Oatmeal Cookies

For some reason these taste better than usual.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 cups quick cooking oats

Mix the butter and sugars together. Mix in eggs. Add dry ingredients and mix well by hand. Towards the end add vanilla. Bake for 9 or 10 minutes.

'Light' Scones

I think I can say I've officially mastered scones. These are my favorite now because they are only about 100 cal., maybe 120.

400 degrees for 10 min. til the tops are golden.

2 c. all-purpose flour
1 tbs baking powder
1/3 c. sugar
4 tbs cold butter
1 c. non-fat plain (or vanilla) yogurt
1/3 c. chocolate chips
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla

mix the dry ingredients. cut the butter into 1/4" slices and break it up with your fingers into the dry mixture until it resembles crumbs...or use a pastry cutter. do it quickly...should only take 1 or 2 minutes. You don't want the butter to get too warm or soft. Add the yogurt (I've been using the greek style because I think it's richer but gives a more buttermilk flavor), vanilla and choc. chips and mix til you have a ball of dough.

flatten the dough down on the baking sheet into a circle that's about 1/4-1/2 inch thick. cut into 12 wedges and bake.

Grandma's Fruit Cobbler

Add any fruit you would like.  I love peaches and blueberries. This is too good and too easy.

1/2 c. butter

1 c. sugar

1 c. flour

2/3 c. milk

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. vanilla

2 c. of fresh or frozen fruit

cinnamon (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Use an 8 X 8 pan or a larger 12" deep-dish pizza type pan. The deeper it is the longer it will cook.

Melt butter and pour into the bottom of the pan.

Whisk dry ingredients together. Add milk and whisk quickly until mixed. Pour the batter on top of the butter and spread it around the entire pan.  Add the fruit on top of the batter.  Sprinkle with cinnamon if you like it!

That's it. Serve with fresh cream or iced cream.

Grandma Maxine's recipe (minus the vanilla & cinnamon)

Banana/Banana Pecan Pancakes

These aren't so good for you, but they're oh so good! I leave the pecans out for the kids and add them to the last 1/2 or 1/3 of the batter.

2 eggs
2 c. flour
1 1/2 c. milk
4 tbs melted butter
3 tbs sugar
1 or 1 1/2 ripe mashed bananas
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
3/4 c. toasted pecan pieces

Use a mixer to blend everything together. You may need to add more milk or water to get the batter to the right consistency. if you like really fluffy pancakes, add 1 more tbs of baking powder. sprinkle with cinnamon on the plate. My mom always cooks pancakes in butter and then melts it on the top. Tastes so good that way, but i'm too timid and use the spray oil to coat the pan. Serve with warm syrup.

Salad with Manchego Cheese & Candied Pecans

I tried to recreate this salad that I ate at lgo.

1/2 c. dried cranberries
1/2 c. manchego cheese (i used a veggie peeler for thin slices)
1/2 c. candied pecans (melt sugar on stove, add pecans. i also added maple syrup) toss and allow to dry
1 bag baby lettuce w/radicchio
1 sliced apple sprinkled generously with cinnamon (use lemon juice if you're not going to eat right away)

vinaigrette dressing:
1 tbs balsamic vinegar
3 tbs olive oil
3 dashes sugar
dash salt

i have yet to puree pecans and add to the dressing. i have to dig out my little food processor for that, but the original has pecans ground up in it. Yum!