bits of sunshine recipes

Pea Pesto

** thaw some frozen peas (1-2 cups) ** throw them in the blender ** peel and core an avacado (if you wish) and throw it in the blender, too ** add some veg oil of your choice (a TBS or 2) ** throw in some garlic (minced, fresh or powdered) ** and some basil (a few tsps, dried) ** squeeze in some lemon juice (half a lemon, a whole lemon, it's up to you) ** blend like crazy ** sprinkle with parmesan ** eat on chips or toast or pasta or pizza or whatever you wish **

Everything Cookies

oh!  did you want the recipe?  well yes.  i will share it.  :)

1/4 c butter 
1/4 c peanut butter 
1/2 c brn sugar 
1/2 c white sugar 
1 egg 
1 tsp vanilla 
1/2 tsp baking soda 
1/2 tsp baking powder 
1 c flour 
3/4 c rolled oats 
chocolate chips 
coconut

preheat oven to 350 degrees F 
cream butters and sugars together 
add egg, vanilla, baking soda and baking powder; mix well 
add flour and oats; mix well 
add chocolate chips and coconut to taste
(i chopped my chocolate chips up a bit . . . i also added toffee chips ) 
roll into balls, place on cookie sheet, press somewhat flat (i used the bottom of an 8 oz jar) 
bake for 8 minutes 
remove promptly from cookie sheet 
allow to cool for a few minutes 
pour yourself your beverage of choice and enjoy 

this is a tiny recipe, but easily doubled or trippled or how-ever-manyed . . . cause you'll probably have to share . . .

E's Double Chocolate No Mixer Needed Cookies

• preheat oven to 375 degrees F 
• in a small saucepan melt together 1/2 c butter and 1/2 c shortening 
• in a large bowl mix 1 c packed brown sugar, 1/2 c white sugar, 1/2 tsp baking soda and 1/2 c baking cocao 
• remove the melted butter and shortening from the heat and mix in a liberal tsp vanilla and 2 eggs  
• stir the liquid mixture into the sugar and cocao mixture add 2 1/2 c flour, mix well 
• add 1 cup chocolate chips and stir through
• drop by rounded spoonfuls onto cookie sheet
• bake for 8 minutes if using a dark cookie sheet, 9 minutes if using a light cookie sheet
• cool slightly on pan, remove and allow to cool
• ENJOY with milk or coffee or . . .   :)

Miss Jenny's Yummy Cookies

1/2 c soft butter
1/2 c shortening
1 c brown sugar
1 c granulated sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
         now beat this together till creamy
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
       beat again
2 c flour
2 1/2 c rolled oats (not quick-cooking oats)
       beat again till mixture is combined
1 c semi-sweet choc. chips
4 oz grated milk chocolate
1 1/2 c chopped walnuts
       stir together
drop by rounded teaspoonfulls onto cookie sheet
bake at 375 degrees F for 8 minutes
cool on pan for 5 minutes
remove to wire rack, brown paper or counter-top to finish cooling

variation ::
use white chocolate chips in place of semi-sweet, pecans in place of walnuts and add 1-2 c dried cranberries

Lasagna Casserole

Easier than lasagna.  Super yummy!

I always make two 9x13 pans at once - I share some or freeze some.

24 ounces of your favorite dry pasta.  Cook it up.

2 lbs ground beef (or turkey or sausage or a combination).  Brown this and remove grease.

2 26-ounce containers of your favorite pasta sauce (or tomato sauce with your favorite Italian seasonings).

2 large fresh tomatoes (or a can of tomatoes), pureed.

Spinach or kale or swiss chard, also pureed, in the amount to your taste.

Your favorite cheese grated or chunked - to taste.

Stir it all up.  Bake in a 350 degree F oven, until all bubbly, about 30 minutes.

Serve with a green salad and french bread (with honey). 

