Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies

from Renae

My sister sent these cookies. They are delicious! I'm so glad she included the recipe.

Ingredients

• 2/3 C butter, softened
• 2/3 C brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 C old-fashioned oats
• 1 1/2 C flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 (6 0z.) package sweetened dried cranberries
• 2/3 C white chocolate chips

Directions

1. Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and mix well.
2. Combine oats, flour, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl. Add to butter mixture in several additions, mixing well after each addition.
3. Stir in cranberries and chocolate chips.
4. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 10-12 min. or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack. Makes 2 1/2 dz.

Birthday Cake

from Renae


Ingredients

• 2 C flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/2 C butter
• 1 3/4 C sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 4 egg whites (I usually add the yolks)
• 1 1/3 C buttermilk or sour milk (add a 1 Tbls vinegar to the milk)

Directions

1. Sift dry ingredients.
2. Beat butter. Add sugar and vanilla. Beat until mixed. Add egg whites and beat one at a time.
3. Add dry mix and milk alternately.
4. Pour in a prepared pan and bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes. Makes 2- 8 1/2 inch cakes.

Tip: I tried many ways to prevent the finished cake from sticking to the pan. Nothing worked well. The butter and flour baked into the cake, and the wax paper pulled the cake apart. It's not ideal because of the ingredients, but baker sprays work the best.

Do you know of another way keep cakes from sticking to the pan?

Orange Julius

from Renae

My mother used to make this as a treat for breakfast. It's refreshingly cool on a hot summer day.

photo: itchy's

Ingredients

• 3 oz. frozen orange juice
• 5-6 ice cubes
• 1/2 c milk
• 1/2 c water
• 1/4 c sugar
  
• 1/2 tsp vanilla

Directions

Place all ingredients in blender and process until smooth. Makes 4 small servings, but is easily doubled.

Menu Planning

from Renae

I try to simplify my responsibilities as homemaker, so a list of recipes hangs on the refrigerator. The ingredients are stored awaiting their transformation into yummy goodness. It works well for me.

However, I knew there had to be an easier way than searching through cookbooks every two weeks.

Photo: brighterworld's

Then I discovered How to Menu Plan: A Guide at SimpleMom. Her idea to use Google Calendar revolutionized my menu planning. Her plan of having certain types of meals for each day of week is genius.

It took me less than an hour to set everything up, and the month and half of menus was worth it. Future plans will take mere moments. I am not a slave to paper, but the neatly printed calendar frees my mind for laundry and lesson plans.

Also, of interest is the article Make a Deli.icio.Us Coo.kbo.ok. Del.icio.us is a bookmarking site I use to store links for homeschooling, home management, craft tutorials, and a myriad of other interesting things. Now I'm adding recipes. Here is my recipe book.

Do you plan menus? If so, what is your method?

Taco Soup

from Renae

photo: adactio

Using beans is an easy way to reduce the grocery bill. My family enjoys this simple recipe.

Ingredients

• 1 small onion, chopped
• 3 cans (4 oz. each) chopped green chilies
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• 1 pkg taco seasoning
• 1 1/2 c water
• 2 c frozen corn
• 3 cans stewed tomatoes
• 3 cans beans, any variety (or equivalent prepared dried beans)
• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Tortilla chips

Directions

1. In a large Dutch oven or kettle, cook onion. Add remaining ingredients except last two.
2. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 30 min.
3. Serve with cheese and chips. Serves 10.

Sailboat Cake

from Julie

Teddy Bear Birthday Cake

from Renae

I created this cake for Sweet Pea's 1st birthday.

To make the body use two stainless steel nesting bowls for cake pans. The paws and ears are cupcakes. The bear is frosted with German Chocolate icing and decorated with Thin Mints, Junior Mints, and chocolate chips.