White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

I know my posts have been few and far between during this uber-busy month of December, but never fear, have I got a Christmas gift for YOU!!  This recipe is SOOOOOOO yummy!!  One of my friends shared this recipe with me and it lives up to all expectations!!  White chocolate & cranberries are so popular right now & this recipe is fabulous.  We doubled the recipe to be able to use the entire bag of white chocolate chips.  Waste not, right?  A must try, Cowtown Friends!!

For this recipe, you'll need:

• 1 cup butter (I used margarine), softened
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs 
• 2 tablespoons vanilla (yes, tablespoons - I had to double check this)
• 3 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 cups white chocolate chips (whole bag)
• 2 cups cranberries (about 10 oz)

Beat butter, brown sugar, and sugar with mixer - this is what mine looked like - kind of strange, but here it is.

Then beat in eggs and vanilla.

Add flour and baking soda.  Mix thoroughly.  I don't have pictures of these steps.  I was too excited about the cookies, you understand.

Add cranberries and white chocolate chips, mix well.  I didn't have as many cranberries as I thought I did so mine were a little light on the cranberries - but if you make sure you get TEN oz you'll be good to go and they'll be even better!  That's my helpful hint, friends :)

Put small spoonful on parchment paper and bake in 375 oven for 8-10 minutes.  My oven bakes fast, so I just baked mine for about 7 minutes.  My friend & I agree these cookies are better chewy than crispy, so less time the better.  

After baking, let cool on baking sheet for 1 minute, then transfer to cooling rack.

And look - don't they look SOOOO yummy!!

Here's another pic so you can decide....

And one more for good measure.

They are SOOOOO good!  You MUST try!!

Merry Christmas, Cowtown Peeps!!

Biscuits Supreme

These are the biscuits from the previous post.  They were SO yummy!  And puffy!!  Next time I make these I'm going to use buttermilk & I do believe they will taste just. like. Cracker Barrel biscuits!  Make fun of me, I don't care!!  Once you try them, you'll be a believer, I'm sure :)

For these little yummies, you'll need:

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tbs baking powder
• 2 tsp sugar
• 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
• 1/4 tsp salt (I didn't use salt bc I used salted butter)
• 1/2 cup butter, margarine or shortening
• 2/3 cup milk

Stir together flour, baking powder, sugar, cream of tartar, and salt (if using).  Cut in butter until it resembles coarse crumbs.  Make a well in center (see above).

Then add milk all at once and stir until moistened.  I ended up using my hands and mixing it up, then putting dough on floured surface, quickly kneading dough until nearly smooth and rolling out with a rolling pin.  Then my son & I cut out our biscuits using some non-conventional biscuit cutters.

Baked them in a 450 degree oven for about 10 minutes and voila!  Biscuits in the shape of halloween cats and hearts lol.  I tried to get him to at least choose the snowman cutter, but he was stuck on halloween cats.  Sigh.

Doesn't this pic just say love to you??

Ham and Green Bean Savory

Alright, obviously December has gotten the best of me and the blogging is falling behind.  I love the busy-ness of December, but it seems like each year is crazier than the last!  Crazy in a good way, of course ;)  But never fear - just eat some of this awesomeness and it will calm you right down and put you in your happy place.  This is an old family recipe that sounds kind of strange, but trust me, it's comfort food at it's best!!

For this recipe, you'll need:

• 3 cans cut green beans
• 2 cups grated sharp cheddar
• 2 cups (or more/less) cubed ham
• 3 tbs butter
• 3 tbs flour
• 2 1/4 cups milk

Melt butter and flour in saucepan, making a roux

Stir in milk all at once.  Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly.  Cook one minute more.  You really have to watch this so as not to burn it.  I always come so close to burning it, so this is my advice from experience :)

Over low heat, stir in shredded cheese until melted

Add (drained) green beans and ham.  Continue to cook and stir until all heated through.

