Great Harvest Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

I'm a huge Great Harvest Bakery fan.   I love, love , love their bread and any baked good that comes from their bakery.  I was more then excited when I stumbled upon this recipe.

Great Harvest Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

2 cups brown sugar

1 cup butter

2 cups rolled oats

2 eggs

2 Tablspoons molasses

1 Tablespoon milk

Lots of raisins or chocolate chips

Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  In another bowl beat together brown sugar and butter until well combined.  Add oats, eggs, molasses and milk; beat well.  Add dry ingredients to beaten mixture mix well.  Stir in raisins or chips.  Using a cookie scoop (I use a tablespoon size scoop), scoop dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 for 9 minutes.  Cool for remove minute and remove from from cookie sheet to parchment paper.

Makes approximately 70 cookies

Grandma's Buttermilk Pancakes

Grandma Bonnie made these for us while we were in Twin Falls for a dance competition (April 26, 2014).  Paige and Kallie thought they were the best things ever.  And they definitely danced better because of it!  Breakfast at grandma's house is always the best.  The table is always set with placemats, napkins, juice and fresh fruit.  I love to be there and I love that my kids love to be there too. 

National Pancake Day 3/03/2015

Grandma's Buttermilk Pancakes

2 cups flour
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp soda
1 tsp salt
2 large eggs
2 cups buttermilk
1/4 cup oil

Mix all ingredients together.  It is a thick batter.   I usually add just a bit more buttermilk but not much.  The key to grandmas pancakes...butter the griddle between every batch.

The above is the original recipe.  In attempts to eat a little healthier the below is how I usually make them and everyone in my family still loves them.  I have found that the recipe makes just barely enough so I usually increase the ingredients (measurements below reflect the larger amount)

Pancakes for dinner

Grandma's Buttermilk Pancakes
(Healthier version)

1 1/14 cup whole wheat flour
1 3/4 cup white flour
3 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 eggs
3 cups buttermilk (plus a little more if too thick)
1/4 cup coconut oil

The directions are the same as the original recipe from here.

Strawberry Lassi

This is one of Summer's favorite blender treats and a favorite healthy snack around here.

March 2015

Strawberry Lassi

2 cups plain Greek yogurt

1/3-1/2 cup honey

Pinch salt

Couple drops of vanilla

1 lbs fresh or frozen strawberries* 

1 cup ice

Place the ingredients in the blender.  Blend until smooth.  Serve!

*(if I'm using frozen I put them in microwave about 60 seconds so they blend better)

Buttermilk Syrup (aka Zac's favorite syrup)

Buttermilk Syrup

1 1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup butter
2 Tablespoons corn syrup
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp vanilla

Boil all ingredients, except the vanilla, in a saucepan.  Boil for 7 minutes.  Remove from heat and add the vanilla.

*I don't always boil it for 7 minutes and it seems to be just fine.

Cinnamon Rolls

These cinnamon rolls are something my mom has passed down to us.  It is the definition of comfort food for me.  Mom was well known for these, as she was always sharing them.  She is a giver!  I love making cinnamon rolls.  They are such a treat and make everyone happy.

Cinnamon Rolls

2 cups milk

1 cube butter (1/2 cup)

1 cup sugar

pinch salt

2 tablespoons yeast

1/2 cup luke warm water

2 beaten eggs

6-8 cups of flour

Filling:

1 cube butter (1/2)

brown sugar

cinnamon

Frosting:

1/4-1/2 cup butter, melted

4 cups powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp almond extract

1-2 tablespoons milk (to make it the consistency you want)

Scald the milk in a saucepan.  Remove from heat and add the butter, sugar and salt.  Let butter dissolve and milk cool.  While cooling, soften the yeast in the water.  When it is luke warm add the yeast/water and beaten eggs to the milk mixture.  Pour all of it into your bosch/mixer.  Slowly add the flour until it is a smooth yet slightly sticky dough.  Oil the top, cover and let rise until double.  

Divide the dough in half.  Roll half of the dough into a large rectangle (about 12X17--I try to get it as big as possible because that is just more surface area for yummy stuff to gather).  Spread with 1/4 cup of butter and sprinkle brown sugar generously over the entire thing.  Then sprinkle cinnamon.  With hands on the longest side, roll the dough up and cut into 12 slices (I use thread to cut it).  Place on a greased baking sheet (12 per sheet).  Repeat with other half of dough.  Cover both pans and let rise till double.  

Bake at 350 for about 15-20 minutes.  You just want them to be barely brown on top and sides.  Make frosting by mixing all the frosting ingredients together.  Frost while still warm.

Currently this is how Paige is funding her love of dance.   Lance has hired her to make them for his weekly Tuesday morning Master Rooter Plumbing meetings. She makes cinnamon rolls on Monday nights, bakes them on Tuesday mornings and Lance takes them to his Tuesday morning meetings.  

Hawaiian Haystacks

Link to recipe for Hawaiian Haystacks that does not use canned cream soup.

I use half wheat flour and plain greek yogurt instead of sour cream.  I also add curry.

Lettuce Wraps

I love to serve lettuce wraps.  Everyone can just pick and choose what they like/want.  My inspiration for this meal is from the Cheesecake Factory.  I will list the things we usually put in the wraps but really anything works.  The best part about it...the peanut sauce.  We could drink it (or some of us could).

Lettuce wraps

Large lettuce leaves, to place desired fillings in

Diced, cooked chicken--seasoned to your likeness
Rice (I like to combine  brown and white rice)
water chestnuts, chopped
sliced cucumbers, chopped
mushrooms, chopped
carrots, chopped
peanuts, chopped
cilantro, chopped
lime wedges, squeeze on top

Once filled with desired ingredients, drizzle sauce on top.

Peanut Sauce

1/2 cup peanut butter (I use creamy but chunky would work great too)
1/2 cup water (start with less and add more to make it to desired consistency)
4 Tablespoons sugar
2 Tablespoons soy sauce
2 Tablespoons rice vinegar

Dash of hot sauce (I use Frank's)

Bit of chopped cilantro

Put all ingredients in a small saucepan,except cilantro.  Bring just to a boil and remove from heat.  Stir in cilantro and add more water if needed.