Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Happy Foodie Friday ! hosted by the wonderful DESIGNS BY GOLLUM !

{photo taken about 3 seconds after the kids came home from school !}

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies {adapted from Epicurious }

1/2 cup solid vegetable shortening
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
2 eggs
1 3.4-ounce package vanilla instant pudding mix
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon water
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup old-fashioned oats
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 12-ounce package semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Butter heavy large cookie sheets. Beat vegetable shortening and unsalted butter in large bowl until light. Gradually add white and brown sugars and beat mixture until fluffy. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla pudding mix, vanilla extract, baking soda, water, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg and salt and mix until well blended. Mix in oats, then flour. Stir in chocolate chips.

Drop cookie dough by large rounded spoonfuls (about 3 tablespoons each) onto prepared cookie sheets, spacing 2 inches apart. Bake until cookies appear dry and tops are lightly cracked and soft when pressed, about 12 minutes (do not overbake). Cool cookies 5 minutes on cookie sheets. Transfer cookies to racks and cool. (Store cookies in airtight container.)

Outdoor Wednesday

So we had yet another birthday weekend...mine... No cake recipe to share...because there was no cake. I asked for no gifts. All I wanted for my birthday was a day out on the boat so I could spend time with my family...
to hunt for shells and listen to the waves and enjoy the silence... and thank God for blessing me with another year...

Participating in

Blue Monday ! and Outdoor Wednesday !

Coconut Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Happy Blue Monday ! Yes, as a matter of fact, this is my breakfast... We had another birthday weekend...My daughter adores Hello Kitty and I went to Michaels and could not find a Hello Kitty cake pan... so I had to come up with plan B. That's what I get for waiting until the last minute !

The good news is this pound cake is delicious ! And even better for 'breakfast' the next morning with a cup of hot coffee !! Maybe my Foodie Friday friends like coconut !

COCONUT CREAM CHEESE POUND CAKE {Southern Living Cookbook}

1/2 cup butter or 1/2 cup margarine, softened
1/2 cup shortening
1 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
3 cups sugar
6 eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 (6 ounce) packages frozen coconut, thawed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon coconut extract


1 Cream the butter, shortening, and cream cheese together in a bowl.

2 Gradually add sugar, beating well at medium speed.

3 Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition.

4 In another bowl, combine flour, soda, and salt.

5 Add to creamed mixture, stirring just until blended.

6 Stir in coconut and remaining ingredients.

7 Pour batter into a greased and floured 10-inch tube pan.

8 Bake in a 325° oven for 1 1/2 hours or until a picks tests clean.

9 Cool in pan for 10-15 minutes.

10 Turn out of pan and cool completely on a wire rack

The Most Requested Pie at the Cozy Kitchen

It's hard to believe summer is coming to a close...but we took advantage of beautiful weather and took the boat out... I couldn't help but think of Smiling Sally hosting Blue Monday and A Southern Daydreamer hosting Outdoor Wednesday when we passed this blue boat !

The end of summer means a lot of birthdays in our house...and it all starts with this.

The most requested pie in our Cozy Kitchen...and I just have to share it with all my Foodie Friday friends !{hosted by the wonderful Designs by Gollum!}

Lucious Caramel Banana Pie {The Southern Living Cookbook}

14 oz Sweetened condensed milk

2- 3 Bananas

1-(9-inch) graham cracker crust

1 c Whipping cream

1/4 c Powdered sugar; sifted

1 - 2 English toffee-flavored candy (I use Heath bars), chopped

Pour sweetened condensed milk into an 8-inch pieplate. Cover pieplate with aluminum foil. Pour about 1/4-inch hot water in a larger shallow pan. Place covered pieplate in pan. Bake at 425 degrees for 1 hour and 20 minutes or until condensed milk is thick and caramel colored (add hot water to pan as needed).

Remove foil when done, and set aside. Cut bananas crosswise into 1/8-inch slices, and place on crust. Spread caramelized milk over bananas.

Cool for at least 30 minutes. Beat whipping cream until foamy; gradually add powdered sugar, beating until soft peaks form.

Spread over caramel layer.

Sprinkle with crumbled candy.

Chill at least 3 hours or overnight before . Enjoy !

Outdoor Wednesday

Happy Blue Monday ! I am obsessed with watching my hummingbirds.... I love that I was able to capture this shot against a cloudless blue sky ...

It's Outdoor Wednesday hosted by the wonderful A Southern Daydreamer !

Do you see the hummingbird way up in this tree ??? It's sitting on the branch to the right...

Just.Make.This.

This is a my little ol' hummingbird getting ready to feed ! Happy Blue Monday ! {hosted by the wonderful Smiling Sally}


I could watch these guys all day long.... here they are, playing tag !


Oh my goodness.... this is soooooooooo good. {Participating in Foodie Friday hosted by the wonderful Designs by Gollum !}

Especially when you need a fabulous side dish to go with enchiladas, rice & beans.......

Barefoot Contessa's Guacamole Salad is ...well perfect! Spicy, crunchy, delicious...

It's great on it's own, or if you are lucky enough to have leftovers, then I put this amazing salad inside a flour tortilla and have a veggie burrito ................. Y U M !

