bits of sunshine recipes

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!