Spicy Oatmeal Cookies

1 3/4 cups flour
2 1/4 cup quick-cooking oats
1/2 cup dark seedless raisins
1/2 cup chopped nuts
4 tablespoons milk
4 tablespoons molasses
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Sift together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Set bowl aside. Combine remaining ingredients and mix well. When mixed add in the flour mixture and mixt until blended.

Drop rounded tablespoonfuls onto cookie sheet and bake at 325 degrees 10-12 minutes. Cool on wire rack.

Audrey :)

Orange Jell-O Mold

This is a very orange jell-o mold recipe:

1 large package orange jell-o
1 pint orange sherbert
1 can of mandarin oranges, drained
2 cups boiling water

Dissolve the jell-o in the boiling water. Add the sherbert and stir until melted. Pour into mold and partially set. Add in the mandarin oranges and refrigerate until completely set.

Audrey :)

Southwestern Quiche

3 eggs
1 - 4 ounce can of diced green chilies
1 - 2 ounce can of sliced black olives
1 cup half and half
3/4 cup grated cheddar cheese
1/2 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons chopped green onions
pepper to taste
pastry shell

Mix the cheeses together and spread onto the bottom of the pastry shell. In a bowl, mix the remaining ingredients. Pour over the cheese and bake at 350 degrees about 45 minutes.

Audrey :)

Cheese and Spinach Casserole

2 pints of cottage cheese
6 eggs
1 package frozen chopped spinach
1/2 pound butter, cut into small pats
1/2 pound cheddar cheese
6 tablespooons flour

Beat eggs. Mix in cottage cheese. Next, add in the spinach, cheese and butter. Mix until blended. Pour into well greased casserole dish. Bake at 350 degrees about one hour.

Audrey :)

Aloha Friday #6

Each Friday Kailani over at http://islandlife808.com/ runs an Aloha Friday. It's the end of the week and Kailani likes to ask a question and have others also ask a question.

My question this week is:

Do you subscribe or buy any cooking magazines? If so, what do you enjoy reading?

I subscribe to a cooking for two magazine and I just love the recipes. I often double them as I'm cooking for more than two, but I really like the recipes.

Audrey :)

Slow Cooker Thursday

I love my slow cooker. When I found this meme over at Family Corner I knew I had to play. Most people think of slow cookers for dinner, so I wanted to share a breakfast recipe made in the slow cooker:

Breakfast Cobbler

4 medium-sized apples, peeled and sliced
1/4 cup honey
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons butter, melted
2 cups granola cereal

Place apples in slow cooker and mix in remaining ingredients. Cover and cook on low 7-9 hours (overnight) or on high 2-3 hours. Serve with milk.

Audrey :)

Garbage Disposal?

I tend to use my garbage disposal quite often. I know others who don't use theirs due to too many clogs and still others who don't even have a garbage disposal.

I read a tip that I just loved. When cooking, keep a dishwasher safe container on the counter with you. Throw the garbage in the container as you go. This might be avocado skin, or carrot peelings or even wrappers from bottles or jars.

When your recipe is complete, dump out the contents of your mini garbage can into the kitchen garbage and pop the container into the dishwasher.

Do you have a garbage disposal? Do you use it?

Audrey :)

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday #2

Lisa and Lana host Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays. To join the fun this week, visit
http://blessedwithgrace.blogspot.com/2009/06/tempt-my-tummy-tuesday-my-favorite-soda.html

I had so much fun last week, I wanted to join again this week.

Jelly Bean Cookies

1 cup jelly beans, cut up (if you use Jelly Belly's instead of jelly beans, your cookies will have other flavors)
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 cup oatmeal
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/3 cup white sugar
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cream together butter and the two sugars. Add egg, baking soda, baking powder, salt and vanilla. Stir in flour and oatmeal, add in jelly beans. Mix well. Heat oven to 350°. Drop rounded spoonfuls of batter two inches apart on greased cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes. Makes three dozen.

Note: I have doubled this recipe and it just didn't work. Make two batches, instead of a double recipe.

