Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

 
These cookies are amazing. They're better than having a day off of work. They're better than finding $20 in a pocket of old jeans. They're better than going on a Hobby Lobby shopping spree with a gift card and a coupon. They're better than fresh-squeezed lemonade on a hot summer's day.  They're better than a shiny new car.

Okay, so maybe I wouldn't go THAT far, but these cookies are freakin' GOOD.  They have a light, buttery flavor with a hint of vanilla.  And the perfect proportion of chocolate chips. 

As seen on Baking Sheet; originally from The Frog Commissary Cookbook

INGREDIENTS

1 cup butter, room temperature (ehhh, I nuked it for about 15 seconds on power level 3)
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar (I used dark)
2 large eggs
2 tbsp milk
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 1/2 cups oats (rolled or "quick," but not "instant")
2 cups chocolate chips (I used a little less)

1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or spray with cooking spray.

2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and the sugars until mixture is light in color. Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the milk and the vanilla extract.

3. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Either by hand or with the mixer on low speed, gradually beat the flour in to the sugar mixture until just incorporated.

4. Stir in the oats and chocolate chips by hand. Refrigerate dough for 20-30 minutes.

5. Drop 1-inch balls of dough onto the cookie sheet, placing about 1 1/2 inches apart so they have room to spread.

6. Bake at 350F for 10-13 minutes, until golden brown at the edges and light golden at the center.

7. Cool on baking sheet for at least 1-2 minutes before transfering to a wire rack to cool completely.

Makes 4 dozen.

Creamy Jalapeno Ranch

 
This year, we've been blessed with an overabundance of jalapenos from our potted plants.  (Read:  This year, I've remembered to water said jalapeno plants on a semi-regular basis.)

I recently harvested more jalapenos than I knew what to do with, so I consulted the Oracle Google.  This spicy ranch dressing was among the first results to pop up, and it was definitely love at first bite.  We ate salads everyday for a week while this was in the fridge.

True story.

From Confections of a Foodie Bride
Serves 12-16

* Gluten-free diners should double-check the sour cream and mayonnaise labels for gluten sources.  My favorite sour cream, Daisy brand, is gluten-free.  Hellman's and Kraft produce gluten-free mayonnaise.

INGREDIENTS
3/4 cup sour cream
3/4 cup mayo
Juice of 1/2 lime
1 small bunch of chives (equal to ~2 Tbsp chopped)
Small handful cilantro
1-2 jalapenos, seeds and stem removed
1/4 to 1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp fresh ground black pepper
1 clove garlic
1/4 to 1/2 cup buttermilk (optional)

DIRECTIONS
1.  Place all ingredients in a blender.
2.  Blend for 10 seconds. Check consistency and blend in buttermilk if desired. (Use less buttermilk for dipping, more for dressing).
3.  Store in an air-tight jar in the fridge.

Roasted Okra

I get a little "Bubba Gump" when I talk about my okra- fried okra, boiled okra, stewed okra, okra gumbo, I love it it all!  Until today, though, I was lacking one glorious method of preparation in my repertoire- roasted okra!  I don't know why I'd never thought to roast it before.  Roasting veggies almost always results in awesomeness, and this was no different.  The roasted okra had less of the "slimy mouthfeel" that my husband loves so much.  (Not!)

Adapted from Allrecipes
Serves 3

* Gluten-free diners should double-check the seasoned salt label for gluten sources.

INGREDIENTS
18 fresh okra pods, stems removed
1 tbsp olive oil
Seasoned salt to taste

DIRECTIONS
1.  Preheat oven to 425.

2.  Place okra and olive oil in a gallon-sized Ziploc and shake to coat.  Place okra on a nonstick baking sheet in a single layer.  Place in preheated oven and roast until tender, about 10-15 minutes.

Mexican Sour Cream Rice

 Authentic?  Not a chance.  Delicious?  Ohhh yeah!

This is the wonderful rice dish I promised you a couple of weeks ago, and believe me when I say it's worth the wait!  This rice concoction was creamy and spicy- the perfect complement to salsa chicken.  I'm usually not a leftovers type of girl, but I took it to work for lunch three days in a row!

Adapted from Allrecipes

* Gluten-free diners should check their chicken broth for sources of gluten.  This website has a list of gluten-free broths.  In addition, diners should check the sour cream and corn labels for sources of gluten.  Daisy produces gluten-free sour cream and Del Monte's whole kernel corn is gluten-free as well.

