Coconut Oatmeal Cookies

Thanks to my good friend Autumn, I have this recipe and I love it. I have been making it for a few years now and it never fails to be one of my favorites!!!

1 1/4 C flour
1/2 C softened margarine/butter
1 tsp baking powder
1 egg
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
1 C oats
1/2 C sugar
1 C coconut
1/2 C brown sugar
Chocolate Chips (optional)

Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt into a bowl. Add sugars, margarine, egg and vanilla. Beat until smooth, about 2 minutes. Stir in oats and coconut and optional chocolate chips. Shape to form 1 inch balls. Bake at 350' for 12 to 15 minutes. Makes 2 dozen

Granola

I love this granola recipe, it is so yummy in yogurt in milk or just by itself!

6 cups oats (rolled or quick)
1/4 Cup Sunflower Seeds
1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
1/2 Cup Raisins or other dried fruit (craisins)
1 cup Coconut
1 Cup Chopped Nuts
1/3 Cup Sesame Seed ( I use flax seed instead)

Mix everything except the raisins and dried fruit and coat with the following

1/2 Cup Olive Oil
1/3 Cup Honey
2 tsp vanilla

Spread on a greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes. Add Raisins and other dried fruit and bake 5 minutes more.

I always half the recipe because it makes a lot. I have also make adjustments based on my preferences. I add more coconut, sunflower seeds and raisins then it calls for but you can make it to your liking!

Florentine Shells

This is a Pampered Chef Recipe that is so easy and just delicious! It is meatless, so it is budget friendly and great when you are making dinner for many...

• 18 jumbo pasta shells (I use Barilla brand)
• 1 container (15 ounces) part skim Ricotta
• 1 package frozen spinach chopped, thawed, and drained and squeezed dry
• 2 cups shredded Italian cheese blend
• 3/4 cup half and half (divided)
• 1 garlic clove pressed
• 1/2 tsp. dried basil
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 28 oz. jar of spaghetti sauce

1. Preheat oven to 350, cook pasta according to directions, drain, then drizzle with Olive oil so the shells don't stick
2. Mix ricotta, spinach, 1&1/2 cups of Italian cheese, 1/4 cup of Parmesan, and 1/4 cup of half and half. Press in garlic and seasonings. Mix well.
3. In another bowl whisk the rest of spaghetti sauce with remaining half and half. Pour some of sauce mix on bottom of cooking pan. Fill each shell with ricotta mixture (one scoop) I usually use my cookie dropper. Arrange filled shells in baking pan. Top with remaining spaghetti sauce.
4. Cover with foil, bake for 40 minutes. Remove foil, top dish with remaining 1/2 cup of Italian cheese. Bake uncovered an additional 5 min. Let cool for 10 min. before serving.
5. Serve with crusty bread and asparagus. Enjoy!

Quick, Easy, and Healthy Dinner

Whenever I have a TON going on and I NEED to make a quick dinner, this is what I make, and it couldn't be more simple, but it is tasty...even my husband could make it!

Ingredients:

Rotisserie CHicken (Already cooked for you...could be any easier?! Costco has the best ones!)
Green Chilie Enchilada Sauce
Whole Wheat Tortillas
Beans (Your choice...Kindey, Pinto, Black, whatever your family likes)
Salt & Pepper
Shredded Cheese


Directions:

Shred the Chicken off the Rotisserie and warm in a skillet. Sprinkle a dash of salt and pepper for seasoning as well. Once the Chicken is warmed through, add the beans and the enchilada sauce and warm for another 5 min or so. Once Chicken Mixture is done, fill in warmed tortillas and top with cheese. Seriously, it is that simple and you are getting great protein and good carbs in this meal. I usually like to serve it with homemade salsa if I have time and also Corn.

Delicious and Easy Banana Bread

This Banana Bread has been passed down from my Great Grandma Perkins and it is so easy and soooo yummy!

Ingredients:
6 very Ripe Bananas (the best to use when they are browned)
2 Cups Sugar
1 Cup Shortening
4 Eggs
2 1/2 Cups Flour (I use Whole Wheat so it is Healthier)
1 Tsp Baking soda
1 Tsp Salt

Directions:
Mash Bananas and add the eggs one at a time while beating together. Add the Shortening and mix till well incorporated. Add the Sugar and then add the soda, salt, and flour while still beating. Once all ingredients are together, mix until very well blended and pour into loaf pans. Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees. For an extra special treat, I like to sometimes add Chocolate Chips....YUMMY!

Baked Caprese Salad

I don't know how many of you saw Giada on Oprah the other day but she was making some yummy Holiday appetizers. I found this one on the Oprah site that looked good and it was DELICIOUS. I made them tonight with homemade chicken noodle soup, they were so yummy. I could eat hundreds of these!!!

BAKED CAPRESE SALAD
1 baguette, sliced 1/2 inch thick, about 30 to 36 slices
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Salt
5 Roma tomatoes, sliced
Freshly ground black pepper
1 1/4 pounds fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
Leaves from 1 bunch of fresh basil

Preheat the oven to 450°.

Arrange the baguette slices on a baking sheet, brush with some of the olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Bake until the bread is pale golden and crisp, about 5 minutes. Top each slice of bread with a slice of tomato and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Top with a slice of mozzarella cheese and sprinkle with salt. Return the baking sheet to the oven until the cheese and tomato are just warm, about 5 minutes.

Arrange the toasts on a serving platter. Top each toast with a basil leaf. Using the brush, drizzle the remaining olive oil over the basil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and serve. Makes 4 to 6 servings.

(Be careful not to overheat the crostini. The cheese and tomatoes should be just warmed through and softened, but not melted or falling apart. It's perfect if you have slightly under-ripe tomatoes).

Cornflake Cream Chicken...

My friend Chelsea gave me this recipe. I made it this week and we LOVED it.

• Chicken Breasts (enough for your family)
• 2 cups of crumbled corn flakes
• sour cream
• Parmesan cheese
• Italian seasoning
• 1 stick melted butter

1. Put cornflakes in a zip lock bag and roll with rolling pin till crumbs (Let the kids do this, mine loved it)
2. Mix cornflakes with Parmesan cheese (about 1/2 cup), and mix in Italian seasoning (1 tsp)
3. Dip chicken in sour cream (coat it thick)
4. Then dip in cornflake mixture
5. Place in greased pan, and drizzle melted butter all over.
6. Bake in 400F oven for about 30 minutes, or until golden, and done in the center

I served mine with Veggies and cheese sauce, and bread sticks. Sooo easy and Yummy :)