Audrey :)

Baked Mashed Potatoes

5 pounds potatoes, boiled and mashed
8 ounces cream cheese
1 cup half and half
1 stick butter
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1 teaspoon onion salt

Beat together the cream cheese and half and half. Add the mashed potatoes and blend well. Add remaining ingredients. Pour into casserole dish. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with paprika. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

Audrey :)

Brown Sugar

I'd like to share several tips on softening brown sugar when it hardens:

Place a lettuce leaf or slice of bread in the container, seal and allow to sit for a few days.

Place the brown sugar in the microwave just enough to soften.

Put a slice of apple in the brown sugar.

Try storing brown sugar in the freezer, in an airtight container. This helps prevent the sugar from hardening.

In a pinch, you can use a grater and grate off as much as you need for the recipe.

Do you have other brown sugar tips?

Audrey :)

Aloha Friday #6

Kailani over at http://islandlife808.com/ runs an Aloha Friday. Everyone posts a question of the week and then you can visit all of the blogs and answer the many great questions.

I had a plain ole cheese omlette for dinner. So my question is:

What is your favorite type of omlette?

Audrey :)

Blueberry Nut Bread

I'm a bread lover. I enjoy both yeast breads and also quick breads. With blueberries in season this is a great recipe:

Blueberry Nut Bread

1 cup blueberries
3 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup milk
1/2 cup nuts, chopped
2 eggs
3 tablespoons salad oil
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

Beat the eggs. Slowly add in the sugar. Next, add in the milk and oil. Sift together the flour, salt and baking powder. Add to egg mixture. Stir until mixed. Gently fold in blueberries and nuts. Pour into greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 to 60 minutes.

Audrey :)

Fourth of July Fruit Kabobs

I found the cutest recipe yesterday: Fourth of July Fruit Kabobs

I am not a strawberry eater, but I do love cherries and blueberries. I thought I might try these less the strawberries.

While you're visiting, make sure to enter the giveaway for a Pillsbury cookbook and dough boy http://www.thefrugalgirls.com/2009/06/giveaway-pillsbury-dough-boy-recipe.html

Do you have any 4th of July plans? For me, one daughter will be at a wedding, the other daughter will be home so I'm not sure yet what we'll do. You can never really go wrong with a BBQ :)

Audrey :)

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday

Lisa and Lana host Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays. To join the fun this week, visit http://blessedwithgrace.blogspot.com/2009/06/tempt-my-tummy-tuesdaysummer-garden.html

I'm a chicken lover. I could make chicken 365 ways if need be. My tempting recipe is a chicken and sour cream recipe:

Chicken and Sour Cream

1 whole chicken, cut into pieces
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup butter
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup light cream
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup stuffed olives
1 teaspoon seasoned salt

Brown chicken and onion in butter. Place chicken in baking dish. Add flour to chicken drippings and mix well. Add cream slowly. Simmer about 3 minutes. Should thicken while simmering. Stir in sour cream, olives and seasoned salt. Pour over chicken and bake at 350 degrees about 30 minutes or until chicken is done.

Audrey :)

Broccoli and Corn Casserole

1 - 10 ounce package frozen chopped broccoli, thawed (we use florets, as my daughter hates the stems)
1 can creamed style corn
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 tablespoon grated onion
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup herb flavored stuffing mix
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Drain the water from the broccoli. In a bowl, mix together the broccoli, corn, egg, onion, salt and pepper.

In a separate bowl, combine the butter and stuffing mix. Set aside 1/2 cup of the stuffing mixture. Add the remaining stuffing to the broccoli mixture. Pour into casserole dish and sprinkle on reserved stuffing. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes.

Audrey :)

Cake Tips

Instead of a recipe today, I wanted to share some cake making tips:

Dip your spoon in hot water before measuring butter or Crisco. It will slide off the spoon much easier.

Put flour into a salt shaker. You can then lightly flour cutting boards or cake pans.

When separating eggs, allow the whites to come to room temperature. They are at their highest volume for beating when at room temperature.

For a moisture cake, try substituting mayonnaise for part of the butter called for.

Dust your cake pans with a bit of the dry cake mixture to prevent flour marks.

If your cake is sticking to the pan, try either putting the cake into the oven for a few minutes or placing the pan over a washcloth that has been soaked with boiling water.

To split cake layers, try dental floss.

Do you have any additional cake tips to share?

Audrey :)

Six Word Saturday

Six Word Saturday asks that you describe your life or something in it, in six words.

