Tamara's Healthy Cookies

1 cup healthy oil (i.e. olive, walnut, grapeseed - I used EVOO)
1 - 1 1/2 cups mashed ripe banana (or unsweetened applesauce)
1 - 1 1/2 cup honey or agave
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
3 cups whole wheat flour (I used 2 1/2 cups and added 1/2 cup all purpose flour because I ran out of whole wheat flour - but you could use all whole wheat flour - you might try using whole wheat pastry flour for a lighter cookie, but I didn't)
2 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. sea salt (I used regular salt)
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
6 cups rolled oats (not quick cooking)
1-2 cups walnuts (I ommitted this and used shredded dry coconut from the bulk bins at Fred Meyers - I don't care for nuts)
2 cups raisins or craisins (I used craisins from Costco which probably do have some sugar in them)
For a sweeter treat add 1- 1 1/2 cups "chips" - I used semi-sweet but you could use white or dark or carob chips, too.

Scoop with a tablespoon onto a greased cookie sheet - flatten cookie - I used my fingers - it is pretty sticky - you could use a glass dipped in flour, too - dip between each cookie -

Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes. This makes approximately 60 cookies so you can half this recipe if that is too many. These freeze well and are very filling and satisfying - you could also probably make these into bars by pressing the dough into a Texas sheetcake pan and cutting into bars -- I might try experimenting with adding some protein powder to them, too...

Sushi night

Thought I could get some help from some friends about sushi. Sorry if you don't like it, please don't respond. For those that do, I am having a sushi night at my house with my husbands family. We are all making sushi and bringing our creations to share. I need votes on what is a favorite type. I was thinking about making:
-spicy tuna
-california roll
-candy roll
-shrimp and avacado roll

Any other favorites out there? Let me know. Thanks Amber

Cooking blog

hey girls,

I've been having so much fun finding recipes on one of my new favorite cooking blogs, Picky Palate. She has such great, easy recipes that are perfect for everyday or entertaining. She is creative, uses great flavor combinations, and is fun to read. Not only that but her blog was designed by our very own eightcrazy!

So if you want a little of this... BBQ Chicken Salad Stack

or this.....White Chocolate Raspberry Blondies

or this...Girl Scout Thin Mint Cookie Cheesecake Cups

Go check her out!

Julie

Honey Oatmeal Cookies - uses no refined sugars!

I have been looking for some recipes where I could substitute honey for refined sugar and came across some on this website. www.honey.com Appropriately named! I tried this last night and the kids all like them. At first I skipped the step of putting the raisins in the hot tea, but then I realized it was pulling sweetness from the raisins to put in the recipe. Good idea! The first batch I omitted it and they weren't sweet enough. I did in the second batch and they were just right. I didn't put the raisins in the cookies, because my kids would turn their noses at them. I just used the sweetness from them. Give it a try!
Michelle

Honey Oatmeal Cookies

* 1/2 cup hot tea
* 1 cup raisins
* 2 cups flour (I used a 1/4 to 1/2 c more more bc my cookies were a little flat)
* 1-1/2 cups quick cooking rolled oats
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
* 1/2 cup shortening (I used coconut oil)
* 1/2 cup butter or margarine
* 3/4 cup honey
* 1 egg
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* 1/2 to 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
* 1 package (6 oz.) chocolate chips, optional

Directions

Pour tea over raisins; let stand at least 15 minutes. Combine flour, oats, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg. Mix thoroughly; set aside. Cream shortening and butter; gradually add honey until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Drain raisins; reserve 1/4 cup liquid. Alternately add flour mixture and reserved raisin liquid. Stir in nuts, raisins and chocolate chips. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350°F about 12 minutes or until browned. Let stand one minute on cookie sheet; remove and cool on rack. Store in airtight container.

Whole Wheat Flax 'n Apple Muffins

My family really likes these muffins and they're pretty healthy.

If you haven't had milled flax seed before, buy a box and put some in anything and everything you bake. No one will know it's there, and it's really good for you.

1/4 cup milled flax seed
3/4 cup whole wheat graham flour (I just used whole wheat)
3/4 cup white flour
1/2 cup sugar (I used brown)
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 egg, beaten
1 1/2 cups finely chopped apples
3 Tbsp. oil
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup chopped nuts
(next time Steve says to add cinnamon!)

Blend dry ingredients together in a bowl. In separate bowl; combine egg, oil and milk. Add dry ingredients to egg mixtures until just blended. Fold in apples and nuts. Batter will be thick. Fill wee-greased muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake at 400 for 18-20 minutes.

yield: 12 muffins.

Thanks Girlies

I just wanted to say thanks to all of you who post on here. I must admit that I have not been very good at using the recipes but of only posting them. I am making myself use the blog this week for my weekly dinner menu. It is a lot more easy than thumbing thru my gazillion cook books. Thanks for creating my dinner menu for the week.

Quick Turkey Roll ups

This dish is great for a quick, cheap and kid-friendly lunch or dinner. It's sort of like a poor man's turkey dinner!

Turkey deli-meat (I used the very inexpensive kind and it worked fine)
3 C prepared stuffing
1 can cream of chicken soup mixed with 3/4 C water
cheddar cheese

place stuffing in turkey and roll up. Place seam side down in baking dish. (I used an 8x8) Pour soup mixed with water over top. Top with cheese. Cover and cook or freeze. Thaw and bake covered on 350 for 30 min.

7 Can Dinner

This soup recipe makes a lot, freezes well and tastes SO good!

1 lb ground beef, browned
3 cans Minestrone soup
2 cans ranch beans
1 can Rotel tomatoes
1 can diced tomatoes

Add all to a crock pot and cook on low 6 hours.

Cream Cheese Chicken

This is an easy and really delicious crock pot meal a friend gave me. You're gonna love it! I was told it freezes well too.

4 frozen chicken breasts
2 T melted butter
salt and pepper to taste
2 T dry zesty Italian salad dressing
1 can cream of chicken soup
8 oz. cream cheese cut into 1" cubes
1 T onion, chopped

Place chicken in bottom of crock pot, pout butter and seasonings over chicken. Cook on low 6 hours. 1 hour prior to serving, heat soup, cream cheese and onion in saucepan until smooth. Pour over chicken and continue cooking for 45 min-1 hour. Serve over egg noodles or rice.

Cornflake crusted Halibut

I made this the other night for dinner. The kids loved it and it was super easy to make. I got it from Cooking Light.

1 C fat-free milk
1 large egg white, lightly beaten
2 C Cornflakes, finely crushed
1/4 C all purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black peper
2 Tbsp olive oil
4 (6-ounce) halibut fillets
Lemon wedges

To pepare fish, combine milk and egg white in a shallow dish, stirring well with a whisk. Combine cornflakes, flour, salt and pepper in a shallow dish. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Dip fish in milk mixture; dredge in cornflake mixture. Add fish to pan; cook 4 minutes on each side or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork or until desired degree of doneness. Serve with lemon wedges.

I also served with tarter sauce. I made homemade steak fries and added a salad and fruit and was done. Easy.