Almond Biscotti

Almond biscotti

3 eggs
1/2 c. oil
1 c. sugar
2 tsp. almond extract
1/2 c. finely chopped almonds
2 tsp. baking powder
2 1/2 c. flour

Mix all wet ingredients in mixer for about 5 minutes.  Then stir in the almonds, baking powder, & flour.
On a greased an floured cookie sheet divide dough into halves and make 2 'logs.'
Bake for 25 minutes or until golden and still a little soft

Remove & let cool for about 10 minutes.

Now slice them into about 1 inch thickness.

Set back on cookie sheet and bake an additional 20 minutes.

Cool a little and serve!

About to enjoy with a hot cup of coffee & continue doing homeschool with my daughter.

Brown Bears

Saturday we went on a ghost walk through our downtown with some friends.  -It was a lot of fun & if you've never been on one you may be surprised how much history you learn. (on ours anyway)

Afterwards we all came back to our house and sat around the fire pit, ate good food, & chatted.

Earlier in the day I had made a pot of chili in the crockpot so we had that & then also smores and brown bears.  I had never heard of brown bears. They were really good & fun to make so I thought I'd share the recipe.

Roasting our brown bears.

Good flash on the camera because it was about 11:00 at night.

Amounts depend on how many you chose to make:

BROWN BEARS
crescent rolls in a can
some butter, melted
some cinnamon & sugar, mixed

On some dowel rods wrap the crescent roll down, like a spiral. 
Then roast it over the fire until cooked. You can feel it to tell if it's cooked through.
Carefully remove from the rod and dip in butter & then cinnamon & sugar.
Enjoy!

Thanks Ali for sharing this new treat!

Monday

It's a cool, rainy, gray kind of day here.
I'm glad I got all the outside animals fed this morning because I didn't know it was going to rain.
We've done our daily duties & now I think I'll see if there's a good show on tv.
There's some gluten free blueberry muffins in the oven & they are smelling good!

I usually make my own blend of gluten free baking mix/bisquick, but my grinder is broken.  A good boxed one that I've had good results with is 'Arrowhead Mills Gluten Free All Purpose Baking Mix.'  Gluten free mixes can be expensive and to have them not work is very disappointing.  I paid $6.55 for a 28oz. box at our local health food store.

My Favorite Oatmeal

Put 1 cup old fashioned oats in a small pot with 2 cups of water.
Allow to simmer for just a couple of minutes or until oats are done to your desired texture.
(I like mine to have a bite)
Turn off fire and put in 1 T. coconut oil, 1 T. brown sugar, 1 tsp. cinnamon. Stir.
Put in bowl and top with a little milk or cream.

If I'm adding in raisins or fruit I do this when I start my oats.
Ones I like are:
raisins, dates, dried cranberries, diced peaches, diced apples, but my favorite is a handful of blueberries.

For me this makes 3 servings. 

Oatmeal refrigerates well so sometimes I make a big pot and just reheat it in the microwave. After you stir in a little milk it looks the same as fresh cooked.

Many people soak their oats overnight.  It is suppose to help with the digestion and I sometimes do this but usually I forget and don't.

Big Daddy's Butterscotch Cookies

Add 1 glass milk  :)

1 1/4 c. dark brown sugar
3/4 c. butter flavored Crisco
2 T. milk
1 T. vanilla
1 egg

Cream this all together.

Then add:

1 3/4 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 c. butterscotch baking chips

Mix until combined.

Place tablespoon fulls on cookie sheet.

Bake at 350 for 12 minutes.

They should still be a little soft but set.

Cool & enjoy!

Sugar Cut-Outs, Just Because

I try to make a home baked goodie for my husband & son to take to work with their lunches.  They both work at the machine shop. 
Anyway, I usually make cupcakes or drop cookies. In fact I think I make sugar cookies about 2x a year.  Christmas & Valentine's day.  I'm not sure why I don't make them more, but I just don't. 
After seeing a picture on Pinterest I decided to bake some up.

*I just love these old cookie cutters. They were my Mom's and the rolling pin was my Grandma's*

Recipe:

Wet ingredients:

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup Crisco
2 cups sugar
1 cup sour cream or greek yogurt
2 eggs
1 T. vanilla

Combine well with mixer.

Then add in the dry ingredients:

1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking soda
5 1/2 cups flour

Mix it all well.

Roll & cut out on floured surface.

Bake at 350 for about 8 minutes.  They will not look completely done but don't over bake.

Frost with a mixture of powdered sugar, milk, & food coloring, if desired.

*I used hot pink*

 

Funny thing is when the kids came in they were wondering what the occasion was...  I said just because I love ya'll!  :)

Sweet & Spicy Refrigerator Pickles

#1. Slice up 1 onion & about 6 cups cucumbers & put in a bowl.

#2.  In a pot simmer 1 1/2 c. white vinegar, 3/4 c. sugar, 1 tsp. salt, 1 tsp. red pepper flakes, 1/2 tsp. turmeric, 1/2 tsp. dried mustard, 1/8 tsp. black pepper. Simmer until sugar dissolved.

#3.  Pour liquid over the cucumbers & onions. Stir and allow to set on counter for about 15 minutes.

#4. Ladle "pickles" into jars & place in the refrigerator for 2 days before serving. 

This made a little over 2 pints.

(Yes I am re-using an old pickle jar)

 

Enjoy!

Banana muffins

I bought a few too many bananas this week so here's another yummy banana recipe.  I've brought these to pot lucks and they are always a hit.

In a mixing bowl place:

3 bananas (the riper the better)
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs
3/4 cup vegetable or coconut oil

Mix well then add in:

1 3/4 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. salt
*1/3 cup chopped nuts, optional

Mix until combined.

*If you want to add some chopped nuts stir them in now.

Put in greased muffin tins. I usually get about 18 regular sized muffins out of this.

Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes. They will be light brown & toothpick will come out clean.