Oatmeal Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

After looking at several recipes for pumpkin cookies, I decided that I would try to modify some ingredients  and create a delicious, soft, chocolaty cookie.

My daughters first response was pumpkin, oatmeal.... and chocolate? Turns out, she loved  them and they are now on the list of " make all the time cookies".

Here we go! 

 Preheat oven to 350' F

3/4 cup  butter softened

1 1/4 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup cooked pumpkin

3/4 cup flour

1 1/4 cup of steel cut oatmeal~ I used a one with flax, bran & oats~

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp allspice

1 tsp cardomom

1/2 tsp ginger

1 cup of dark chocolate chips

Cream butter sugar until fluffy, add eggs, vanilla and pumpkin. In separate bowl combine all dry ingredients. Add to beaten mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. 

Drop by spoonful on to non stick or greased cookie sheet. Bake for 16 min. 

Enjoy! 

 

Dark Chocolate Raspberry Bran Muffins

For the Chocolate lover 

Preheat oven to 400' ~ makes 12 muffins

What you need:

1 1/4 cups bran cereal flakes

3/4 cup dark chocolate almond milk

1 cup flour

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup cocoa powder

1 tbsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda & salt

1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

1 egg

1/4 cup vegetable oil, + enough to oil muffin tin

1 1/2 cups raspberries

Combine cereal and almond milk in a bowl, allow to sit until cereal is softened.

In large bowl combine flour, sugar cocoa, baking powder, baking soda & salt.

Beat egg, oil and raspberries in cereal mixture

Add dry ingredients until combined, add chocolate chips.

Lightly grease muffin tin with vegetable oil. Pour batter into tin.

 Bake for 18- 20  minutes.

~If you really want to go over the top with chocolate, top with your favorite chocolate icing

 and a sprinkle of raspberries~

~  

Vivaldi~ Anticipation & The Cusp of~ Spring

One more night fall, she will be here.
We wait in glorious anticipation of  earthy smells.
Dew on the ground, birdsong and brilliant morning skies.

We yearn for the release of winters charms.
Its long lingering grasp, still embracing, in crisp white frost.

The sun climbs higher, it's warmth, intensifying.
It tells of time, change, dismissal & invitation.
It's rays outstretched, welcoming arms of warmth.

Hear the sounds, they are different now.
The stillness of downy white, its feathers, now ruffled.
Morphing  into nourishing waters, waking the souls of growth.

But wait, a pause, a wink, teasing.
One more white shadow, falling to the ground.
Interrupted.
Struggling, it wanes.
Conquered, by brightness and warmth.

At last, she is here.
Breathe in her new life.
This season of spring.


T. J. Demers
 

   

A Smooth Start

Hello there! 

Sharing this great Cranberry smoothie, a great start to the day! 

What you need:

1/2 english cucumber

1 avacado, peeled and pitted

1 cup of lime yogurt

1/2 cup frozen cranberries

1 cup almond milk

1tsp honey

1tsp cinnamon

Put all measured ingredients in blender & blend until smooth,

 Enjoy! 

Banana Bread Muffin with Cream Cheese Icing

Chick Peas~ Delicious Side Dish

Hello There! 

Here is a " by the seat of my pants" side dish from last nights dinner.

What I used:

2 tbsps of Extra virgin olive oil

2 cups of chick peas

1 large onion

2 cups sliced brown mushrooms

1 medium yellow pepper

2 cloves of garlic chopped
ground black pepper to taste
cayenne pepper to taste~ we like it hot, so I used a considerable amount.
Saute in a pan with olive oil  until onions are clear.

Served with grilled pork tenderloin and coleslaw.
The kids and hubby gobbled this up!

Curried Salmon Cakes

Hello there!

Here's another yummy fish dinner.

What you need:

3 cups of salmon

1 1/2 cups of crushed crackers, panko, or breadcrumbs

1 egg

1/4 tsp cayenne & tumeric 

1 & 1/2  tsp medium curry

1/2 tsp  cumin

1 tsp garlic powder

2 tbsps yellow mustard

Combine all ingredients and make into 12 patties.

Lightly coat a pan with vegetable oil  and cook until golden brown.

Sauce for salmon cakes: 

1/4 cup mayonnaise

!4 cup sour cream

1 tsp curry

1/2 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp lemon juice, combine, refrigerate until time to serve. 

Serve with sweet potato fries, coleslaw, and corn.

Enjoy! 

Dark Chocolate Chip Cinnamon Biscuits

 If you have 30 minutes, beginning to finish, you can make these delicious biscuits.