INGREDIENTS
1 cup uncooked long grain white rice
1 (14 ounce) can chicken broth
1 cup reduced fat sour cream
2 jalapenos, finely diced
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese, divided
1 (8.75 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 green onion, sliced

DIRECTIONS 
1.  In a large pot, bring the rice and chicken broth to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 20 minutes. 

2.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 1-1/2 quart casserole dish. 

3.  In the pot with the cooked rice, mix the sour cream, jalapenos, 1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese, corn, and cilantro. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to the prepared casserole dish, and top with remaining cheese. 

4.  Bake uncovered 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until cheese is bubbly and lightly browned.  Top with green onion slices and serve.

Lard-Free Flour Tortillas

Once upon a time, I told y'all that I'm not real big on breakfast foods.  I guess I'm coming around, though, because I now wake up itching to cook up a big breakfast at least one day a week.  This morning, I got up and immediately began pouting about the paper I need to rewrite because I failed to click the save button caught a craving for breakfast tacos.  But not your standard fast food fare- no, I wanted the kind that would bring me back to the Saturday morning afternoon Taco Taco trips of my college days.

But first, I needed tortillas.

I'll admit that the idea of making tortillas has always scared the everliving daylights out of me.  But now that I've done it, I don't know why I waited so long.  Homemade tortillas are WAY tastier than the bagged grocery store variety, and they take zero extra skill at all.  If you can operate a rolling pin, you can make a tortilla!  I filled them with scrambled eggs and salsa and they really hit the spot.  Now, I just need to figure out how to use the rest of them!

Adapted from Allrecipes

INGREDIENTS
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
3 tbsp butter (original recipe called for lard, but I didn't have any)
3/4 cups water

DIRECTIONS  

1.  Mix the flour, salt, and baking powder together in a mixing bowl. Mix in the lard with your fingers until the flour resembles cornmeal. Add the water and mix until the dough comes together; place on a lightly floured surface and knead a few minutes until smooth and elastic. Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces and roll each piece into a ball. 

2.  Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Use a well-floured rolling pin to roll a dough ball into a thin, round tortilla. Place into the hot skillet, and cook until bubbly and golden; flip and continue cooking until golden on the other side. Set aside and repeat until all tortillas have been cooked.

Crockpot Salsa Chicken

This dish is so easy that I'm hesitant to call it a recipe at all.  I like to make a big batch of salsa chicken and freeze it in portions to use in other recipes- tacos, enchiladas, tostadas, you name it. If you decide to give it a go, do pick a spicy salsa because the level of heat will decrease with the long cook time.

Oh, and that rice concoction sitting beside it?  Heaven. 

Looking for a quick and easy crockpot taco recipe but tired of chicken?  Check out my crockpot carnitas!

As seen on Trainer Momma 

* Gluten-free diners should double-check their salsa for sources of gluten.

INGREDIENTS
6-8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
16 oz of your favorite salsa

DIRECTIONS
Combine in a slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours.  (I put it on to cook before I left for work today, so mine cooked for about 10 hours and it was fine.)

Banana Choco-Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Mr. Ommy Noms and I have a sweet, sweet little fox terrier mix who's pretty much the light of our lives.  But, as my grandma would say, "He's spoiled so rotten that he stinks."  Yes, it seems that our little darling has learned that barking his head off when we're not in the room will make one of "his people" appear as if by magic.  He pulled that trick at an inhumanely early hour 9:30 this morning.

I couldn't go back to sleep, so I headed into the kitchen to forage.  We had several overly ripe bananas, and not much else.  (We're definitely past due for a grocery store trip!)  I wasn't in the mood for banana bread, but Google led me to this nifty banana cookie recipe and I started mixing.

Let me tell you, these cookies will rock your world.  They are moist with a delicious banana flavor.  Do keep an eye on them, as my first batch got too brown at the recommended 18 minute mark.  I baked the next pan for 16 minutes and they were perfect.

