New Favorite Cookies

 

I got this recipe from my friend, Karen, so we call them:

KAREN’S OATMEAL COOKIES

2 cups margarine

2 cups brown sugar

2 cups white sugar

Cream together.

4 eggs

4 tsp vanilla

4 cups flour

2 tsp soda

2 tsp powder

2 cups chocolate chips

Mix this altogether.

4 cups rolled oats

Do not over mix!!!

Cook in a 350 degree oven for 12-14 minutes.  Slightly undercooked is best.

 

 

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Life around here

Aren’t these dandelions such a bright beautiful yellow!!!

 

And this is my first attempt at challah bread.  I need a little practice at making a tight braid, I think.  This recipe has 11 cups of flour in it and 6 eggs.  I made one HUGE loaf, I just showed you a couple pictures of the same loaf.  :)

 

 

I’ll serve this bread at supper tonight and probably for lunch and supper tomorrow. Maybe.

 

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Tried a New Recipe–Blueberry Buckle

 

I wanted to try something different with my frozen Saskatoon berries.  We normally do a crisp or muffins.  This is kind of a cross between.  It’s like a giant muffin; Wyatt thought that was HILARIOUS!

 

Blueberry Buckle

 

The recipe calls for fresh blueberries.  I used frozen saskatoons.  I doubled the recipe and put it in a roaster pan (a little larger than a 9 by 13).  I under cooked it and had to put it back into the oven.  Next time I’ll cook it a little longer.  It was a hit!  Jason loved it.  The kids thought it was great!  And I will make it again soon.

 

I’m glad that I read the comments because the dough was so thick I would have thought that I did something wrong.  I did add a little extra milk, and maybe I shouldn’t have, but it worked out fine.

 

We even ate what was left for breakfast.  It is very filling, too.

 

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Our Dr. Oetker experience and a giveaway

*****Giveaway closed*****


Well, we have decided that we like Dr. Oetker!  Until December I had never really tried them; I never bought them from the store, so if they came to the house it was by another method (probably a gift).  I never took much notice.  However, I will be on the look out for good sales and coupons in the future!



My girls love to bake and create and serve our family.  The three oldest girls are 9, 8 and 5 years of age.  K (9) can follow almost any basic recipe with verbal directions and help.  She finds baking from a box really easy, too easy almost.  So these weren’t really a challenge for her.  However, she thought they were really cool.

Some of the things we tried were a pancake shaker, muffin shaker and a number of flavors of mousse.  Our #1, top of the list, super duper favorite was the Chocolate Mousse.  To. Die. For.  The other mousses were good but Dr. Oetker did something amazing with the chocolate one.  I liked the pancake shaker because even though there wasn’t quite enough to go around for a supper, the pancakes were a great afternoon snack for my kids that they could make themselves.



I love to foster independence in my kids and Dr. Oetker allows for that.  I guess the “slogan” in our house could be: “Dr. Oetker: The Do-It-Yourself Food”

So, can you tell that we liked these products?  Well, we think you will too and Dr. Oetker is offering a giveaway for one lucky Canadian reader.

TO ENTER: Tell me your favorite holiday food.
BONUS: Follow me or my blog in the common methods – twitter, email, reader, GFC.  Leave a comment telling me. Separate comment for each method.
GIVEAWAY CLOSES:  January 12, 2010.  The winner will be contacted by email, so make sure it’s on your profile or in your comment.

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Chocolate Chip Day

How will you celebrate?!?!?!??! 

I think we are taking a trip to the store to grab some chocolaty chips and making cookies and such things!!!  My children are going to be thrilled.

Chocolate Chip Day comes but once a year, always on May 15th.  For a little more info click here .

 

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Brownies In The Oven As We Speak

Okay, so even though I'm too tired to tidy up the floor and fill the dishwasher, I found enough energy to make a double batch of these brownies. Thanks, Christi at Polka Spot Farm for the easy to follow recipe and excellent directions!


Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Just wanted to say

That pie I made today was incredible. I'd make a few changes, but it had to be good.

J never asks for a second helping of dessert. I can count on one hand the times he's asked for or accepted seconds on dessert. He asked for seconds tonight!!!

Great great recipe.


Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

I had a request

My friend asked for my bread recipe. So I thought that I'd post it again.


Here is the bread recipe that I use. It's so simple and really quite fast. I've had non-bakers use this recipe and do very well at it. Their families raved!


Our Bread Recipe

2 Tbsp yeast
1/2 cup water
1 tsp sugar

Combine and set aside. This will bubble up and create a foamy mixture.

2 1/2 cups hot tap water
6 Tbsp oil
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
4 cups flour

Mix this together. Add yeast mixture. Mix well. When smooth, add

2 eggs

Then add

2 cups flour (more like 4 cups to make it the right consistency)

Knead 8 - 10 minutes. Rise in bowl for 20 minutes. Punch down. Allow to rise for another 20 minutes in the bowl. Make loaves or buns. Let rise for 30 minutes. Bake at 350F for about 25 minutes (for loaves). This makes three loaves in my house - tall and yummy loaves.

I was stretching it to four loaves but the loaves ended up small and not very good for sandwiches or toast.



Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Apple Pie Day

Today I made two apple pies. I don't generally make pies. I don't like making the crust. But DH loves apple pie and it's a fun day on the calendar. I try to find a few of these days to celebrate. (May 8th was No Socks Day.)

Here's the Apple Pie recipe I used.


Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

The bread recipe I use. . . when I make bread

Copy and pasted from my old blog.

Here is the bread recipe that I use. It's so simple and really quite fast. I've had non-bakers use this recipe and do very well at it. Their families raved!


Our Bread Recipe

2 Tbsp yeast
1/2 cup water
1 tsp sugar

Combine and set aside. This will bubble up and create a foamy mixture.

2 1/2 cups hot tap water
6 Tbsp oil
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
4 cups flour

Mix this together. Add yeast mixture. Mix well. When smooth, add

2 eggs

Then add

2 cups flour (more like 4 cups to make it the right consistency)

Knead 8 - 10 minutes. Rise in bowl for 20 minutes. Punch down. Allow to rise for another 20 minutes in the bowl. Make loaves or buns. Let rise for 30 minutes. Bake at 350F for about 25 minutes (for loaves). This makes three loaves in my house - tall and yummy loaves.

I was stretching it to four loaves but the loaves ended up small and not very good for sandwiches or toast.

White Snack Cake - very easy, very yummy

White Snack Cake (pg 23 from Company's Coming Sweet Cravings)

1 tbsp hard margarine or butter (we used lard)
1/3 cup sugar
1 large egg
1/2 tsp vanilla (we used peppermint)
1/4 cup milk

1/2 cup flour (used whole wheat)
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp salt

Beat first 5 ingredients together in medium bowl.

Add flour, baking powder and salt. Beat until smooth. Turn into greased 8x8 pan. Bake in 350F oven for about 12 minutes until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool. Cuts into 9 pieces as a dessert or 12 pieces as a snack. (We doubled and put in a 9x13. Ours took longer to cook because the oven wasn't preheated. Used our mixer machine to do all the mixing. Cut into about 20 pieces and i think it's all gone in about 25 min.)

Very easy. Very yummy and easy to change to add spices or other flavors.