Since this blog is food/cooking:

I love chocolate vanilla swirl yogurt

Share with me what food or dessert you like in just 6 words.

Audrey :)

Aloha Friday #5

Kailani over at http://islandlife808.com/ runs an Aloha Friday. It's so much fun to visit everyone's blogs and see their question of the week.

I also love reading the comments that everyone posts here.

Here's my question for this week:

When you want a quick but nutritious meal, what do you make?

Audrey :)

Cucumbers In Sour Cream Sauce

I love both cucumbers and pickles. This is a very simple recipe and tastes great the next day after its been sitting in the sauce overnight.

3 cucumbers
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
3 tablespoons minced onion
1 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons lemon juice

Peel and slice cucumbers. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and onion. Stir in sour cream and lemon juice. Chill and serve cold.

Audrey :)

Fried Oven Chicken

Boneless, skinless chicken
1 1/2 cups crushed stuffing mix
1/4 cup butter, melted
2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
1 clove garlic, crushed

Combine stuffing and parmesan. Add the garlic to the melted butter. Brush the chicken with the butter, then coat with stuffing mixture. Bake at 350 degrees about 40 minutes depending on which chicken pieces you are cooking.

Audrey :)

Orange Pound Cake

2 cups flour
2 eggs
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup orange juice
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Sift together the dry ingredients. Cream the shortening, orange juice and eggs. Add in the dry ingredients. Beat for 4 minutes. Grease and flour loaf pans. Pour batter into pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 60 minutes.

Audrey :)

Six Word Saturday

What a fun meme for a Saturday. Since my blog is cooking related, I pondered what to say in 6 works and then it came to me:

I love to use my crockpot!!

What would you say about yourself or any part of your life in just 6 words?

Audrey :)

Butternut Squash Rolls

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup cooked and mashed butternut squash
1/4 cup warm water
1 package dry yeast
4 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon salt

Dissolve the yeast in the warm water and set aside.

In a saucepan, scald the milk. Add squash, sugar, salt, butter and yeast mixture. Add this mixture to the flour and mix well. Knead until dough is smooth and elastic.

Set bowl in warm area and allow to rise until doubled in size.

Punch dough down and cut into 12 parts. Form the rolls and place on a cookie sheet. Cover and allow to rise, once again until doubled in bulk.

Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

Audrey :)

Aloha Friday #5

Kailani over at http://islandlife808.com/ runs an Aloha Friday. It's so much fun to visit everyone's blogs and see their question of the week.

I have not had a lunch at work any day this week. Each day I've gone out and bought something.

My question for this week is:

What do you normally eat for lunch?

Audrey :)

Peanut Butter Sticks

This is a fun recipe that kids love. If you have a nut allergy try substituting almond butter:

1 loaf of white bread
1 cup of oil
1 cup creamy peanut butter

Remove the crusts from the bread and set aside. Now cut each slice of bread into sticks. You should get 5 or 6 per slice of bread. Arrange sticks on baking sheet and bake at 300 degrees until dry and brown.

Use the crusts of the bread and create bread crumbs. Combine the oil and peanut butter and microwave until smooth. You can also use a double broiler. Dip the brown breadstick into the peanut butter, then roll in bread crumbs. Dry on waxed paper.

Note: keep the bread crumbs dry. Do not allow the oil to moisten them.

Audrey :)

An Old Fashioned Wedding Shower

Nowadays when you are invited to a wedding or baby shower it is often held at a restaurant or catering hall. Considering the guest list this sometimes seems the best way to accommodate the crowd. Refreshments are served by employees of the establishment or perhaps cafeteria style. While all of this is convenient for the organizers, it is expensive and somewhat impersonal. That is why I recommend considering the option of an old fashioned wedding shower.

My grandmother, Elizabeth, prepared the wedding reception dinners for both of her daughters' weddings. She also hosted many showers in her day. What could be better than a home cooked meal to celebrate such special occasions in our lives?

Elizabeth always enjoyed cooking and baking for her family and friends. Her presentation was as elegant as the food was delicious. The menu was simple: fruit cup with frosted grapes, tea sandwiches, cucumber salad, German potato salad, Kiffle cookies and a decorated pound cake.