As seen on Erin Cooks, originally from The Essential Chocolate Chip Cookbook

INGREDIENTS
1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup oatmeal (not quick-cooking)
2 cups (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
2 bananas, cut into 1/4 to1/3 inch pieces

DIRECTIONS
1.  Position a rack in the middle of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350º F. Grease two baking sheets or line them with buttered parchment paper.
2.  In a small bowl, stir the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon together, set aside.
3.  In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until smoothly blended, about 1 minute. Stop the mixer and scrape the sides of the bowl as needed during mixing. Add the egg and vanilla and mix until blended, about 1 minute. The mixture may look slightly curdled.
4.  On low speed, add the flour mixture, mixing just until it is incorporated. Mix in the oatmeal. Mix in the chocolate chips until evenly distributed. Use a large spoon to mix in the banana pieces, mixing just until they are evenly distributed and some of the pieces are mashed but most are still visible, about 20 seconds.
5.  Use a tablespoon to drop heaping spoonfuls of dough (about 3 level tablespoons each) onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing the cookies 3 inches apart. (I just eyeballed it.)
6.  Bake the cookies one sheet at a time until the edges are lightly browned and the tops look dry, about 16-18 minutes. Cool the cookies on the baking sheet for 10 minutes, than use a wide spatula to transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
7.  The cookies can be stored in a tightly covered container, layered between sheets of wax paper, at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Chocolate Crinkles

You know, sometimes a girl just needs a chocolate fix.  Chocolate crinkles are my go-to give-me-chocolate-NOW treat.  The sugared outside gets slightly crisp, while the inside is soft and fudgy.

I usually don't think far enough ahead to chill the dough for 4 hours, so I just pop the bowl in the freezer for 30 minutes to an hour.  I return the bowl to the freezer between batches to make sure the dough doesn't get too soft.

Adapted from Allrecipes

INGREDIENTS
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

DIRECTIONS
1. In a medium bowl, mix together cocoa, white sugar, and vegetable oil. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt; stir into the cocoa mixture. Cover dough, and chill for at least 4 hours. (I have stuck the dough in the freezer before and cooled it for a shorter amount of time.)

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Roll dough into one inch balls. I like to use a number 50 size scoop. Coat each ball in confectioners' sugar before placing onto prepared cookie sheets.

3. Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes. Let stand on the cookie sheet for a minute before transferring to wire racks to cool.

Fannie Farmer Macaroni and Cheese

I've been feeling under the weather the past few days, and Mr. Ommy Noms has been taking great care of me.  He's been requesting homemade macaroni & cheese for awhile, and I made it tonight as a "thank you" for all the medicine- and blanket-fetching he's done.  I found this recipe on Mocha Me, but it actually hails from a 1946 Fannie Farmer cookbook.  I enjoy trying old recipes, so I decided to give it a go.  It turned out so good!  I'm looking forward to having it again tomorrow night with some seared tilapia!

I didn't really know what "buttered breadcrumbs" was supposed to mean, so I just double-toasted a couple slices of bread and crunched them into crumbs.

As seen on Mocha Me; originally from the Fannie Farmer Boston Cooking-School Cookbook, 1946 edition

INGREDIENTS
1 (8 ounce) package macaroni

4 tablespoons butter

4 tablespoons flour

1 cup milk

1 cup cream (I used half & half)

1/2 teaspoon salt

fresh ground pepper, to taste

2 cups cheddar cheese (buy the block and shred it yourself)

1/2 cup breadcrumbs, buttered

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Cook and drain macaroni according to package directions; set aside. In a large saucepan, melt butter. Add flour mixed with salt and pepper, using a whisk to stir until well blended.

Pour milk and cream in gradually; stirring constantly. Bring to boiling point and boil 2 minutes (stirring constantly).

Reduce heat and cook (stirring constantly) 10 minutes.

Add shredded cheese little by little and simmer an additional 5 minutes, or until cheese melts.

Turn off flame. Add macaroni to the saucepan and toss to coat with the cheese sauce. Transfer macaroni to a buttered baking dish. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs.

Bake for 20 minutes until the top is golden brown.

Skillet Chicken with Peppers and Peanuts

This was a throw-together meal that turned out so tasty I cooked it again the following week.  The marinade gives the dish a nice Asian-inspired flavor.  The first time I made it, I marinated the chicken for a full 24 hours and thought the meat tasted a little too salty.  If you're going to marinate it for that long, I'd recommend using low-sodium soy sauce.

This would make a great after-work dish because the bulk of the cook time is hands-off.

