Chocolate Macaroon Cookies

1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup margarine (I use solid not soft; either will work)
1 cup white sugar
1 1/2 cups quick cooking oats
1/2 cup (or more) coconut
3 tbsp cocoa
1 tsp vanilla

1. Gather your equipment and ingredients including a sheet of waxed or parchment paper.

2. Measure milk, margarine and sugar into a pot.

3. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally.

4. Boil for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.

5. While it is cooking/boiling, measure oats, coconut, cocoa and vanilla into a bowl.

6. Add ingredients in bowl to pot.

7. Stir until mixed.

8. Drop by teaspoonsful onto waxed or parchment paper (work quickly so mixture doesn't cool too much. If for some reason it seems to dry, stir in a bit of milk.

9. Let cool/dry/harden.

10. Share with friends and family.

Apple Muffins

Apple Muffins

(based on a recipe at: http://simpleasthatblog.com/2013/09/applesauce-muffins-a-favourite-family-recipe.html)

½ cup butter – softened

½ cup brown sugar

2 eggs

4 apples – peeled and finely chopped

1 ¾ cup whole wheat flour

1 tbsp. baking powder

½ tsp. salt

Pinch cinnamon

Cream butter and sugar.

Beat in eggs one at a time until fluffy.

Mix in chopped apples.

Mix together dry ingredients.

Stir in dry ingredients.

Place in muffin tins.

Bake at 350’ until golden (~20-25 minutes)

Enjoy!

Chocolate Pudding Cake

On this cold and blustery night, I had a craving for a childhood favourite. It's very fast and easy to make. We like it best hot; almost right from the oven: A light chocolate cake, with pudding magically beneath.

1 cup flour
2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 tbsp cocoa
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
1/2 cup milk
2 tbsp oil

3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup cocoa

1 3/4 boiling water

Mix together flour, powder, cocoa and optional nuts then stir in milk and oil. Spread mixture into a 9x9 pan.

Mix together brown sugar and cocoa. Sprinkle on top of cake batter.

Pour hot water over batter/topping.

Bake at 350' for 45 minutes.

Let cool slightly.

You can serve with ice cream.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

1/2 cup shortening
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla
1 egg

1 cup + 2 tbsp flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

chocolate chips
Skor bits (optional)
chopped pecans (optional)

Cream together shortening and sugars. Add vanilla and eggs. Mix well. Blend in dry ingredients. Add chocolate chips and, optionally, Skor bits and chopped pecans.

Drop by teaspoonsful onto parchment-lined baking sheets.

Bake at 350' for 8-12 minutes.

Enjoy!

I usually double or quadruple the recipe while I have everything out. I often make some with just chocolate chips, then add in some Skor bits and finally some with pecans too. It will depend on the preferences of those who will be eating them.

Peanut Butter Cookies

I donated a year's worth of tasty treats in a United Way fundraising auction at work. It went for over $200. Nancy's kindly volunteered to help. She'll do a few of the monthly batches. I made the November batch: peanut butter cookies; half with chocolate chips.

Here's the recipe:

1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup peanut butter (smooth or crunchy)
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 1/4 cups flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
chocolate chips (optional; mini or regular semi-sweet; mini Hersey's peanut butter cups are also a yummy addition)

Mix together shortening, peanut butter and sugars. Add egg. Mix together dry ingredients then add to moist mixture. Add chocolate chips. Form into 1" ball and place on cookie tray (I love using parchment paper-lined sheets so I don't have to wash the cookie trays afterwards). Flatten with fork. Bake at 350' for 8-12 minutes depending on your oven and how well you like them baked.

I usually double the recipe (just as easy since I have all the ingredients out).

I hope you enjoy trying to make some.

I package up 4 dozen of them and kept a few for my family to try. Neither Heidi nor Roland are fond of peanut butter, so it may just be Stefan that wants some, so I may have a few extras to share at work (since I'm trying to avoid sweets this month).

Caramel Recipes

http://www.lisabearnson.com/blog/2010/10/13/october-13-2010-challenge/

and

http://rebeccacooper.blogspot.com/2011/11/turtle-bars-favorite-holiday-recipe.html

Recipe - Blueberry Muffins

1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup white sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

1 cup milk
1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled
1 egg

1 cup frozen blueberries

Stir together dry ingredients.
Add frozen blueberries.
Combine egg, milk and butter together then stir gently into flour-blueberry mixture to just moisten. Do not beat.
Bake 375' for 20 minutes.

For a nice flavour, add the graded rind of one orange or lemon and while hot, dip in melted butter and sugar.

Recipe - Whole Wheat Banana-Oatmeal Muffins

1 cup rolled oats
1 cup milk

2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
5 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
chocolate chips (optional)

1/2 cup margarine, melted and cooled
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups mashed bananas (4-5 medium)

Preheat oven to 375'.
Combine oats and milk. Set aside to soak.
Mix dry ingredients (flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt) together in a bowl.
To soaked mixture, add remaining ingredients and stir together
Add mixed wet ingredients to dry ingredients, stirring gently only until the flour is moistened.
Fill greased or muffin-cup lined tins.
Bake 20 minutes.
Makes 2 dozen medium muffins.