I have vivid memories of the wedding shower my grandmother had for my sister Sue. It was small enough that we all sat at the dining room table. The table was set with a lace tablecloth and Elizabeth's best antique china. She used her cranberry glassware to serve the fruit cup and champagne. Each place setting was decorated with a delicate old fashioned chocolate cup filled with lilies of the valley picked from her garden.

When you begin to plan a wedding shower perhaps you will consider quality instead of quantity. Invite just a handful of people and make the effort to create a special luncheon which will live on in the memories of your guests for years to come. I hope you enjoy my grandmother's special recipes below!

Tea Sandwiches

Below are 3 of the 6 tea sandwich recipes my grandmother always made. She recommends using Pepperidge Farm white bread.

Chicken Salad: Take a small chicken (about 3 pounds) or just use breasts and put it in a pot with about 3 quarts of water. Add 2 carrots cut into 3” pieces, 1 onion, 1 clove garlic, 1 stalk celery cut into 3” pieces, sprig of thyme and parsley, 2 cloves, 1 tablespoon salt and a sprinkle of pepper. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for about 1 – 1 1/2 hours. Remove chicken.

Use 1 cup of chicken breast cut into small pieces, add ¼ cup finely chopped celery, 1 teaspoon finely grated onion, ¼ cup Miracle Whip salad dressing thinned with a little milk. Toss together. Salt and pepper to taste. Spread over white bread. Cut sandwich into 3 “fingers.”

Cucumber: Lightly salt thinly sliced cucumber. Butter white bread and place a thin layer of cucumber to make a delicate sandwich. Cut sandwich into 3 “fingers.”

Date and Nut: Use 1 or 2 cans of date and nut bread. Cut into 1/4” slices. Spread 1 slice with cream cheese and top with a second slice to make a sandwich. Cut in half to make half circles. Simple but delicious!

Cucumber Salad

Take a large cucumber, peel and slice thinly. Put into a bowl and salt lightly. Leave stand for about ½ an hour. Then press the slices between your hands to press out all of the water. Put the pressed slices into a bowl and add ½ tablespoon minced onions, 1 clove minced garlic, 1 tablespoon chopped parsley, 1 teaspoon sugar, 2 tablespoons vinegar, 1 tablespoon oil, and a heaping tablespoon of sour cream. Mix well. Sprinkle with paprika and serve. This looks so elegant served in a pretty cut glass bowl!

Carrie J. Gamble is the publisher of Grandmother's Cookbook by Elizabeth Rose von Hohen. It is a collection of her grandmother's comfort food recipes made with love including her treasured memories. For more details about the cookbook and its wildflower watercolors visit: http://www.grandmotherscookbook.com. The perfect gift for Wedding Showers, House Warming and Birthdays.

~ ~ ~
A huge thanks to Carrie for providing today's post for us.

Audrey :)

New Tupperware Contest

Here are your random numbers:
259
Timestamp: 2009-06-15 15:17:45 UTC

Congratulations to Jammie!!

Would you like to win these Tupperware Cereal Bowls? You'll win this set of four bowls with lids.

For your first mandatory entry, leave a comment with your favorite cereal.

Want extra entries?

1. Blog about this contest and put the URL of the post into a new comment
2. Either follow me publicly or tell me you already follow me in a new comment
3. Friend request me on Facebook http://profile.to/audreyokaneko/ Post in a comment that you've friend requested me. If we're already friends on Facebook, just let me know in a comment.
4. Subscribe via email to this blog and let me know in a comment. If you already subscribe let me know in a comment.
5. Place an order on my Tupperware site http://mytupperware.com/audreyoka and leave 3 comments saying "I ordered." Yes, you'll get 3 extra entries.

Contest open to those over age 18 with a U.S. mailing address. Contest ends June 14th, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. pacific time.

Audrey :)

Lemon Cheese Bars

1 box yellow cake mix with pudding
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 eggs
1/3 cup oil

Mix cake mix with 1 egg and oil. Set aside one cup of batter. Pat remaining batter into ungreased 13x9 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

Beat cream cheese, sugar, lemon and 1 egg until light and smooth. Spread over baked layer. Sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture. Bake 15 minutes longer. Cool and cut into bars.

Audrey :)