 Sure to impress any drop by guest! 

This recipe is from 'Grandma's kitchen'. A  recipe box set my husband had when we became a pair.  This was my first time using this recipe and it was so fast. It will now be my go to recipe!

The recipe does  not call for all the spices I used, only cinnamon, I added my own additional spices. Nor did it call for dark chocolate. 

But, my kids wanted something with chocolate in it & they turned out brilliantly!

You will need:

2 cups sifted flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1/4 cup vegetable oil

3/4 cup buttermilk

8 tbsps butter~  I used considerably less

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp cardomom

1/2 tsp ginger

1/4 tsp nutmeg

3/4 cups sugar.* I used raw crystalized sugar

 Preheat oven to 400'f

Grease a 9 inch round baking pan lightly.

Combine sifted flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl and mix well.

Stir in vegetable oil.

Add buttermilk  and stir until just blended. 

* The oil may appear to have made little lumps, that is ok! They will disappear when you knead the dough. 

Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth.

Roll dough into  a 15 x 8  rectangle.

Spread butter over the dough. * I used a butter knife to spread an even layer across entire surface of dough.

Combine sugar and spices together in container.

Sprinkle over butter. 

Roll up rectangle jelly roll fashion starting from one long side. Pinch seam to seal.  Cut roll into 1 inch slices. Arrange slices in prepared pan. Bake until lightly browned , about 15 - 20 minutes.

                                                  Remove from oven and serve warm! 

  

Baked Sole & Garlic Shrimp, with Dill Potatoes, Rainbow Carrots and Coleslaw

 Hello There!

This is the most delicious, simple & fast fish meal ever! 

Here we go! 

1 pkg of sole

1 pkg of precooked and deveined shrimp, thawed and rinsed

fresh ground black pepper

lemon juice 

Rainbow carrots, peeled and sliced

6 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped

2 tsps of fresh dill chopped

2 tbsps of butter

2 cloves of garlic

1 bag of pre-cut coleslaw

favorite coleslaw dressing

Boil potatoes, first! They will take the longest to prepare.

I used my broiler pan to bake the sole. Seasoned with black pepper and lemon juice to taste.

Once potatoes are about half done, put sole in oven to cook, turning once, at 375 for 10 -15 minutes, until flaky.

Once sole is in oven,  heat 1 tbsp of butter, garlic and black pepper. When butter is melted add shrimp.

Put water on to steam carrots, when water boiled, put carrots in steamer and steam just  until bright in color. You want them to be crisp. 

 Cook shrimp only until it is bright pink. 

Drain potatoes and toss with remaining butter and dill.

Prepare coleslaw. 

Serve.  

Hot Chicken Salad

Sometimes, you just want a salad! 

This is one of our favorites.

What you need:

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 large orange pepper sliced

1 medium onion sliced

2 cloves of garlic chopped

1 tsp cayenne

2 tbsps red pepper and garlic shake

1 tsp black pepper

1 tsp chipotle spice

Romaine lettuce, washed and chopped

Spinach, washed and chopped 

English cucumber, chopped

cherry tomatoes, washed and sliced in half

1 avacodo, sliced

 top with Caesar, cucumber or ranch dressing.

Saute onions, peppers and garlic in Olive oil, until onions become clear

Add chicken and spices, cook until meat thoroughly cooked.

Put romaine and spinach on plate, top with meat & peppers & remaining ingredients.

Serve with favorite dressing

Enjoy! 

Barbeque Beef Wraps

Hello there! Here's another, "by the seat of my pants dinner". It was  huge hit! 

You will need: 

.5 kg pkg of sirloin cut into strips

2 tbsps of extra virgin olive oil

1 each small yellow and green pepper, sliced

1 small onion, sliced

2 cloves of garlic, chopped

2 tsp of cayenne

 2 tsp black pepper 

3 tbsps of molasses

1 bottle of your favorite bbq sauce

 2 cups of cooked  whole grain rice

1 cup of shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1 pkg of  whole grain sandwich wraps

* This recipe made 6 wraps

Saute onion, peppers & garlic in olive oil until onions start to become clear.

Add sirloin~* you could also use chicken breast~ add remaining spices.

Cook until meat is browned.

Add bottle of BBQ sauce, simmer for 15 minutes.

Add molasses, allow to simmer on low heat for 2 - 3 hours.

 The  molasses will make the sauce thick and rich.

On a sandwich wrap, add 2 generous scoops each of meat and rice to middle of wrap.

Top with shredded cheese, roll wrap and serve with fresh raw veggies! 

Enjoy!