Peanut Butter Cookies

What can I say?  I love peanut butter!  These cookies are not very popular in my household, but they sure are popular with me.    I baked a batch yesterday, took most of them with me to work, and kept a few for myself.  I thought they were tasty.  Chewy and not too sweet.  I’d like to share the recipe with you.

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cup flour
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt

1. Cream butter, peanut butter , sugars and vanilla together
2. Add egg and mix
3. Sift flour with baking powder, soda, and salt
4. Mix into batter
5. Scoop onto cookie sheet, using a fork press criss cross pattern into cookie.
6. Bake @ 350 for 10 minutes. Transfer to cooling rack.

Tuna Casserole

How many times have you opened the cupboard doors to find almost no  ingredients for dinner?  No time, or energy to go shopping?  Well here is the perfect meal for that situation!  Who doesn’t have a can of tuna in the cupboard and a bag of frozen peas in the freezer?  This is also a great way to use up that small piece of cheese which may be drying up around the edges.  Those are some staples which I always seem to have on hand.

serves 4

• 1/2 onion minced
• 1 clove garlic minced
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 1/4 cups milk
• 1 can chunk tuna in water
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1/2 tsp salt
• pepper
• chili pepper flakes for spice ( optional )
• 1 tsp chopped parsley ( optional )
• 1 cup grated cheese  ( whatever you have on hand will be fine )

1. Melt butter in saucepan
2. Add onions and garlic, sautee on med. heat until soft
3. Add flour to make a roux.
4. Whisk in milk quickly, a little at a time , stirring constantly.  Add salt , pepper, and chili flakes. Bring to a boil.  It too thick add a little more milk.
5. Add tuna and peas, along with pepper flakes and parsley if you like.
6. Pour into casserole dish, and top with cheese
7. Bake in oven @ 350 for 30 minutes
8. Serve with noodles, rice or boiled new potatoes.

Hawaiian Chicken

This is an old favourite with the family.  My sister Angie was the first to make this.  I enjoyed it so much I had to get the recipe.  I serve this dish with rice pilaf, which I put in the oven at the same time.  While it’s baking, I curl up with a good book and let dinner cook itself.

• 1 pkg chicken thighs, or drumsticks, or both  ( about 10 pieces )
• salt and pepper
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 2 heaping tablespoons brown sugar
• 4 tablespoons soya sauce
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1 can pineapple tidbits
• 2 tbsp cornstarch

1. Season chicken with salt and pepper.  Heat oil in frying pan,  fry chicken until brown on all sides.  It does not have to be cooked through.
2. Mix all ingredients together in bowl.
3. Put chicken in a baking dish, cover with the sauce.
4. Bake in oven @ 350 for 40 minutes.  After 20 minutes baste chicken with sauce and continue cooking

Chocolate Chip Cookies

• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 egg
• 2 cups chocolate chips
• 1 cup walnuts, chopped

1. Cream butter, sugars, egg and vanilla.
2. Sift dry ingredients and mix into butter mixture
3. Add chocolate chips and nuts
4. Scoop onto greased cookie sheet and bake @ 350 for 10 – 12 minutes.

Oat Bran Cookies

Now before you pass on these cookies because of the name ” Oat bran “, let me tell you, they are delicious.  I tried them once and asked for the recipe.  I only do that if something is really good!  The recipe can be doubled, freeze the extras.

• 3/4 cup butter
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup flour
• 1/4 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup oat bran
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3/4 cups coconut
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 cup chocolate chips ( optional )
• 1 cup raisins ( optional )

1. Cream together butter, sugars, egg and vanilla.
2. Sift flour and mix together with remaining ingredients
3. Add dry mixture to creamed mixture and mix together.
4. Add raisins and chocolate chips
5. Scoop onto  greased cookie sheet and bake @ 350 F for 10 – 12 minutes.
6. Let cool on rack.