For those of you who haven't had this before, I know it looks a little strange, huh??  But trust me - it's SO yummy!!  We usually eat this with cornbread, but we didn't have cornbread so I decided to change it up - I think I may have started a new tradition...

Because ham & green bean savory with BISCUITS was absolutely AWESOME!!  Biscuit recipe coming SOON!  Enjoy!!

Oatmeal Scotchies

I got this recipe off the back of the butterscotch package.  My husband being a butterscotch enthusiast, I thought he would like these :)  He did!  However, I feel that these cookies need a disclaimer, they don't look like I thought they would when they came out of the oven.  They look more like a lace cookie or something like that.  Very thin and can be crunchy if you bake them too long - so be warned!  Yummy and different, but not what I expected!  That being said, they are a good change of pace cookie and perfect for the fall weather we've been having.

For these cookies, you'll need:

• 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 3 cups quick or old fashioned oats (I used old fashioned, bc I'm old fashinoned like that :)
• 11 oz pkg Butterscotch Morsels

Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in small bowl.

Beat butter, sugars, eggs, and vanilla in large mixer bowl.

I thought it was strange that it didn't make that much batter - that was my first tip off that these cookies were going to be different :)  Gradually beat in flour mixture until all mixed.

Then add butterscotch and oats.  Stir - this is the hard part!!

Drop by rounded tablespoon on parchment paper.  Bake at 7-8 minutes at 375 for chewy cookies; 9-10 minutes for crisp cookies.  Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes, remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Here they are fresh out of the oven~

And here they are - aren't they pretty for fall??  And another warning, this recipe makes a TON so be ready to EAT!!  Enjoy, Cowtown Friends! :)

Pepperoni Pizza Penne Pasta Bake

This easy, yummy recipe is from something I saw Guy Fieri make on Food Network the other day.  You know, Guy Fieri, the Diners, Drive ins & Dives, guy?  I figured if he said this was a good idea, it would work - don't you agree??  

I just took some pepperonis (I had leftover from something else I'd made earlier in the week) and put them in a skillet with some olive oil.  I cooked them until they were crispy and heated through.  Then I removed the pepperonis from the skillet and put them aside.  Leaving all the glorious pepperoni infused oil in the pan.

Then I added the ground beef to the oil, seasoned and browned the meat with garlic and onions.

Once meat was drained, I added one large can of crushed tomatoes (like 28 oz) and one can of tomato sauce (like 4 oz or something like that, the little can).  Then I chopped up the pepperoni, which was nice and crispy at this point, and added it to the sauce - you can see the little guys right there on top - yum!!

Brought it to a boil, covered, and simmered for 30-45 minutes.

Mixed with some penne, added a generous amount of mozzarella, baked at 350 for about 10 minutes (or until cheese is melted) and here it is!

Totally yummy & a little different than the normal spaghetti night - the pepperoni shook things up!  Yum!

Rice Pudding

Strange choice, I know!  But the recipe was on the back of the rice box, I asked my husband if he wanted to try it, he agreed, so this is the result!  Whatever works, right?  Ha!  We both agreed it was pretty good for a cool fall evening around the holidays, but it's definitely something you need to be in the mood for & I don't think it would keep well.  Definitely better warm, right off the stove.  I'm not giving it like rave - Cream Biscuits - reviews, but it was good for something different, you know?  And perfect for fall!

For this recipe, you'll need:

• 1 cup Instant Rice
• 2 1/2 cups milk
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 2 eggs, slightly beaten
• 1/2 tsp vanilla

Combine rice, TWO cups milk, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar, and raisins.  (I say TWO cups bc I missed this the first time and had to fish out the 1/2 cup.  lol)  Bring to rolling boil, stirring constantly.  Reduce heat; boil slowly 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Mix eggs with remaining 1/2 cup of milk.  Slowly add to hot mixture, stirring with fork (so you don't end up with scrambled eggs in your pudding)  Cook over medium heat until thickened.  

Add vanilla remove from heat.  Let cool 10 minutes.