{note: the only variation I made was that I added cilantro}

Guacamole Salad by Barefoot Contessa

1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and 1/2-inch diced
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup small diced red onion
2 tablespoons minced jalapeno peppers, seeded (2 peppers)
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated lime zest
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (2 limes)
1/4 cup good olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
2 ripe Hass avocados, seeded, peeled, and 1/2-inch diced

Place the tomatoes, yellow pepper, black beans, red onion, jalapeno peppers, and lime zest in a large bowl. Whisk together the lime juice, olive oil, salt, black pepper, garlic, and cayenne pepper and pour over the vegetables. Toss well.

Just before you're ready to serve the salad, fold the avocados into the salad. Check the seasoning and serve at room temperature.

Jalapeno Popper Spread

I love to feed hummingbirds...we have at least 5 that float around our yard. This little guy was not afraid of the big green monster lurking...

{participating in Outdoor Wednesday hosted by A Southern Daydreamer !}

This Jalapeno Popper Spread was a hit. If you like it hot, this is for you... oh, and yes...it tasted exactly like a jalapeno popper !! Participating in Foodie Friday hosted by the wonderful Designs by Gollum !



JALAPENO POPPER SPREAD {adapted from allrecipes.com }

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup mayonnaise
1 small can jalapeno peppers, chopped

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Panko (Japanese bread crumbs)


1. Using hand mixer, stir together cream cheese and mayonnaise in a large bowl until smooth. Stir in jalapeno peppers. Pour in bake safe dish ( I used a pie plate ). Spread 1 c. parm cheese on top and then sprinkle with panko all over.

2. Bake at 375 for 20 min.



I served mine with pita chips... {tortilla chips are great of course too !}

S U M M E R

I have been out of the kitchen most of the summer...enjoying time with family...

We have friends coming for dinner this weekend, so I'm back in the kitchen this week.
I'm planning on a Mexican Menu... Stay tuned for recipes !

Happy Outdoor Wednesday hosted by A Southern Daydreamer !

Golden Macaroni & Cheese

We were blessed with beautiful weather for the 4th of July... We have family visiting from out of town, so I hosted the 4th.

I had a very simple menu... hot dogs, hamburgers, grilled chicken in a garlic/balsamic marinade...fresh tomatoes... and watermelon & cantaloupe. The real hit, even with adults was this homemade macaroni & cheese. {Happy outdoor wednesday ! } Also participating in Foodie Friday hosted by the wonderful Designs by Gollum !

Golden Macaroni & Cheese {Southern Living}

1 (8-ounce) package elbow macaroni (about 2 cups uncooked macaroni)
2 cups milk
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon onion salt
2 (10-ounce) blocks sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded (about 4 1/2 cups) and divided*
1 cup soft breadcrumbs (4 slices, crusts removed)
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted

Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain well. Set aside.

Place milk, flour, and onion salt in a quart jar; cover tightly, and shake vigorously 1 minute.

Stir together flour mixture, 3 1/2 cups cheese, and macaroni.

Pour macaroni mixture into a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish or 2 (11-inch) oval baking dishes. Sprinkle evenly with breadcrumbs and remaining 1 cup cheese; drizzle evenly with melted butter.

Bake at 350° for 45 minutes or until golden brown.

*20 ounces loaf pasteurized prepared cheese product, shredded or cut into small cubes, may be substituted. Omit breadcrumbs if using prepared cheese product.

Note: For testing purposes only, we used Kraft Cracker Barrel Sharp Cheddar Cheese. ( I used this cheese also, and it was just perfect!)

Yum. Oh yum !!

Pölka dot Riesling

Hot, humid, summer nights require something cold to drink !
I bought this on sale for $9.00 at my local grocer today.
Oh my goodness...this is just what I need...
Polka Dot balances floral aromas with ripe fruit flavors of pear, nectarine and apricot. Delicious !!

Clone of the Cinnabon ?

I stumbled across this amazing 'CLONE OF THE CINNABON' recipe on allrecipes.com and just had to try it.
Clone? I think not.
Tastes like the real deal to me !

CLONE OF THE CINNABON {allrecipes.com}

1 cup warm milk (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
2 eggs, room temperature
1/3 cup margarine, melted
4 1/2 cups bread flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup white sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons bread machine yeast

1 cup brown sugar, packed
2 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1/3 cup butter, softened

1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt

1.Place ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select dough cycle; press Start.

(note: just for fun, the next time I make these, I'm going to try the ready made frozen dough from the grocery and see if they are just as good. I'll let you all know!)

2.After the dough has doubled in size turn it out onto a lightly floured surface, cover and let rest for 10 minutes. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and cinnamon.

3.Roll dough into a 16x21 inch rectangle. Spread dough with 1/3 cup butter and sprinkle evenly with sugar/cinnamon mixture. Roll up dough and cut into 12 rolls. Place rolls in a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking pan. Cover and let rise until nearly doubled, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

4.Bake rolls in preheated oven until golden brown, about 15 minutes. While rolls are baking, beat together cream cheese, 1/4 cup butter, confectioners' sugar, vanilla extract and salt. Spread frosting on warm rolls before serving.


Oh Mamma Mia ! I would definitely recommend making these.... yum!

Warning:

I had quite the sad teenagers milling about when they realized they gobbled them all up and I didn't have 'more' hanging around...

{participating in DIY DAY hosted by A Soft Place to Land & Foodie Friday hosted by the wonderful Designs by Gollum !}