canola, corn, or safflower oil
• 1 cup sour cream or plain greek yogurt
• Juice and finely grated zest of 2 lemons (about 1/4 cup juice)
• 1 box (18.25 ounces) yellow cake mix with pudding in the mix
• 2 cups fresh cleaned blueberries (dusted in flour so they don't sink)

Preparation

Grease and flour a 10 to 12-cup Bundt cake pan or 10-inch tube cake pan. Heat the oven to 325° for a dark pan, 350° for a light-colored pan.
In a mixing bowl with an electric mixer, beat the eggs with the sugar until light; beat in the oil, sour cream, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Continue beating until smooth.
With the mixer on low speed, slowly blend in the dry cake mix. Turn the mixer to high and beat until well blended.
put a few blueberries in the bottom of pan add 1/2 the batter add 1/3 of remaining blueberries, topped with remaining batter and remaining blueberries, smoothing the top.
Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the cake.
Drizzle with lemon glaze. (recipe below)


Lemon Glaze

2/3 cup sifted confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice, fresh
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind

Put the sugar in a small bowl.
Add lemon juice and rind.
Whisk together until smooth and well blended.
 Drizzle over lemon pound cake or any other cake.

Best Ever Meringues

These are by far the best tasting meringues I have ever eaten... and with using Jello the flavors are endless!!!

Ingredients:

• 4 egg whites, room temperature
• 1 Tbsp white vinegar
• 1 Tbsp corn starch
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 3 Tbsp JELL-O gelatin powder (I used blue raspberry flavor)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 200°F. Line two baking sheets (or one large with parchment paper. Set aside.
2. In a clean, dry mixing bowl, whisk egg whites with electric mixer until foamy (about 30 seconds).
3. Add in vinegar and corn starch and continue to beat for about a minute, as soft peaks begin to form.
4. Slowly add in sugar a little at a time, while mixer is on high, and continue beating while adding in gelatin powder. Beat until stiff peaks form (about 1-2 minutes).
5. Fill pastry bags with meringue and pipe onto the parchment paper in swirls (using your favorite tip). Place in oven and bake for 90 minutes. Turn oven off and leave in oven for several hours or overnight.Mine were ready in about and hour 
6. Store in an airtight container (if they last that long)