From How Sweet It Is
Serves 3

*  Gluten-free diners should ensure that their soy sauce is gluten-free.  Kikkoman now produces a gluten-free soy sauce that is clearly labeled.  Additionally, double-check your peanuts for gluten sources.  Diamond Nuts brand peanuts are gluten-free.  You may opt to substitute plain peanuts for the dry roasted ones.

INGREDIENTS
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (I used large ones)
1 each: red, green, yellow pepper, sliced into thin rings
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/3 cup dry roasted peanuts, coarsely chopped

For the marinade:
1/3 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup sherry wine (I just used a couple tbsp of vermouth)
1-2 tablespoons brown sugar
3 garlic cloves, minced

DIRECTIONS
2-24 hours beforehand, combined marinade ingredients in a baking dish. Add chicken to the marinade and let marinate for 2-24 hours, turning occasionally to coat.

1.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

2.  Heat an oven-safe skillet over medium heat.  Add 2 tablespoons olive oil to skillet and add pepper slices with a pinch of salt. Stir and cook for 5 minutes. Remove peppers to a plate and turn heat up to medium high. Add chicken breasts and sear on each side until well browned, about 5 minutes. After the second side has seared, top the chicken with the pepper slices and add the entire skillet to the oven uncovered.

3.  Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and top with peanuts. Let sit for 5 minutes before serving.  Serve over rice.

Oreo Cheesecake Bars

 

Sorry for going MIA on y'all- I went back to work on Monday and I've been running around like a chicken with my head cut off.  Even though I've been getting to school early and staying late, it's SO hard to get everything done!  I'm probably not going to be doing a lot of cooking in the next couple weeks, but I've got a backlog of summer recipes all queued up and ready to share!  This is one of my recent favorites.

I get together with a group of coworkers to play Bunco about once a month, and we take turns bringing an entree or dessert to share with the group.  When I saw these Oreo cheesecake bars on Annie's Eats, I knew I couldn't go wrong.  (After all, the law of women states that chocolate + cheesecake = happiness!)  They tasted amazing and were gone in a snap.  I think next time, I will break up a few more Oreos to put in the cheesecake portion to get even more of that delicious Oreo-ness in every bite.

As seen on Annie's Eats; originally from You Made That Dessert? by Beth Lipton 

INGREDIENTS
For the crust:
23 Oreo cookies
2 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted

For the cheesecake:
12 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
6 tbsp. sugar
6 tbsp. sour cream, at room temperature
½ tsp. vanilla extract
¼ tsp. salt
1 large egg plus 1 egg yolk
12 Oreo cookies, roughly chopped

DIRECTIONS

1.  Preheat the oven to 325˚ F.  Line an 8 x 8-inch baking dish with foil.  To make the crust, place the Oreos in the bowl of a food processor.  Process, pulsing, until the cookies are finely ground.  Add in the melted butter and pulse until the cookie crumbs are moistened.  Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking pan.  Press the crumbs into an even layer over the bottom of the pan.  Bake the crust for 10 minutes, then set aside and prepare the filling while maintaining the oven temperature.

2.  To make the filling, add the cream cheese to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.  Beat on medium-high speed until light and smooth, about 2 minutes.  Mix in the sugar until well combined.  Blend in the sour cream, vanilla and salt.  Beat in the egg and egg yolk on medium-high speed until incorporated, scraping down the bowl as needed.  Stir in the chopped Oreos with a rubber spatula.

3.  Pour the cheesecake batter over the prepared crust, smoothing the top with a spatula.  Bake for about 40 minutes, until the cheesecake is set around the edges but slightly wobbly in the center.  Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool about 1 hour to room temperature.  Cover the pan and refrigerate until well chilled, about 3 hours.

4.  To cut the bars, pull the cake from the pan by lifting the foil up out of the pan.  Place on a cutting board, peel away the foil, and slice into bars.  Clean the knife blade between each slice to keep the edges neat.  Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

Chop Steak & Gravy

First of all, let me just say you can't judge this meal by its picture.

This chop steak and gravy was a country girl's dream.  It was super flavorful and tasted great with a heaping helping of mashed potatoes from a box.  My gravy didn't get as brown as I expected it to, although I think that may have something to do with the fact that I used mega-super-lean-endorsed-by-the-American-Heart-Association ground beef.  (I'd like to say I used it to cut down on fat and calories, but the real reason is that it was the only thing left in the store at 10:00 last night.)