Granola - Ben and Elizabeth Style

Heat oven to 300 degrees F

Mix ::
3 c oats
3 c crisp rice cereal
1 c almond slivers
1 c walnut pieces
1 c coconut
1/2 c powdered pecans
1/2 c ground flax
1/4 c sesame seeds

In another bowl mix 1/2 c vegetable oil and 1 c honey

Pour the liquid over the dry ingredients and stir to evenly distribute the liquid

Spread on two cookie sheets and roast till golden brown, stirring every 10 minutes

When you are almost done roasting the granola add 2 c dried fruit of your choice
We added 1 c raisins and 1 c dates

Spread on brown paper or parchment paper to cool.

Store in an air-tight container. Large mason jars work really well!

Of course, you can vary the amounts or types of dry ingredients, as well as the fruit.  Just so it equals out to about 10 cups of dry ingredients, plus the 2 cups of fruit. 

Ben, Maddie and I love this with milk for breakfast, Ben loves it sprinkled into his granola, and Isaac likes to just eat it plain. 

If you have recipe variations or other ways to eat granola - add them in the comments!  Thanks!

White Frosting

4 T shortening
2 t vanilla extract
3 c powdered sugar
3 - 4 T milk

Beat together until of spreading consistency.  Add more powdered sugar or milk as necessary. 

You may substitute 1 tsp almond extract for the vanilla if you wish.

Vanilla Chocolate-Chip Cake (Easy)

This batter is quick and simple to make.  No need for a mixer - just stir.

Makes 24 cupcakes, or a 9x13 cake, or 2 round layers.

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.  Line muffin tins with liners or cake pans with non-stick foil or parchment paper. 

Mix ::

2 2/3 c flour
2 c sugar
2 t baking powder
1/2 t salt

In another bowl, whisk together ::

1 c milk
1/3 c water
3/4 c oil
1 T vanilla extract
2 large eggs

Make a well in the flour mixture.  Gradually pour liquid mixture into the flour mixture.  Whisk until blended (a few lumps may remain).  Stir in 1 c mini chocolate-chips.

Bake cupcakes 20 -25 minutes, bake 9x13 pan or round layer pans 35 minutes, until wooden pick inserted in center of a cupcake comes out clean. 

Cool in pan 30 minutes.  Remove from pan and cool completely.

Frost with White Frosting.

Decorate - with sprinkles!

Oatmeal Carmelitas

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.

Grease a 9x13 size pan.  (Grease the sides REALLY well.)

Beat the following ingredients until crumbly ::

2 c flour
2 c quick oats
1 1/2 c brown sugar
1 c butter, softened
1 t baking soda
1/2 t salt

Press 1/2 - 2/3 of this mixture into the bottom of your greased pan.  Reserve the rest.  Bake for 10 minutes.

While baking, stir together 1 jar (12.25 oz) caramel ice cream topping and 4 T flour.

Sprinkle 1 c mini chocolate chips over the partially baked bars.  At this point you could sprinkle 1/2 c your choice of chopped nuts over the bars.  Drizzle the caramel evenly over the chocolate chips.  

Sprinkle your reserved crumb mix over the caramel layer.

Bake 20 minutes longer.

Cool in pan 1 hour.  Refridgerate 1 to 2 hours until filling is set.

Enjoy!

(Store in a tightly covered container at room temperature.)

River Boat BBQ Sauce

1/2 cup maple syrup

1/2 cup ketchup

1/4 cup orange juice

1 Tbsp. minced onion

1 Tbsp. white vinegar

1 Tbsp. steak sauce

1 tsp. grated orange peel

1 tsp. mustard

1/2 tsp. worcestershire sauce

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

1/4 tsp. hot pepper sauce

3 whole cloves

 

In small sauce pan, combine all ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes or until flavors are blended. Remove from heat. Discard cloves. Cool. Store in refrigerator until ready to use.

 

Contributed by Angie.  She says, "It is fantastic on chicken or pork chops. Even the kids liked it. I omitted the hot sauce and added diced chili peppers. YUM!"