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Saturday, March 22, 2014

Maple Oatmeal Scones

Scones are such an easy bake.  They are scrumptious and not too sweet.  Great with jam or butter or alone.  Matched with a cup of tea or coffee a nice breakfast.


1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup quick or old-fashioned rolled oats
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) cold butter, sliced
1/4 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
2 eggs
 In a medium sized mixing bowl combine the flours, oats, baking powder, sugar and salt.
Mix together butter, buttermilk, maple syrup, and eggs.  Mix the two together just until mixed.  Do not over mix.  On a floured surface pat the dough into a circle and cut into  8 wedges.  Put onto a sprayed  cookie sheet.  Bake at 400 for 20 minutes.

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Spicy Parmesan Shrimp Pasts

This recipe is soooo easy and requires no special ingredients.  I just love these kind of recipes--the kind you can come home after work and say "I think I will make that."  It comes together easily and served up with salad and/or bread makes a terrific dinner.

  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons soy sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or more, to taste
  • 1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 8 ounces penne
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 green onion, thinly sliced
Combine oil, garlic, brown sugar, soy sauce and red pepper flakes.  Add shrimp and marinate for 30 or more minutes.  Cook penne until tender.  In a skillet pour shrimp and sauce and saute until shrimp is pink.  Add penne.  Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and green onions,  Serve.

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Peanut Butter M&M Cookies

Today my grand daughter is visiting so I wanted to bake up a bake up cookies for her visit.  This is an old recipe that I used to make when my own children were small.  It is a good reliable recipe that is easy to make and sure to please a child ( and a cookie monster husband.)


1 c. butters
1 c. sugar
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. peanut butter
2 eggs
1 t. vanilla
1 t. baking soda
2 1/2 c. flour
2 c. M&M s

Cream butter and sugars.  Mix in peanut butter.  Add eggs and vanilla..blend well.  Mix in four and baking soda.  Stir in M&Ms. Drop onto greased cookie trays.   Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Crockpot Beef Ragout

It is still rainy crockpot season.  You can serve this over some cooked egg noodles for a nice comfort food dinner.

1# stew meat
2 c. sliced mushrooms
1/2 sliced onion
3 garlic cloves, chopped
15 0z. beef broth
1# frozen sugar snap peas
1# cherry or grape tomatoes
1/4 c. tapioca
2 -3 T. cornstarch

Combine meat, mushrooms, onions, garlic, beef broth and tapioca in crockpot.  Cook 8-10 hours on low.  Add pea pods and tomatoes. Then add cornstarch to thicken.

Monday, March 3, 2014

Lemon Garlic cream sauce with pasta and asparagus

This is a nice light meal to celebrate the coming of spring.  Asparagus is showing up again at a more reasonable price and goes perfect in a delicious lemon sauced pasta.  Add a little chicken and you have a wonderful dinner.  If you want a veggie version leave out the chicken.  This would also be excellent with broccoli and shrimp.

1/4 c. butter
5-6 sliced mushrooms
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 c. half and half
4 oz. cream cheese
1 lemon, zested
juice of one lemon
3 c. dried tortellini
2 chicken breast, cooked and cubed
6 large asparagus spears,  sliced
Bring water to boil and add tortellini and asparagus.  Boil 8 minutes or until tortellini is tender.  Drain.  Mix in the chicken with the asparagus and tortellini.  In a saucepan melt the butter, add mushrooms and garlic.  Saute 3 minutes.  Add cream cheese and lemon juice.  Stir until cream cheese melts and becomes smooth.  Add half and half and lemon zest.   Pour hot sauce over tortellini mixture.  Serve with a sprinkle of parmesan cheest.