Next time, I plan to use my standard ground sirloin to allow for a browner (Is that a word?) gravy.  I also plan to cook the steaks and veggies in separate batches.  My pan was pretty crowded with the onions, mushrooms, and meat cooking at the same time.

Adapted from Allrecipes
Serves 4

INGREDIENTS
1 lb ground beef
1 egg
1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1/8 tsp ground black pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 large sweet onion, thinly sliced
6 button mushrooms, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups beef broth

DIRECTIONS 
1.  In a large bowl, mix together the ground beef, egg, bread crumbs, pepper, garlic, and Worcestershire sauce. Form into 4 balls, and flatten into patties. 

2.  Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  Add the patties and cook until well-browned, about 4 minutes per side. Remove the beef patties to a plate, and cover with foil to keep warm.  

3.  Saute the onion and mushroom slices in the drippings until onions are translucent, adding more oil if necessary.  Sprinkle flour over the vegetable mixture. Stir well, scraping any browned bits off the bottom of the pan. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.  

4.  Gradually add the beef broth, stirring well after each addition. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium low.  Cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until the gravy thickens. 

5.  Turn heat to low and return patties to the gravy.  Cover and simmer for 15 minutes.  Adjust seasonings to taste and serve over mashed potatoes or egg noodles.

Rice Pudding

My Mom will tell you, I've always been a pretty adventurous eater.  As a kid, I'd eat pretty much anything as long as it didn't involve:

A)  Sweet pickles
B)  Olives
or C)  School cafeteria pig-in-the-blanket (Sausage should *NOT* be slimy.  Blech.)

But rice pudding was one of those things that never sounded appealing to me.  Rice + pudding just didn't seem to jive.  I ordered it for the first time a couple years ago at a local South American restaurant.  (They were out of my beloved coconut sorbet, and I don't do cappuccino.)  One very cautious bite later, I was hooked.  Since then, I've eaten it at several different restaurants and loved it every time.

As you can see, I finally got around to making it at home a few days ago.  It was SO good!  This recipe doesn't take a lot of time or effort, and it won't totally trash your diet.  The original recipe doesn't specify which type of rice to use, but pudding is best with a short grain white rice.  I used Arborio, and the finished product was wonderfully creamy.

Adapted from Allrecipes.com
Serves 4

INGREDIENTS
3/4 cup Arborio rice
2 cups milk, divided
1/3 cup white sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 egg, beaten
1 tbsp butter
1/2 tsp vanilla
Cinnamon, to taste

DIRECTIONS 
1.  In a medium saucepan, bring 1 1/2 cups water to a boil. Add rice and stir. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes. 

2.  In another saucepan, combine 1 1/2 cups cooked rice, 1 1/2 cups milk, sugar and salt. Cook over medium heat until thick and creamy, 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in remaining 1/2 cup milk and beaten egg. Cook 2 minutes more, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, and stir in butter and vanilla. Garnish with cinnamon.  May be served warm or chilled.

Request

I'm on the hunt for a low-fat, high-fiber breakfast cookie.  I've tried two different recipes- one resulted in a kitchen full of smoke and the other had a great flavor, but the texture was like that of warm Play-doh.  (Yuck.)  If you've got a tried-and-true recipe, PLEASE pass it on!

Cajun Chicken Pasta

After a long day of studying, this was the perfect 20-minute entree.  It was so rich and spicy- we loved it!  In the future, I would probably stir a teaspoon of cornstarch into the half-and-half to thicken the sauce up a bit.

Adapted from Allrecipes
Serves 2

INGREDIENTS

4 ounces linguine pasta

2 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning

2 tablespoons butter

1 red bell pepper, sliced

1/2 large sweet onion, thinly sliced

4 large button mushrooms, sliced

1 cup half-and-half
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
Additional Cajun seasoning to taste 

DIRECTIONS

1.  Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.

2.  Meanwhile, dry chicken with paper towel and season with Cajun seasoning. In a large skillet over medium heat, saute the chicken in butter or margarine until almost done (5 to 7 minutes).

3.  Add the red bell pepper, green bell pepper, mushrooms and onion. Saute and stir for 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce heat.

 

4.  Add the half-and-half and basil. Heat through. Add the cooked linguine, toss and heat through. Add additional Cajun seasoning to taste.