Looks yummy, don't you think?  Pretty tasty - Happy Fall!

Roma Chicken

We have been enjoying this recipe since we were first married.  It's been a staple, consistently good, easy, & tasty dish.  It's evolved a little over the years and this time around may have been my favorite!

For this recipe, you'll need:

• 1 tbs olive oil
• 1 tbs butter
• 4 boneless, skinless, chicken breast halves
• 1 onion, sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, pressed
• 1 can petite diced tomatoes
• 1 cup chicken broth
• italian seasoning grinder
• 1/2 cup sliced green olives
• Hot cooked rice

Brown chicken in pan with olive oil and butter.  Season chicken.  I seasoned mine with salt, pepper, and, of course, garlic powder!  After browning chicken, remove chicken from skillet.

Add onions and garlic and cook until softened.  Then add chicken broth and return chicken to skillet.

Add tomatoes and green olives.  Cover, reduce heat and simmer 20-25 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink in center.  When it's finished cooking, I cut the chicken up into smaller chunks before serving with rice.

This makes a lot, so I usually pour the leftover chicken over the rice to keep and the next day it tastes just as good with the tomato-y rice!  Yum!

We had it this night with our favorite green beans - Enjoy!

Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

I don't have all my organized pictures for this one bc I was throwing it together to take to our church Thanksgiving dinner and decided at the last minute to document and share with y'all!  This one is easy & yummy & has bananas and chocolate!!  Haha!!  I'm obsessed with that combo lately!!

For this recipe, you'll need:

• 1 package Duncan Hines Yellow Cake Mix (+ eggs and oil per box instructions)
• 2 bananas, smashed (I used three this time bc I was feeling crazy that way)
• 1 - 8 oz block cream cheese
• 2 1/2 c. powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• splash milk
• Package mini chocolate chips

Mix cake mix according to package directions

Add smashed bananas and bake according to package directions.  I usually make two round pans for this cake, but since I was taking it to church, I just made a 9x13 pan.  Bake and cool completely before frosting.

Beat powdered sugar, cream cheese, vanilla.  Keep adding milk a little at a time until you like the consistency.  Frost cake.  When I frost the two round cakes, I frost between the layers and add chocolate chips as well.  Then I frost around the cakes and put the chocolate chips all over - SO yummy!

But for the purposes of this cake, I just frosted the top and topped it with chocolate chips - still excellent!  :)  

I will say, though, that the flavors of this cake taste best if you make it a day ahead.  I made mine & took it straight to church & kept thinking it didn't taste quite right.  But the next day for breakfast dessert?  All the flavors had become friends and it was AWESOME!!

So awesome that this was the last piece of cake!  We ate it so fast this is the only picture!  Try it, you'll love it!

Snickerdoodles

This is my great grandmother's Snickerdoodle recipe.  And it is my husband's FAVORITE cookie!  He LOVES them!  And the little ones love them, too!  Not too sweet, perfect texture, yummy cookie - and best of all, EASY!

All you need is:

• 1 cup butter (original recipe calls for soft shortening, I've never used the shortening, but you could if you'd like to)
• 1 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 3/4 cup flour
• 2 tsp cream of tartar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• cinnamon (to roll dough in)

Thoroughly mix together butter, sugar, eggs

Original recipe calls to sift together flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt.  I don't have a sifter, so I just mix.

Slowly mix flour mixture into egg mixture until all flour is blended.  Make sure all butter pieces are blended thoroughly to prevent burning when baking.  If you have one of those pastry/dough attachments for a Kitchen Aid Mixer, this would work wonderfully for this part.

Roll balls into size of walnuts and roll in mixture of 1 tbs sugar and 2 tsp cinnamon.  Try to adhere closely to this ratio, as too much sugar or too much cinnamon throws it all off - don't ask me how I know :)

Place about 2 inches apart on cookie sheet and bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes

Don't they look yummy?

SO yummy!  My husband could seriously eat a DOZEN in one seating!!  Enjoy!